forum, whom in many traits he resembled, Charles James Fox. Brougham says of the latter that, "One of his worst speeches, if not his worst, is that upon Francis, Duke of Bedford; and it is known to be almost the only one he ever much prepared, and the only one he ever corrected for the press." But that such careful preparation offers no necessary impediment to the most enrapturing oratory is evident from the example of Sheridan. It is notorious that he never made a speech of any importance, without first writing out its main points and most thrilling passages over and over again. Indeed, when his affairs became so deranged as to forbid such minute and elaborate preparation, he ceased to speak in public altogether. Still, in the instance of our countryman, the fastidiousness of his taste may have chilled the fervor of his emotions. That which serves best in a written disquisition is often least effective in spoken discourse. It has been said that a didactic poet is a contradiction in terms; the remark is equally true in respect to didactic eloquence. In a popular audience, it is never permitted to make the hearer a mere passive listener; his presence must be felt by the speaker, and he must not only be identified with the passing scene but kindled into sympathy by direct personal appeals.

Aristotle, speaking of certain old philosophers, compared them to undisciplined gladiators, who strike at random instead of right forward, and therefore fight with little effect, though they may occasionally deal a powerful blow. Our hero was too well trained to strike much at random, and he had too much force in all his

well-aimed blows to fail in felling his unwary antagonist to the ground. From the ordinary placidity which characterizes the forensic eloquence of our age, Pinkney as widely differed, as the style of Addison differs from that of Dryden. The former has been likened to a clear and transparent stream, whose motion is too gentle to ruffle the surface or sully the purity of its waters; whilst that of Dryden "has the impetuosity of a torrent, which often tears the weeds from its banks, and stirs up the ooze from the bottom of its channel; but that ooze is mixed with grains of precious gold, and those weeds contain amongst them flowers of the most delightful hue and odor; whilst the very swiftness of the current fixes our regard more intensely than the tranquil surface of the gentler stream. He seems to have principally aimed at being strong and forcible, and to this object every minor consideration is sacrificed.”

After all is said, it must be acknowledged that the faults of Mr. Pinkney's manner were lost in the effulgence of his matter, as the fervor of the sun hides its own spots. There was a vast body as well as momentum in his argument; a power that generates success, daunts opposition, and annihilates resistance. Like the giants of ancient mythology, he was in his sphere and mode an ideal of strength. For ever should he be admired for his industry and patriotism. With all the advantage of uncommon outward talents, so intense and habitual was his love of intellectual improvement, that he considered every hour deducted from study as worthy of a black pebble. Titus never more deeply mourned the loss of a day. What the greatest of Irish

orators said of the best of English statesmen may not unjustly be said of Pinkney, and to have deserved the encomium is an honor sufficient to prompt and reward the ambition of any man. "No state chicanery, no narrow system of vicious politics, no idle contests for mere party victories, regardless of principle, ever sunk him to the vulgar level of the so called great."

CHAPTER XIV.

WILLIAM WIRT,

THE ELEGANT ADVOCATE.

ELOQUENT and upright lawyers have ever been among the first to resist oppression and promote human weal. Demosthenes, who roused the Athenians to resist the tyranny of Philip, was an advocate. Cicero, the antagonist of oppressors and the savior of his country, was an advocate. When Charles the First commenced his despotic exactions, it was the advocates of England who first breasted the torrent. France was revolu tionized by advocates; and her best patriots at this moment are the ablest leaders at her bar. When the enormities of Great Britain threatened subjugation to her colonies in the west, it was the voice of such advocates as Otis, Henry and Adams, that, like a Paladin's horn, roused the people of America to conquest and liberty. From the first planting of republican institutions in our land, advocates have perpetually kindled the beacon-lights of patriotism and law-"hope of the fettered slave and glory of the free." Prominent in this noble class was

William Wirt. His parents were

a Swiss and a

German, who resided, at the time of his birth, Nov. 8th, 1772, at Bladensburg, near Washington. His father died when he was an infant; and his mother when he was but eight years old. Like most great men, he was early left orphaned of every thing but resolution and hope, to antagonize with worldly adversity, and, in the midst of storms, to build his fortunes.

After suitable preparatory studies, he went to Leesburg, Virginia, and when seventeen years old, commenced the study of law in the office of Mr. Swann. He seems to have prosecuted his studies with great diligence and success. Among other good influences under which his mind was there developed, he was ever of the opinion that he derived much advantage from the beauty and sublimity of the natural scenery which encompassed him. Undoubtedly, his conclusion on that point was correct. There is always a striking resemblance between the predominating character of local scenery and the minds matured under its influence. Edmund Burke grew up amid the most gorgeous scenery of Ireland, and Daniel Webster was cradled in the bosom of the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where all in nature is cool, colossal, sublime.

Mr. Wirt obtained his license to practice law in 1792, a few days before he was twenty years old. The first cause in which he was engaged was in Culpepper County, on which occasion his argument is said to have been firm, collected and successful.

For several years, he resided in the family of Dr. G. Gilmer, whose daughter he married in 1795. The Doctor had a high professional and classical reputation,