Litchfield enquirer., 1829-12-17

LeulsA. INe JcllOVing article zoe copy from the Middle
 toOn Gazette. We recOlIect, When boy. Cf
 heGring Mr. Otis number cf tiaes in he
 old '" OradIe cf Liberty" Fdnue! Hall, Bos-
 tOn and then thought, and stN Mink, him
 Ms most fascinating public speaker We eUsr
 heard.
 Messrs. Webster aud Osis.-The New-York Courier and Enquirer, thinks Mir. Daniel Webster Is overrated; and that, as a speaker, he Is not equal to MT. Harrison Gray Otis.- MT. Webstsr's situation, the talents of the man, and the political relations he stands in towards the present administration of the general government, conspire to render him an object Of some uneasincss to those who are interested in the prosecution ofthe course of policy which has been acted upon since the fourth of March last. We know not but the feeling exhibited towards Mr. w. from cer- tain quarters, Is very natural but between him and Mir. Otis, we see 80 few points of re. scmblance, as to oratorical manner, that we cannot readily comprehend how compari- son can be fairly made.
 Mr. Otis is remarkable for a smooth, easy flow of thought, and phrase. His action Is graceful, his whole demeanor persuasive, his voice full and capable ofeMphatic expression, is we'll modulated and falls upon the ear. with an intonntion uncommonly agreeable. He is accounted scholar Oe refined and classic al taste, and although in profound investigation hc may have superiors, his research embraces wide and fertile field, and is sufficiently ac- curate. He delights in illustrative figures, and his imagination Is richly stored with such as are not only applicable to the purposes of elucidation, hut also gIve beauty as well as force to the idea advanced. On the whole, we consider Mr. Otis as one of the most aC- complished public speakers in the United States. There are very few, indeed,tO whom an audience would listen with more pleasing emotions, or who would leave on the minds of their hearers, more agreeable impression in regard to themselves. In personal man. ners and private intercourse, he is fine mod. el of gentleman, and the same elegance that gives charm to his conversation, accompa- nes him to the exertions of the forum. He may be said to possess. what was attributed by great orator to Charles Townsend, viz the art, and 1t is rare one, of hitting his au- dience between wind and water-the art of saying just enough, at the most proper mo ment, and in the most agreeable manner.
 Mir. Webster is not . graceful man, When unexcited, his beaming eye and noble fore. head, would convey the idea of intellectual strength and dignity but when the lion with in, is aroused, one may easily perceive how weak are all the colabOrators of the voice in expressing the emotions of the mind, when compared with that wonderful engine, the hu- man face. In the warmth of argument, when the imagination is awakened and the whole force of his giant intellect bent upon convincing others of the truth of the position A ..m1 s.NE. s,Ntn INnsp breasts the same sentiments that struggle in his own; he kindlcs into an action that can be represented by no word save eloquence. His voice has great compass, and though sometimes harsh, is generally otherwise. lt possesses in an eminent degree, the quality denominated 'round.' Ill ingenium it'll de- dit ore rotundo musa lOqui.
 Mr. Webster owes little to early instruc- ten, and still is not unircquently the case that his efforts evince "a grace above the reach of art" His power lies mostly in the field Ofar- gument. The strength with which he grasps subject is irresistible. He despiscs all the manOnvers of technicality, hut marches di- sectly to the. encounter with force and steadiness that it ia extremely difficult to di- vert from the accomplishment of it's purpose. In erudtion it is highly probable Mir. Web ster yields to many of his contemporaries hut in the powers 0f augmentation and in eomprehensivene ofintellectual vision, there arc few who are his peers.
 1t Is probable he has not yet attained tO the height of his reputation. He has indeed for a considerable period, stood hefore the pub lie eye, in a very advantageous light but if we calculate correctly the appearances of our horizon, he is destined to occupy still higher ground. The internal strength of his char acter, must bear him forward and upward.- It may not be in elevation to office, but in the power of his elOquence to develope the great principles of American policy, and particu- Iarly in advancing the objects of the noble profession of which he is SO distinguished member. Let him, and such as ho adminis- | ter in the Temple of Justice, and though they | may fall of the eclat of the hour, they may | build up fame as imperishahle as the great truths they advocate. A1iddleser Gazette. ]