and her priests;" the waving palms and wizard glens of the South; and the stern superstitions of the North, with all its hills of snow and lucid air, "clad in the beauty of a thousand stars." He may cull gems from coral caverns, pluck flowers from sunny fields, and robe himself in splendor from the radiant heavens; he may lay all literature under contribution to illustrate his theme, array all worlds around him as the theatre of his discussion, and summon spirits from bliss, and devils damned, to verify and enforce his thought.

Such a preacher was Stillman. The "truth came mended from his lips." A few venerable persons yet survive who remember his august and imposing action, -that action which is the soul of thought. Nothing ostentatious in the mode of his commencement indicated premeditated display; all was simple and sublime. His figure was not corpulent, but it was compact and graceful in an extraordinary degree. The full wig and ample robes in which he was accustomed to preach added to the nobleness of his exterior, while an air of modesty and earnest candor augmented the force of his speech. His voice was sweet, flexible, and sonorous, but grave, firm, and masculine. His gestures, produced without effort or affectation, moved simultaneously with his mind, and both were animated, dignified, and persuasive. He occupied the same pulpit for many years, under the scrutiny of a vast congregation, all of whom found it difficult to decide which most to admire in their preacher, his exemplary life, or his unequalled eloquence; the soundness of his doctrine, or the graces of his delivery. Whenever his elegant form and ex

pressive features appeared in their presence, the vividness of his emotions and the pungency of his appeals served to remind the classical hearer of that ancient patriot who "bore the republic in his heart."

CHAPTER IX.

PATRICK HENRY,

THE INCARNATION OF REVOLUTIONARY ZEAL.

If there be one attribute of man supreme in dignity and worth it is that of oratory. The illusions of the eye, combined with the enchanting power of music, constitute an influence less potent upon the imagination and will, than the spirit-stirring appeals of "eloquence divine." Other charms are mostly drawn from the external world, but this emanates from the unseen spirit within; its splendors gleam through animated clay, and proclaim the superior majesty of immortal mind.

When men are exhilarated in the presence of excellence, when they are greatly moved by the power of cultivated speech, the imagination is more susceptible of receiving agreeable impressions, and the mind becomes insensibly imbued with the worth it in rapture admires.

When the heart and fancy are thus taken captive by those sentiments which are addressed to our sensibilities, the better to move our reason, the severe rules which we impose on the frigid logician, become generously expanded. The orator feels no longer wounded by hypercritical restraints; more latitude is granted for the expansion of his genius, and in the moment of fortunate

ibute of man supreme in dig

dat of oratory. The illusions of h with the enchanting power of mu consiske an influence less potent upon the imaginatio. Art will, that the spirit-stirring appeals of "eloque es divine." Other charms are mostly drawn from the external world, but this emanates from the unseen within; its splendors gleam through animated and proclaim the superior majesty of immortal mind. When men are exhilarated in the presence of ex they are greatly moved by the powe perch, the imagination is more susceptib agreeable impressions, and the mind beco.. sibly imbued with the worth it in rapture adinves When the art, and fancy are thus taken captive nts which are addressed to our sensibilities y move our reason, the severe rules whic the frigid logician, become generously ex brator feels no longer wounded by hyperical restraints; more latitude is granted for th pansion of ins genius, and in the moment of fortunate