and the only way to do this effectually-with such modulations of voice, &c. as are suitable to each word and passage, is to fix his mind earnestly on the meaning, and leave nature and habit to suggest the utterance.

Difficul.

§ 4. Some may, perhaps, suppose that this amounts to the same thing as taking no pains ties in the at all; and if with this impression, they attempt to try the experiment of a natural

natural manner.

Delivery, their ill-success will probably lead them to censure the proposed method, for the failure resulting from their own mistake. In truth, it is by no means a very easy task, to fix the attention on the meaning, in the manner and to the degree now proposed. The thoughts of one who is reading anything very familiar to him, are apt to wander to other subjects, though perhaps such as are connected with that which is before him; if, again, it be something new to him, he is apt (not indeed to wander to another subject, but) to get the start, as it were, of his readers, and to be thinking, while uttering each sentenee, not of that, but of the sentence which comes next. And in both cases, if he is careful to avoid those faults, and is desirous of reading well, it is a matter of no small difficulty, and calls for a constant effort to prevent the mind from wandering in another direction; viz. into thoughts respecting his own voice-respecting the effect produced by each sound -the approbation he hopes for from the hearers, &c. And this is the prevailing fault of those who are commonly said to take great pains in their reading; pains which will always be taken in vain with a view to the true object to be aimed at, as long as the effort is thus applied in a wrong direction. With a view, indeed, to a very different object, the approbation bestowed on the reading, this artificial delivery will often be more successful than the natural. Pompous spouting, and many other descriptions of unnatural tone and measured cadence, are frequently admired by many as excellent reading; which admiration is itself a proof that it is

not deserved; for when the delivery is really good, the hearers (except any one who may deliberately set himself to observe and criticise) never think about it, but are exclusively occupied with the sense it conveys, and the feelings it excites.

Advantages

by the adop

tion of the

natural mariner.

Still more to increase the difficulty of the of imitation method here recommended, (for it is no less precluded wise than honest to take a fair view of difficulties,) this circumstance is to be noticed, that he who is endeavouring to bring it into practice, is in a great degree precluded from the advantage of imitation. A person who hears and approves a good reader in the Natural manner, may, indeed, so far imitate him with advantage, as to adopt his plan, of fixing his attention on the matter, and not thinking about his voice; but this very plan, evidently, by its nature, precludes any further imitation; for if while reading, he is thinking of copying the manner of his model, he will, for that very reason, be unlike that model; the main principle of the proposed method being, carefully to exclude every such thought. Whereas any artificial system may as easily be learned by imitation as the notes of a song.

Advantages

Practice, also (i. e. private practice for the of practice sake of learning) is much more difficult in precluded the proposed method; because, the rule beby the adoption of the ing, to use such a delivery as is suited, not only to the matter of what is said, but also,

natural

manner.

of course, to the place and occasion, and this, not by any studied modulations, but according to the spontaneous suggestions of the matter, place, and occasion, to one whose mind is fully and exclusively occupied with these, it follows, that he who would practise this method in private, must, by a strong effort of a vivid imagination, figure to himself a place and an occasion which are not present; otherwise, he will either be thinking of his delivery, (which is fatal to his proposed object,) or else will use a delivery suited to the

situation in which he actually is, and not, to that for which he would prepare himself. Any system, on the contrary, of studied emphasis and regulation of the voice, may be learned in private practice as easily as singing.

CHAP. III. Considerations arising from the differences between Reading and Speaking.

§ 1. Some additional objections to the method I have recommended, and some further remarks on the counterbalancing advantages of it will be introduced presently, when I shall have first offered some observations on Speaking, and on that branch of Reading which the most nearly approaches to it.

When any one delivers a written composition, of which he is, or is supposed to profess himself, the author, he has peculiar difficulties to encounter, if his

*It must be admitted, however, that to the members of our Church) the difficulty of reading the Liturgy with spirit, and even with propriety, is something peculiar, on account of (what has been already remarked) the inveterate and long-established faults to which almost every one's ears are become familiar; so that such a delivery as would shock any one of even moderate taste, in any other composition, he will, in this, be likely to tolerate, and to practise. Some, e. g. in the Liturgy, read, "have mercy upon us, miserable sinners ;" and others, "have mercy upon us, miserable sinners;" both, laying the stress on a wrong word, and making the pause in the wrong place, so as to disconnect "us" and "miserable sinners;" which the context requires us to combine. Every one, in expressing his own natural sentiments, would say "have mercy upon us-miserable-sinners."

Many are apt even to commit so gross an error, as to lay the chief stress on the words which denote the most important things; without any consideration of the emphatic word of each sentence: e. g. in the Absolution, many read, "let us beseech Him to grant us true repentance;" because, forsooth, "true repentance" is an important thing; not considering that, as it has been just mentioned, it is not the new idea, and that to which the attention should be directed by the emphasis; the sense being, that since God pardoneth all that have true repentance, therefore, we should "beseech Him to grant it to us."

In addition to the other difficulties of reading the Liturgy well, it

Compara.

written and extempora

ses.

object be to approach as nearly as possible to the extemporaneous style. It is indeed impossible to produce the full effect of that style, while the audience are aware that the words he utters are before him: but he may approach indefinitely near to such an effect; and in proportion as he succeeds in this object, the impression produced will be the greater. It has been tive advan- already remarked, how easy it is for the tages of hearers to keep up their attention-indeed, how difficult for them to withdraw it-when ry addres- they are addressed by one who is really speaking to them in a natural and earnest manner; though perhaps the discourse may be incumbered with a good deal of the repetition, awkwardness of expression, and other faults, incident to extemporaneous language; and though it be prolonged for an hour or two, and yet contain no more matter than a good writer could have clearly expressed in a discourse of half an hour; which last, if read to them, would not, without some effort on their part, have so fully detained their attention. The advantage in point of style, arrangement, &c. of written, over extemporaneous, discourses, (such at least as any but the most accomplished orators can produce,) is sufficiently evident:* and it should be mentioned, that prayer, thanksgiving, and the like, even when avowedly not of our own composition, should be delivered as (what in truth they ought to be) the genuine sentiments of our own minds at the moment of utterance; which is not the case with the Scriptures, or with any thing else that is read not professing to be the speaker's own composition.

Practice in public speaking generally-practice in speaking on the particular subject in hand-and (on each occasion) premeditation of the matter and arrangement, are all, circumstances of great consequence to a speaker.

Nothing but a miraculous gift can supersede these advantages The Apostles accordingly were forbidden to use any premeditation, being assured that it "should be given them, in that same hour, what they should say ;" and, when they found, in effect, this promise fulfilled to them, they had experience, within themselves, of a sensible miracle. This circumstance may furnish a person of sincerity with a useful test for distinguishing (in his own case) the emotions of a fervid imagination, from actual inspiration. It is evident that an inspired preacher can have nothing to gain from

is evident also that other advantages, such as have been just alluded to belong to the latter. Which is to be preferred on each occasion, and by each orator, it does not belong to the present discussion to inquire; but it is evidently of the highest importance, to combine, as far as possible, in each case, the advantages of both.

A perfect familiarity with the rules laid down in the First Part of this Treatise, would be likely, it is hoped, to give the extemporaneous orator that habit of quickly methodizing his thoughts on a given subject, which is essential (at least where no very long premeditation is allowed) to give to a speech something of the weight of argument, and clearness of arrangement, which characterize good Writing.* In order to attain the corresponding advantage-to impart to the delivery of a written discourse, something of the vivacity and interesting effect of real, earnest, speaking, the plan to be pursued, conformably with the principles I have been maintaining, is, for the reader to draw off his mind as much as possible from the thought that he is reading, as well as from all thought respecting his own utterance ;--to fix his mind as earnestly as possible on the matter, and to strive to adopt as his own, and as his own at the moment of utterance, every sentiment he delivers; and to say it to the audience, in the manner which the occasion and subject spontaneously suggest to him who has abstracted his mind both from all consideration of himself, and from the consideration that he is reading.

practice, or study of any kind: he, therefore, who finds himself improve by practice, either in Argument, Style, or Delivery--or who observes that he speaks more fluently and better, on subjects on which he has been accustomed to speak-or better with premedi tation, than on a sudden, may indeed deceive his hearers by a pretence to inspiration, but can hardly deceive himself.

* Accordingly, it may be remarked, that, (contrary to what might at first sight be supposed,) though the preceding parts, as well as the present, are intended for general application, yet it is to the extemporary speaker that the rules laid down in the former part (supposing them correct) will be the most peculiarly useful: while the suggestions offered in this last, respecting Elocution, are more especially designed for the use of the reader.