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ness and vulgarity make it always ridiculous. And in that violent invective of Cicero against Piso, there is perhaps not a passage, where he exposes him more thoroughly to contempt, than that, in which he describes him speaking to the senate, in the dignified character of consul, with one eyebrow screwed up to the forehead, and the other dropped to a level with the chin. Respondes, altero ad frontem sublato, altero ad mentum depresso supercilio, crudelitatem tibi non placere.

To the arms and hands some movement is in

dispensably necessary. This should be varied according to the position, in which the speaker stands. Our public orators most frequently speak before a table, or within a bar, or in a pulpit, where only their upper half, (to use an expression of our most eminent poet), is seen by the auditory. The hands occasionally find resting places on the table or the cushion; but the arms should never be suffered to loll upon them. The movements of the arm should commence from the elx bow, rather than from the shoulder. They should

generally be from left to right; and very seldom from right to left. In extending the arm, the fingers should also be extended; and the left hand

or arm should seldom or never attempt any mo

tion by itself.

Finally, let it be remembered, that the movements of the hands should generally accompany the tones of the voice, for the expression of passion; but very rarely for the imitation of action. Even upon the stage, if a performer should be repeating the discourse of another character, he cannot assume all his manners, unless in representations of low buffoonery. But the orator has a real character of his own to maintain; and he degrades himself by assuming the character of a mimic.

success.

This is the substance of the principal rules of oratorical action, prescribed by Quinctilian; which may still be studied to advantage, and applied with Little of material importance has been added to them in modern times; nor would any multiplication of written precepts enable you to acquire that ease and elegance of oratorical action, which can only be obtained by experience and practice.

This course of lectures, comprising a system of the rhetorical science, as distributed and taught by the great masters of Greece and Rome, is now completed. It has been my endeavour to give you a general view of the principles, upon which

their rhetorical doctrines were founded; of the writers chiefly distinguished in this career; and of the historical progress of their speculations from the earliest ages, until the extinction of ancient science and literature. At the same time I have been sensible, that a knowledge of Greek and Roman elementary treatises could be of little use, unless their instructions could be accommodated to the manners of our own times, and the language of our own country. The acquaintance with those writers, which it has been possible for me to give you, has been necessarily slight and superficial. To open the avenues to science is the duty of the teacher. To explore them must be the labor of the scholar himself. Of the aid, which it has been or may be in my power to contribute to your advancement in this department of your studies, I can but regret, that it is so small. Of my ardent wishes, that your success in this and every other laudable pursuit may answer every expectation of your friends, and every hope of your country; as they were the first sentiments, with which I entered on the duties of this place, so they are the last, with which I close this period of their fulfilment.

Here follows the concluding part of LECTURE XXIV, as delivered July 28, 1809, referred to in the Note, annexed to that lecture.

CONCLUSION.

At

AND here, gentlemen, our disquisitions upon the second great division of the rhetorical science, that which teaches the disposition of the various parts of an oration, are brought to a close. this stage of our inquiries a portion of our fellowlaborers have arrived at the term of their collegiate life. While I am treating of the conclusion of a discourse, they are brought to the conclusion of their academical career. At the same time an event, which removes me to a remote region, has suddenly arrested me in the course of these studies, and brings them also to a premature conclu

sion.

Two

years have elapsed since you, gentlemen, who are now about to issue from the halls of sci

ence into the tumult of the world, first became my hearers.

And this lecture completes the course, upon which you have attended. We have

been fellow-students upon subjects in

spects new to myself, as well as to you.

many re

We are

now to part; and you, as well as myself, are to be separated from those of your successors, who at a later period have become sharers in these studies.

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The situation, in which we respectively stand towards one another, is interesting to us all; and in taking leave of you, I trust you will indulge me with a few additional moments for the utterance of the sentiments, inspired by the occasion.

The period, to which those of you have arrivcd, who are bidding adieu to the residence within these venerable walls, is perhaps the most critical and important of any moment of your lives. It is the hinge, upon which your future destinies are balanced. It is from this moment, that most of you, ceasing to be merely members of a family, become active partners of the state; efficient citizens of the commonwealth. Henceforth you are to unite the study of living man with that of ages expired. And so rapid is the succession of years, that you will soon find the balance of your feelings and of your duties pointing with an irresistible magnet to futurity; and the growing burden of your hopes and wishes concentrated in the welfare of your successors upon this earthly stage; of yourselves upon that, which is to succeed. If at this moment, in which so many circumstances concur to give solemnity to our feelings, I may be permitted to use with you the freedom, as I feel for you the solicitude of a parent, and to express in the form of advice those ardent wishes for your

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