Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-11-20

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general science. Do yon think this requi-
ring too much7 Look at Brougham, and
see what man can do if we'll armed and
well resolved. With load of profession
al duties that would Of themselves, have
reen appalling 10 the most Of our country
men, he stood nevertheless, at The head of
his party in the House of Commons. and at
the same time, set in motion and superintea~
lied rarious primary schools and uarfouf
periodical rrorks. the most instructive and
useful that eper issued from the British
press, to prhich he furnished, 'oith his o~n
pen, some Of the most mastery contribu
tions, and vet found time not only to keep
pace with the progress of the arts and SCI
ences, hut to keep at the head of those ,vhose
peculiar ana exclusive occupations these arts
and sciences arere. There is model Of
industry and usefulness worthy of all your
emulation. You must, indeed, he great
LAWYER! but it will moi do to be mere laws
yer-more especially as you are very pro
lperly turning Your mind, also, to the polite
al service of your country, and to the stu
ID, and practice of eloquence. You must
therefore be political lawyer and histo-
rian thoroughly versed in the constitution
land laws of voyy country. and fully &C
Iluainted with all its statistics, and the his.
tory of all the leading measures which have
distinguished the several administrations.
You must study the debates in congress,
and observe what have been the actual eff
'ects upon the country Of the various meas
1res that have been the most strenuously
contested In their origin. You must be
master of the science of political ECONOMY
and especially Of fnanciering, of which so
few Ut our young coun.rymen know any
thing. The habit of observing all that IS
passing, and thiuking closely and deeply
upon them, demands pre-eminently an at
tention to The political course Of your coun-
try. But il is time to close this letter. You
ask for instructions adapted to Improvement
in eloquense. This is subject for trea-
tlse, not for a letter. Cicero, however, has
summed up the whole art in few W rds /;
Ii Is "apte-distiacte- o,nate-dicere''--to
speak to the purpose speak Clearly and
distinctly-'' s'oak gracefully:-to be able
to speak to the purpose, you must UNDER
.and your suhlect and all that belongs ID.
i:--and thea your thoughts and method
must oe clear in themselves and clearly and
distinctly enunciated:-and lastly, YOUR
VOICE, style. de erv and gesture, mast be
graceful and delightfully."- impressive. In
reatipn TO this snoIrct, would strenuous.
~ advise YOU 20 two ,hinas. Comp SO
much. and often, md carefully Nth refer
ence to this same rule Of "apte, distincte,
nd int l..
reference 10 the same"aject. do not msa n
hat you should be elaborate and formal in
YOUR ordinary conversation. Let it be per.
tectly simple and NATURAL, hut always in
good time, 10 speak Us the musieiap,) and
well enumerated
With regard 10 the style of eloquence that
you shall adopt. thatmIs depend very much
IN your own taste and genius You are
not disposed, presume, to be an humble
imitator of any man! fyou are, you may
old farewell t. the hope Of eminence in this
walk. None are mere initial rs 10 whom
nature has given original p,wers: The
ape alone is content with mere limitations
II nature has bestowed such portion Of the
spirit OF oraiory a. can advance you to a
high rank in This walk, your manner will
10 your own. In what style of eloquence
you are best fitted to excel, you, yourself,
II destined to excellence, are the best judg
| can only tell you thai the fl rid and Asia.
tic style IS not the taste If the age. The
strong, and even the rugged and abrupt.
are far more successful Bold propositions,
boldly and briefly expressed-pithy sen,en-
(ces-nervous common sense-sirong phra-
ses-the feliciter audar both in language
and conceplion--well compacted periods
sudden and strong masses Of light-an apt
adage in English or Latina keen sarcasm
Ia merciless personaIity--a mortal thrust
these are the beauties and Determines
thai now make speaker the most interest
ing. A gentleman and Christian will
conform to the reigning taste so far only as
his principles and habits Of decorum will
permit. The forid and Asiatic was never
IA good style, either for European or an
American taste. We require that man
should speak to the purpose and come to the
|potnt----,hat he should instruct and
convince. To do this. his mind must move
with great strength and power;-reason
should be manilestly his master faculty.
argument should predominant throughout
but these great points secured, wit and fan.
cy may throw their lights around his path.
provided the wit be courteous as we'll as
brilliant: and the fancy cho.ta .,d r..J