Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-02-14
THE GAZETTE.
mursn.y MORNING. FEBRUARY II, 1860.
BRoUGHAM'S ADVICE TO MACAULAf:
The following is a copy ola wellsknown
lottar &c Lord Rrnughnm:
$40 ZACHARY MACATLAY, esq.

$50 ZACHARY MAcAULAY, esq.
Newcastle March 10, 1873.
NV Dear Friend: My principal object IN
writing to YOU to-day is 10 offer you some
suggestions. in consequence of some CONVEX
sation have Just had with Lnrd Grey, who
has spoken of your son lat Cambridge IN
terms of the greatest praise. He takes his
account from his son; but from all know,
and have learnt in other quarters, | doubt
not that his Judgment is well formed. Now
Won of course, destine him for the bar, and,
assuming that this, and the public objects
Incidental to it, are in his views, would
fain impress upon you land through you,
upon him) truth or two which experience
has made me aware of, and which would
have given great deal to have been ac-
auainted with earlier in life, from the exper-
fence of others.
First, that the foundation ofall excellence
is to be laid in early application to general
knowledge is clear; that he is already aware
of; and equally so tits (ofwhich he may not
be so well aware) that professional eminence
can only be attained by entering betlmes
into the lowest drudgery, the most repuisve
labors of the profession; even year In an
attorneys Office, as the law is now practised,
/ should not hold too severe task, or too
high price to pay, for the benefit It must
surely lead to; but at all events the life OF
special pleader, am quite convinced, is the
thing before being called to the bar. q,
Young man whose mind has once been well
imbued with general learning, and has ac-
auired classical propensities, will never sink
into mere drudge. He will always save
himself harmless from the dull atmosphere
he must live and work in, and the sooner
emerge from it, and arrive at emmence.-
But what wish to inculate especially, with
a view to the great talent for public speak
ing which your son happily possesses, IS
that he should cultivate that talent IN the
only way in which it can reach the height
of the art, and lwish to turn his attention
to two points. i speak on this subject with
the authority both Of experience and obser-
walton; have made it very much my study
in theory; have written great deal upon 1t
which may never see the light, and, some
thing which has been published; have medl-
tated much and conversed much on II with
famous men; have had some little practical
experience in it, but have prepared for much
more than ever tried, by variety OF Ia
borious methods reading, writing much
translation, composing in foreign languages,
&c. and / have lived In times when there
were great orators among US; therefore
reckon nv opinion worth listening to, and
the rather, because have the utmost conf
dence in it myself, aud should have saved u
world of trouble and much time had | started
with a conviction fits truth.
]. The first point is this.--The beginning
of the art is to acquire habit OF easy speak
ing: and, in whatever way this can be had
(which individual inclination or accident will
generally direct and may safely be allowed to
do so. it must be had. Now, diferfrom all
other doctors of rhetoric in this,-l say, let
him first of all learn to speak easily end
fiuently, as we'll, and as sensbly as ne can
no doubt, but at any rate let HIM learn 70
speak. This is to eloquence, or good publ;
speaking, what the being able to talk in a
child is to correct grammatical speech. IL
is the requisite foundation, and on 1t you
must build. Moreover, it can only be ac-
auirsd young, therefore let it by all means,
and at any sacrifice, be gotten hold OF forth
with. But in acquiring it, every sort OF slo-
yeny error will also be acquired 1t must be
got by habit of easy writing (which as
Wyndham said, proved hard reading) by q
custom of talking much IN company; by
speaking in debating societies, with little
attention to rule, and more love OF saying
something at any rate, than OF saying any
thing we'll. can even suppose that more
attention is paid to the matter in such dis
eussiens than in the manner Of saying It,;
vet still to say it easily, ad fbitam, TO be
able to say what you choose. and what you
have to say,-this is the first requisite, 10
acquire which everything else must Tor the
present be sacrificed.
2. The next step is the grand one-to
convert this style OF easy speaking lnto
chaste eloauence. Aud here there is but
one rule. l do earnestly entreat your son
10 sit daily and nightly before him the
Greek models. First of all he may look to
the best modern speeches las ne probably
has already; Burke's bsst compositions, as
the 'Thoug hts on the Cause Of the Present
Discontents;' speech On the American Con-
ciliation,' and On the Nabob OF Arcots
Debit Fox's Speech Oh the Westminster
Scrutiny 1.-THE first part of which ne should
pore over till he has it by heartj; On the
Russian Armament and On the War,
1903, with one or two of Wyndham's BEST
and very few, or rather none, OF Sheridan s.;
bat he must by no means stop here. Ii he
would be great orator. he must go at once
TO the fountain head, and be tamllIar with
every one of the great orations OF Demos
themes | take for granted that rs knows
those of Cicero by heart; they are very
beautiful, but not very useful. except per-
haps the Milo, prOLigario and one or two
more; but the Greek must positively be the
model, and merely reading it, as boys do, to
know the language. won't do at all; he must
enter into the spirit of each speech, thor
oughly know the position of the parties,
follow each turn of the argument. and make
the absolutely perfect and most chaste and
severe composition, familiar to his mind
His taste will improve every time he reads
and repeats to himself flor he shoDld have
the fine passages by heart,) and no will
learn how much may be done by a skilful
use Of few words and rigorous rejection Of
all superAuities. In this view ] hold ia
miliar knowledge of Dante to be next to De-
mosthenes. 1t is in vain to say that imita-
tions of these models won't do for our times.
FIRST do not counsel any imitation, but
only an imbibing of the same spirit. Sc
condly, know from experience that moth
ing is half 80 successful in these times bad
though they be) as what has been formed
on the Greek models. use a very poor IN