ings; three of Mr. CURRAN'S; Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH s famous speech for Peltier; four of Mr. CANNING's; and five of Lord BROUGHAM's, including his instructive discourse on the study of eloquence in the Greek orators. Some of the most finished letters of JUNIUS are given in their proper place, with remarks on his style as an admirable model of condensation, elegance, and force. In the first fifty pages will be found nearly all the celebrated speeches before the days of Lord Chatham, from Sir ROBERT WALPOLE, Lord CHESTERFIELD, Mr. PULTENEY, Lord BELHAVEN, Sir JOHN DIGBY, the Earl of STRAFFORD, and Sir JOHN ELIOT. The selections in this volume extend through a period of two hundred years, and embrace a very large proportion of the most powerful eloquence of Great Britain.
The following are the aids afforded for the study of these speeches:
(1.) A memoir of each orator, designed to show his early training in eloquence, the leading events of his public life, the peculiar cast of his genius, and the distinctive characteristics of his oratory. It ought to be said, in justice to the author, that these sketches were completed in every essential particular, long before the publication of Lord Brougham's work upon British Statesmen.
(2.) A historical introduction to each of the speeches, explaining minutely the circumstances of the case, the state of parties, and the exact point at issue, being intended to place the reader in the midst of the scene as an actual spectator of the contest. These introductions, with the memoirs just mentioned, form a slight but continuous thread of political history, embracing the most important topics discussed in the British Parliament for more than a century. (3.) An analysis of the longer speeches in side-notes, giving the divisions and subdivisions of thought, and thus enabling the reader to perceive at once the connection and bearing of the several parts.
(4.) A large body of explanatory notes, bringing out minuter facts or relations of the parties, without a knowledge of which many passages lose all their force and application.
(5.) Critical notes, as specimens of the kind of analysis which the author has been accustomed to apply to the several parts of an oration, and which every student in oratory should be continually making out for himself.
(6.) Translations of the passages quoted from the ancient and foreign languages, with the poetry rendered into English verse. The passages are usually traced to their sources, and the train of thought given as it appears in the original, without a knowledge of which most quotations have but little force or beauty. For the same reason, the classical and other allusions are
traced out and explained.
(7.) A concluding statement of the way in which the question was decided, with occasional remarks upon its merits, or the results produced by the decision.
Great compression has been used in preparing this volume, that all who are interested in the study of eloquence may be able to possess it. Each page contains the matter of three ordinary octavo pages in Pica type; and the whole work has in it one sixth more than Chapman's Select Speeches, or Willison's American Eloquence, in five octavo volumes each.
In conclusion, the author may be permitted to say, that while he has aimed to produce a volume worthy of lying at all times on the table of every one engaged in speaking or writing for the public, he has hoped it might prove peculiarly useful to men of his own profession; since nothing is more desirable, at the present day, than a larger infusion into our sacred eloquence of the freedom, boldness, and strength which distinguish our secular oratory. Sept. 1st, 1852.
Walpole, ib.; deprived of his commission, ib.; becomes
leader of the Opposition, 54-5; comparison between
him and Lord Mansfield, 55; gains a complete ascend-
ancy in the House, 56; unites with Mr. Pelham, and is
made Paymaster of the Forces, ib.; exhibition of dis-
interestedness, 56-7; on the death of Pelham comes out
against Newcastle, his successor, 58; attack on Mans-
field, "Felix trembles," ib.; attack on Fox, "conflux of
the Rhone and Soane," 59; drives Mansfield out of the
House, ib.; is made Prime Minister on Newcastle's res-
ignation, 60; dismissed soon after, and all England in
commotion, ib.; restored, his influence over all con-
nected with him in government, ib.; power of his elo-
quence, "Is there an Austrian among you?" "Ut videre
virum," 61; Opposition extinguished, 62; triumphs of
his policy and arms in all quarters of the globe, ib.;
France sues for peace, 63; Spain joins her, ib.; he pro-
poses war against her, but overruled by Lord Bute, ib.;
resigns, ib. makes his "Sitting Speech" against Lord
Bute's peace, 64; attack on Mr. Grenville, "Gentle Shep-
herd," 65; opposes the King respecting John Wilkes and
American taxation, ib.; contemptuous retort on Justice
Moreton, 66; withholds his support from the Rocking-
ham administration, ib.; forms his third ministry, and
is raised into the House of Lords, 67; his loss of health
and inability to administer the government, 68; resigns
and retires, ib.; comes out at the end of three years
against the Grafton ministry, 69; it falls before him, ib. ;
support of America, 70; declines in health, ib.; his
death, 71; characteristics of his eloquence, 71-5.
SPEECH on a Motion for an Address on the Marriage of
the Prince of Wales..
His birth, 143; descended from the Stormont family, which adhered to the Stuarts, ib.; sent early to the Westmin- ster school, ib.; his great proficiency, ib.; removed to Oxford, ib.; his studies in rhetoric, ib.; commences the study of the law, ib.; laborious training in extempora- neous speaking, ib.; historical studies, 144; practice in elocution, ib.; a favorite of Pope, ib.; extent of his business as a lawyer, ib.; made Solicitor General, ib. ; comparison between him and the elder Pitt, ib.; made Attorney General, 145; appointed Chief Justice with title of Lord Mansfield, ib.; speech at taking leave of his associates at Lincoln's Inn, 145-6; his qualifications as Chief Justice, 146; testimony of Justice Story, ib.; his political course in the House of Lords, 147; resigns
Sheridan, 230; writes his Reflections on the Revolu-
tion in France, 231; characteristics of the work, ib. ;
its errors, ib.; its excellences, 231-32; his separation
from Mr. Fox, 232-33; loss of his son, 234-35; pension
granted him, 235; his Letter to a Noble Lord on the
subject of his pension, ib.; his Letters on a Regicide
Peace, ib.; errors of Mr. Burke respecting the war with
France, 235-36; decline of his health, 237; his death,
ib.; characteristics of his genius and eloquence, 237-40
SPEECH on American Taxation
SPEECH on Conciliation with America
SPEECH previous to the Bristol Election
SPEECH on declining the Election at Bristol
SPEECH on the East India Bill of Mr. Fox
SPEECH on the Nabob of Arcot's Debts..
PERORATION of Speech against Warren Hastings EXTRACTS from works on the French Revolution... 363 MISCELLANEOUS
MR. BURKE on the Death of his son CHARACTER of Sir Joshua Reynolds DETACHED SENTIMENTS AND MAXIMS.. HENRY GRATTAN....
His Letters have taken a permanent place in our elo- quence, 163; the rhetorical skill which they manifest, b.; the result of severe and protracted effort, ib.; labor bestowed on the selection and arrangement of his ideas, ib.; logical cast of his mind, 163-4; peculiar benefits to the young orator from the study of his style, 164; his extraordinary powers of condensation, ib.; of insinu- ating ideas without expressing them in form, 164-5;" reasons why indirect attack by insinuation is so pecul iarly painful to cultivated minds, 165; Junius' means of secret information, ib.; characteristics of his style, 166- 7; the perfection of his imagery, 167; who was Juni- us? 168-9; his political relations, 170; had previously written under other signatures, ib.; reasons for his now coming out with increased strength and boldness, ib.; impression made by his first letter, 171; attacked by Sir William Draper, and thus made an object of pub- lic attention, ib.; his triumph over Sir William, 171-2; the power he gained as a writer, ib.; his efforts second- ed by Lord Chatham, ib.; the King predicts that Junius will cease writing, ib.; he discontinues his Letters at he end of three years, and Sir Philip Francis is sent to
His birth and education in Dublin, 382; study of the law
in London, ib.; study of Lord Chatham as an orator,
ib.; settlement in Dublin as an advocate, ib.; election
to the Irish Parliament, ib.; moves a Declaration of
Irish right, 383; unsuccessful, ib.; moves it again at the
end of two years, 384; prevails, ib.; opposed by Mr.
Flood, ib.; invective against him, ib.; opposed to the
Union, ib.; chosen to the Imperial Parliament, ib.; de-
voted to the cause of Emancipation, ib.; his death, ib.;
personal qualities and character as an orator, 385.
SPEECH on moving a Declaration of Irish Right.... 386
SPEECH on making a second motion for a Declaration of
Irish Right....
LETTER to the Duke of Bedford..
REMARKS on the Character of the Duke of Bedford (by His parentage and connection with the stage, 399; early
REMARKS on the character of the Duke of Grafton (by the Editor) ESTIMATE OF JUNIUS by Mr. Burke and Dr. Johnson. 204 EDMUND BURKE..
dramatic productions, ib.; purchase of Drury Lane Theater, ib.; election to Parliament, ib.; made Under Secretary of State, 400; keen retort on Pitt, ib.; speech against Hastings in the House, ib.; speech before the House of Lords under the impeachment, 401; Lord Byron's lines thereon, ib.; indolence and effrontery as a speaker, 402; his wit and humor, ib.; habits of intem- perance, 403; unhappy death, ib. ; personal appearance and character as an orator, ib.
SPEECH against Warren Hastings when impeached be-
fore the House of Lords.
His birth and early genius, 437; indulgence of his father,
ib.; produces habits of dissipation, 438; eminence in
classical literature, ib.; distinction at Eaton and Oxford,
ib.; early extravagance, 439; enters Parliament, ib.;
first a Tory and in office under Lord North, 440; turn-
ed out abruptly, ib.; joins the Whigs as a pupil of
Burke, 441; his labors to form himself as a debater,
443; becomes head of the Whig party, ib.; is made Sec-
retary of State under Lord Rockingham, 444; disap-
pointed in not becoming Prime Minister on the death
of Rockingham, ib.; forms his Coalition with Lord
North, 445; drives out the ministry and becomes Sec-
retary of State, ib.; his East India Bill, 446; speech in
support of it, 447; carried in the House, ib.; defeated
in the Lords, ib.; his speech against secret influence,
448; displaced and Mr. Pitt made Prime Minister, ib.;
unsuccessful efforts to drive Pitt from power, ib.; West-
minster election, 449; Mr. Fox's speech on the subject,
450; decision of the House in his favor, ib.; derange.
ment of the King, ib.; Mr. Fox asserts the right of the
Prince of Wales to the Regency, 451; King recovers,
452; Mr. Fox's speech against Mr. Pitt for arming against
Russia, 453; his Libel bill, ib.; his views of the French Revolution, 454; his speech on Mr. Pitt's rejection of Bonaparte's overtures for peace, 458; comes in under Lord Grenville as Secretary of Foreign Affairs, 459; his death, personal appearance, 460; characteristics of his oratory, ib.
206
His birth and delicate constitution, 206; educated at a
Quaker school in Ballitore, ib.; early training, ib.; re-
moved to Trinity College, Dublin, ib.; account of his
studies, 207; early philosophical spirit, ib.; leaves col-O
lege and studies law in London, ib.; his severe mental
labor, 208; applies unsuccessfully for a professorship in
Glasgow, ib.; publishes his Vindication of Natural So-
ciety, ib.; publishes his Essay on the Sublime and Beau-
tiful, 209; his society courted by the most distinguished
literary men, ib.; his conversational powers, 210; com-
mences the Annual Register, ib.; goes to Ireland as sec-
retary to Single Speech Hamilton, 211; comes into Par-
liament as a supporter of Lord Rockingham, 212; his
maiden speech, highly praised by Lord Chatham, ib. ;
goes out with Lord Rockingham, and becomes leader
of the Whigs in the House, 213; Speech on American
Taxation, its powerful impression, 214; elected mem-
ber for Bristol, 215; circumstances leading to his speech
on conciliation with America, ib.; comparison between
this and his speech on American Taxation, 215-16;
speech on Economical Reform, "King's turnspit a
member of Parliament," 216; speech at Bristol previ
ous to the election, 216-17; declines the polls, and re-
turned for Malton, 217; speech against the continuance
of the American war, "shearing the wolf," 217-218;
after the fall of Lord North, comes in with Lord Rock-
ingham as Paymaster of the Forces, 218; carries his
measures for economical reform, 219; originates the
East India Bill of Mr. Fox, ib.; his intimate acquaint-
ance with India and its concerns, 220; his speech on
Fox's East India Bill, 221; speech on the Nabob of Ar-
cot's debts, ib.; procures the impeachment of Warren
Hastings, 221-22; draws up the articles of impeach-
ment, 223; delivers the opening speech against Hast-
ings, ib.; delivers his closing speech at the end of nearly
seven years, 224; reasons for the acquittal of Hastings,
225; King becomes deranged, 226; his ground respect-
ing a Regency, ib.; his unpopularity and abusive treat-
ment in the house, ib. ; his early jealousy of the French
Revolution, 227; reasons, 227-28; his first collision
with Mr. Fox on the subject, 229; his breach with Mr.
..Page 551
His early ill health and inability to attend a public school,
551; his remarkable proficiency at home, ib.; goes to
Cambridge at fourteen, ib.; his ambition from boyhood
to be an orator, ib.; his training with that view at col-
lege, 552; his mode of studying the classics, ib.; his em-
inence in the mathematics, ib.; his severe discipline in
logic, 553; in mental science and political economy, ib. ;
his early social habits, 554; comparison between him
and Lord Chatham, 555; his call to the bar, ib.; his
election to Parliament, 556; remarkable success of his
maiden speech, ib.; joins the Whigs, ib.; his sarcasm
on Lords North and Germaine, 557; comes in with Lord
Shelburne as Chancellor of the Exchequer at the age
of twenty-three, ib.; his brilliant speech against Mr.
Fox and the Coalitionists, 558; his felicitous quotation
from Horace, 561; is driven out with Lord Shelburne
by the Coalition, ib.; attacks Mr. Fox's East India Bill,
562; made Prime Minister at twenty-four, 563; Mr.
Fox's efforts to drive him out, ib.; his energetic resist-
ance, 564; extraordinary scene in the House, 565; his
keen rebuke of General Conway, ib.; his ultimate tri-
umph, 568; his East India Bill, ib.; motion for reform
in Parliament, 569; plan of paying the public debt, 570;
his admirable speech against the Slave Trade, ib.; war
with France, 571; eloquent speech when his proposals
of peace were rejected by the French, 575; speech of
great compass and power when he refused to treat
with Bonaparte, 576; resigns at the end of seventeen
years, ib.; returns to power, 577; his death, ib.; per-
sonal appearance and characteristics of his eloquence,
577-8.
His birth at Edinburgh, 629; early education at Edin- burgh and St. Andrews, ib.; his remarkable versatility of mind and liveliness of feeling, ib.; goes to sea at fourteen as a midshipman, ib.; enters the army as an ensign at eighteen, 630; marries at twenty, ib.; his studies in English literature, ib.; determines to study law, 631; his call to the bar, ib.; his first retainer and remarkable success, ib.; his instantaneous overflow of business, 632; case of Lord George Gordon, ib.; enters Parliament and supports Fox, ib.; goes out with the Coalition ministry, 633; State Trials, ib.; made Lord Chancellor under the Grenville ministry, 634; his re- tirement and death, ib.; personal appearance and char- acter of his eloquence, 635-6.
SPEECH in behalf of Lord George Gordon....
SPEECH on the Rights of Juries
SIR JAMES MACKINTOSH
His birth near Inverness, Scotland, 821; precocity and
early love of reading, ib.; distinction at school, ib.; per-
suades his school-fellows to practice extemporaneous
speaking, ib.; goes to the university, ib.; early attach-
ment to metaphysical inquiries, ib.; intimacy and union
of studies with Robert Hall, 821-22; studies medicine at
Edinburgh, 822; removes to London, and supports him-
self by writing for the periodical press, ib.; publishes
his Vindicia Gallicia in answer to Burke on the French
Revolution, ib.; studies law, and is called to the bar,
823; delivers his lectures on the Law of Nature and Na-
tions, ib.; beautiful character of Grotius in his Intro-
ductory Lecture, 823-24; success as an advocate, 824;
his speech in defense of Peltier when prosecuted for a libel on Bonaparte, ib.; encomiums of Lord Erskine and Robert Hall on this speech, 825; is appointed Recorder of Bombay, and raised to the honors of knighthood, ib.; spends eight years in India, and returns with a broken constitution, ib.; enters Parliament, ib.; becomes Pro- fessor of Law and General Politics in Haileybury Col lege, 826; his literary labors, ib.; his character as a par liamentary orator, ib.; his death, ib.
SPEECH in behalf of Peltier
CHARACTER of Charles J. Fox...
GEORGE CANNING..
His birth in London, 851; descended from an Irish fam-
ily of distinction, ib.; premature death of his father, ib.;
dependent condition of his mother, who goes on to the
stage for her support, ib.; his early proficiency at school,
ib.; his love of English literature, ib.; is removed to
Eton, ib.; induces his companions to establish a paper
called the Microcosm, ib.; takes the lead in a debating
society, 852; leaves Eton with its highest honors, and
enters the University of Oxford, ib.; when freshman,
gains the Chancellor's prize for Latin composition, ib.;
high standing at Oxford, ib.; influence of competition,
ib.; leaves the university and commences the study of
the law, ib.; is invited by Mr. Pitt to become his polit-
ical adherent, ib.; elected to Parliament, ib.; his early
character as a speaker, 853; unites in establishing the
Anti-Jacobin Review, ib.; author of the most striking
poetical effusions in the work, ib.; the Needy Knife-
grinder, 853-4; made Under Secretary of State, and aft-
erward Treasurer of the Navy by Mr. Pitt, 854; becomes
Secretary of Foreign Affairs under the Duke of Port-
land, ib.; fights a duel with Lord Castlereagh, and goes
out of office, ib.; is chosen member of Parliament for
Liverpool, 855; goes as embassador extraordinary to
Lisbon, ib.; appointed Governor General of India, ib. ;
is appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs, ib.; his strong
stand against the invasion of Spain by France, ib.; his
celebrated speech on giving aid to Portugal when in-
vaded from Spain, 856; is made Prime Minister, ib.; his health soon after fails him, ib.; his death, ib.; sketch of his character by Sir James Mackintosh, 856-8.
SPEECH on the Fall of Bonaparte
JOHN PHILPOT CURRAN
His birth and parentage, 785; the family, though in low
circumstances, remarkable for intellectual vigor, ib. ; his
early love of sport and wild adventure, ib.; is sent to
school and to the university by a clergyman of the
neighborhood, ib.; distinguished for his classical attain
ments and love of metaphysical inquiry, 786; studies
law in London, ib.; his unwearied efforts to remove his
defects and gain fluency as a public speaker, ib.; settles
in Dublin and rises to early distinction, ib.; forms the
Society of the Monks of the Screw, ib.; his celebra.
ted address to Lord Avonmore respecting that Society,
787; enters the Irish House of Commons, ib.; his bold.
ness and eloquence during the State Trials, 787-8;
Robert Emmett and Sarah Curran, 788; is appointed
Master of the Rolls, ib.; his misfortunes and decline
of health, 788-9; resigns his office, 789; his death,
ib.; his characteristic excellences and faults as an or-
ator, ib.
Descended from one of the most ancient families of West-
moreland, England, 886; born at Edinburgh, ib.; edu.
cated at the High School under Dr. Adam, ib.; rapidity
of his mind from early life, ib.; enters the University
of Edinburgh, ib.; distinguished for his mathematical
attainments, ib.; early election to the Royal Society of
Edinburgh, ib.; studies law, ib.; his training in extem.
poraneous debate, ib.; publishes his work on Colonial
Policy, ib.; removes to London and commences the
practice of the law, 887; is a regular contributor to the
Edinburgh Review, ib.; becomes a member of Parlia
ment, ib.; subjects of his published speeches, ib.; char-
acter of his oratory, 888; comparison between him and
Mr. Canning, ib.; his attack upon Canning in 1823, when
the latter gave him the lie, 889, 890.
SPEECH on the Army Estimates..
SPEECH in behalf of Williams.
« ForrigeFortsett » |