The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-21
CHE Aorfulk gost.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER q, 1865.
INVECTIvE.
from the Richmond Dispatch of Dec. ,ol

There Is no function of eloauenct
whether with the tongue or pen, whicl
Is more generally popular than that O
invective. or every species of elOquenc
1t seems to be the most attractive part
except the eloquence of the pulpit
where, though sometimes used, it is re
voting to good taste and the most Ordi
nary sense of propriety. The pulpit il
commissioned ID preach peace and gooC
will; and when the howl of the wolf !,
heard from under the clothing of the
sheep, there are few, however fond Of
the trnculent, who are not shocked
Divines who infuse into their polemics
personal bitterness and denunciatiOn
might learn wisdom from the Athenian
priestess, who refused to anathematize
Alcbiades "because it was her duty to
implore blessings, and not to pronounc &c
execratiOns." Nor in any species of elo-
quence does invective add to the influ-
ence of an Grafton, save when exerted
against wrong, wickedness, and folly,
then it must be justly proportional to
the object of its apprehension. 1t is q
great mistake, made by various imita-
tors of Junius in composition and the
ancient orators in speech, that severity
Is proof of independence and i'll nature
of wit; or that even sarcasm, when
welded i'll morosc or savage spirit, il
an efficient instrument, and increases
the influence of him who uses it. In
truth it does no such thing. 1t is pow
erful weapon, but when often and need
lessly employed, it loses its capacity of
terror, as do peslilence, storms and wars,
when they become objects of frequent
occurrence; and when employed against
virtue and justice, its keen edge is turn
ed like that of an axe upon the granite
rock. 1t is only when assailing great
crimes and criminals, or in self-defence
from unjustifiable assaults, that it per-
forms its office with greatest dignity and
effect.
or various kinds of inveclivc, one of
the most effective is that which, with a
smiling face, turns an opposite position
into ridicule more completely than
could be done by grave argument.
Thus IL was by the dexterous use Of this
weapon that Lord North, who could lay
claim to none of the impassioned decla-
nation of his Wing opponents, kept his
ground in debate. Burke and Fox once
took him angrily to task, in the House
Of Commons, for calling, in a public
document, the insurgent cOlOnists by
,hc name of rebels. avery well,' re-
llied North, "if it will please you better,
will call them gentlemen Of the opposi-
ion, over the water" Nothing could
DC more graceful than the manner in
which BrOugham, usually clumsy at
,atire, once gave the lie to an opponent.
An impuiatiOn which BrOugham had
made upon MelbOurne's government
vas fatty denied by the latter, and it
vas for the interest of Brougham's argu-
nent to sustain what he had said with
,ut directly accusing Lord Melbourne
# falsehood. my noble friend" he
"though but novice in Of
ice made the denial with a glibness and
eadiness that might have done honor
o the inveterate habits of official asser-
ion, only acquired by those who are
'orn 1T Whitehall and bred in Down.
ng street." The element of unexpect-
dness in thought and statement has
'een regarded considerable charm of
II vective. 1t has been observed that
he best criticism on Harriet Martineau's
book is the remark of Lon
on wit, who was asked what was the
Doctrine which it inculcated. He re-
lied: "The doctrine seems to be this
here is no God, and Harriet is his pro-
het."
The following example is given of a
eculiar kind of invective by epigram,
which springs directly from personal
haracter. Sydney Smith once justified
n assault on a man of moderate abilities,
whose purposes he considered as mis-
hievous us they were well meant. ~
o not attack him. said he, "fOr love of
Tory, but from love of utility as bur-
o master hunts a rat i'm Dutch dixie
or fear it will flood province"
Burke was q great master of lofty con-
A fine specimen of that
J the well-knOwn passage in which he
ikened the English sympathizers with
he French revolution to grasshOppers,
Hing the air with their importunate
hirp, "whilst thousands of great cattle,
eposing under the British oak, chew
he cud and are silent" Scarcely less
celebrated is his attack on the Duke Of
BEDFORD, where his object is to degrade
he whole house of Russell by emphasiz
ny the corruption, servility and extOr-
ion of its founder. Knowing how well
ware was all England of the patriots
yhohad been connected with that house,
10 makes that fact deviation from the
natural character of their family. ut
: little to he doubted" he says, "that
eyeral of his fOrefathers, in that long
cries, have degenerated into honor and
'irtue."
The practical business of invective is
est done by irony, uttered with cool
ess and deliberation. The emotional
lement must not be permitted to pre-
That method which inn
lies the greatest self-pOssession imparts
he keenest edge to the blow, and irony |
oes not admit of successful reply. No
ne understood better than Grattan the
feet of the contemptuous method. The
est illustration of his Use of il Is his re.
Iy to an obscure but aspiring opponent
n the Irish House of Commons, who
ssailed him in stupidity scurrilous
peech with the hope of drawing upon
himself the invective which had so often
mitten Flood and Fitzgibbon. But
lrottan could not condescend to give
,is opponent the celebrity he craved.
Rising in his seat. he simply said:
~ shall make no other remark on the
of the honorable member
who has just spoken than merely to say
hat IA he rose without a friend, so he
has certainly sat down without having
made an enemy"
An example of irony, covering the
most insulting scOrn, is found in the
,aleLrated encounter of Curran with
Judoe Robinson. This Judge had risen
10 power by sycophancy and the com
noaition of some miserably written po-
|itical pamphlets, distinguished by no.
thino Int their venomous personality.
l,nrron when a poor young man, had
case to argue i'm the Judges court, and,
in controyerting position taken by the
counsel, remarked that ne nag