Delaware patriot & American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1828, 1828-02-01

their deliberations bv the most trfng motives -
In the history of human nature, few facts more
curious or more important than this; that where
immense numbers of men collected the
same spot and their ply steal force is the most ir
lresistibe, their minds the most easily subdu-
ed by the authonty OF (what they conceive to be)
the voice Of wisdom and virtue The conscious
ness OF tins power,--0nc OF the proudest. ungues
tionably, which man can possess over his fellow
creatutes,--contrihutcs more than any thing else
to animate and inspire that eloquenoe which it sup
poses; hence the foundation Vi maxim laid down
bv Cicero, that eloquence s impossible, without
listening crowd
son such occasions, the contagon Of sympa-
thetc imitation will be found to aid very pow
erfaliy the ascendency OF the speakers genius. as
almost to Justify the exclusive stress which De-
mosthenes laid on action, when compared with the
other constituents Of the oratorica art. Baiton
seems to have been fully aware Of the thing,
when he introduced the following description Of
the effects OF popular cloquence into the discourse
which he pronounced on his reception into the
French Academy The description appears to me
to be just and to be executed With MASTER, hand;
but quote it at present, chiefly to have an opPor
tunity OF expressing my disstI ft0T sae conclusion
which it is employed tn lllpsti.ss. True e.n-
euence implies All exert,on ni .saius, and aapYo-
SEES cultivated End 1t differs essentially from.
that huencs OF speech, which s talert posse sci
BY all who nave strong passions, flexible crsals,
and lively iInaginations Such nei loel acute!y.
and express strongly. both by words and gesalGs,
what the, feel. iience, Is sort d mcdaniel
Impression, they impart u others their enthusiasm
and then affections ~ j. the body 'adieh spfa@s
h The bDdg all its movements. and all its expea
sive powers lending their aid. How title is sut-
! fieent to shake the opinions 1T most men. and to
communicate 70 them the sentiments Of the speak
or, A tone oi voice vehement ano pathetic; yes.
10
sOnoruns.'
Buiian proceeds afterwards to contrast this
popular eioqueuce with that which was cultivated
in the i rench Academy. giying the decided pref
erence 10 the latter. ard indeed, treating the for
imel with every expression Of contempt. The pro-
per inference, hDweset, from his premises was,
thai il these secondary attanments of an orator
can perform 50 much where there is a real deli
cheney in moro essential cndowmcna, what effect
might they not pro,iuce il united with the higher
gl;, Of The understanding Why undervalue an
art, merely because it is adapted to the principles
of oul hysical az well as of our moral frame; an
art which, ID ancient times, was cultivated by men
not more distinguished By The splendour OF their
military virtues, than by those accomplishments
which adorn and humanlze the mihd; and, who,
10 skill in composition. which it is our pride to
initiate at a distance. seem TO have added all the
energy aud all the grace which pronunciation and
gesture, regulated by taste and philosophy, could
supplys The eloquence Of the French Academl-
cana, when considered in relation to its protested
Objects lastly claims our admiration; hut why con-
trast ii with TINT elogucnceto which it beacs no
resemblance, but in name--wh!ch, in free states,
has 50 often fixed the destiny of notions, ard Which
. the contagious sympathy Of popniaf end pats fic
. emotions could alone have nspireds ~ no.
stions Of Button himself. the most fiuisi.e. apdrs.
perhaps. of that polished and courtly STYLE which
he valued SO hishly.--what Gre they, when comra-
red with those mightief powers OF genius which
Fulmin',l over Greece
To Macedon and Artaserxes' throne
:, Whar are they. even when compared with Haf
elaqueuce tempered and subduer as it is hy mo-
letn institutions and maners,4 Of which our cwu
ape and our own country has furnished SO many
iostruus examples; and which, in political as
s semblies Ear mere wisely aud happily constituted
than those Of the Athenian commonwealth. secures
To its pusscssors an authority which no other dis
4 tinctions can command such an ascendant is
b 10 be acquired only by talents as various as the
j principles Of thct nature an which they are des-
4 fined to operate and whoever, in the cu!tl-
walton at the sarae art, forgets how closely the
. phv steal frame Of man is linked with his isnas
;naton and his passions, may abandon all ambi
: ton of that empire the IN nds OF others Il
i which the orators Of antiquity asplred, and mus
rest satisfied with the praise Of refinement. ingenu
l. ity, and wit."-pp 9o9--2ls.
If In the tnntth, and concluding section OF the
r chapter, MIR. Stewart justly observes that tht
principles upon which the phenomena. already re
/ fert ed to depend, subseryent. on the Whofp
e to bene6cent and important purposes that TIT
ii power of imitation is essential matter 10 be at
n tended to in the education Of children; and tina
there are many accomplishments, particularly al
!, those connected with grace both in atierance AM
! gesture, which children might be taught mriel,
e from the habltual sight Of good mode's.-instea.
than a,fo ifS
Is are to be systematically studied. The sector
q lnales with dissertation unnn renrilGunsm