The achievements of virtue.

of the disinterested, noble-minded patriot, the power which sunders the bonds of the oppressed, which lights the torch of civil liberty, which rouses in a nation the spirit that has slept for centuries, and makes the heart of the abused and long suffering serf to leap for gladness. With the philanthropist it vindicates the brotherhood of man. It binds up the broken heart, and alleviates the sorrows and distresses of the unfortunate.

If there is any thing that can be achieved by forensic eloquence-by the spirit of man, which can be a source of pride in life, which can adorn the name when he who bore it lies mouldering in the tomb, it is the achievement of virtue. If a distinguished orator makes a speech on a topic which concerns the public interest, what is the judgment of mankind concerning it? If he has appealed to the sense of right and justice, if he has shown a clean heart and a disinterested purpose, and moves with power upon their feelings, he is honored and revered, and his memory is sweet to them. But if he displays the traces of a low, mean ambition, if he attempts by smooth words to create an under current, which shall some day carry him into some position of emolument, the universal sense of mankind is to damn and execrate him for it. The orator, and especially the political orator, is too often captivated

Eloquence among the Greeks.

Their language.

by present honors and gratifications than the more enduring fame; is better pleased with a green exotic than the fadeless laurel.

No state, either ancient or modern, ever yielded so much to the power of eloquence as did the Greeks. They lived in a tropical climate where warm and quick passions are nurtured. Theirs was the land of the orange and the olive-a pure atmosphere and balmy breezes. Their language, too, was the most accurate, comprehensive, and beautiful that has ever been invented by the ingenuity of man; capable of expressing the profound conceptions of Plato, the most accurate and exact rules of Aristotle, the resistless eloquence of Demosthenes, the playful fancies of Anacreon, and the liquid strains of Pindar. The art of printing among them was unknown; the freedom of speech was unbounded; and the passion of the people was to hear news, and witness theatrical performances. No wonder that eloquence among them had such unbounded sway. The Athenian assemblies were stormy and tumultuous, and Athenian oratory was of a corresponding character. Laws were made and public ordinances passed by the voice of the whole people. It will be readily perceived that such a deliberative body would be liable to be deceived and duped by the artful and designing demagogue, who possessed in an eminent degree the

Themistocles successful.

Aristides banished.

success.

power of forensic eloquence. But what has been the judgment of succeeding ages respecting Athenian statesmen? The glory has not been awarded to him who best succeeded, but to him who best deserved The wrangling orator who sought for personal advancement, and opened unprovoked attacks upon the wise and virtuous to secure their banishment, has merited and received the scorn of all succeeding times; while he who was firm in his attachment to the prosperity of his country, and who would rather submit to banishment or even death than compromise its honor or his own veracity, has always been held in grateful remembrance. The demagogue may be successful for a time, and the good man may suffer deep wrong. But these circumstances only make us more thoroughly despise the former, and bind to our hearts more firmly the latter. Themistocles was eminently successful. Yet we never pronounce his name without thinking that he was a deep, designing politician, who was ever working to secure to himself some political end. But Aristides will ever be loved and venerated; and though he is banished from his country by the intrigues of Themistocles, and by those who were tired of hearing him called "the just;" yet as he steps upon the trireme that is to bear him away into banishment, he can drop a tear of pity for his enemies,

Remark of Sir Joshua Reynolds to Mr. Burke.

and offer a prayer to the gods for the protection and prosperity of his native city,-that city for whose glory he had toiled so long and sacrificed so much.

When we see the blackness and perfidy that is wrapped up in the breast of Catiline, who does not tremble for the fate of Rome, and grow indignant over the story of this heartless villain? But will not those noble sentiments that burst forth from the soul of Cicero, make us better citizens and greater lovers of country? admirers not more of the beauty, elegance and resistless power of his eloquence, than the courage and fearless honesty of his heart? We scorn those tribunes who flattered the people with the promise of securing some rights for the public good, and when power was firmly in their grasp turned a haughty look upon the plebeians. But when we remember the honesty and devotion of Fabricius, and the noble death of Cato, it is pleasant to think that such men have lived.

Sir Joshua Reynolds once made the following remark to Mr. Burke: "I do not mean to flatter you, Mr Burke, but when posterity reads one of your speeches in Parliament, it will be difficult to believe you took so much pains, knowing with certainty, as you did, that it could produce no effect, that not one vote would be gained by it." "Waiving your compliment to me," was the reply, "I shall say in general

Confederated republic.

Liberty of the orator.

that it is very well worth while for a man to take pains to speak well in Parliament. And if a man speaks well, he gradually establishes a certain reputation and consequence in the general opinion, which sooner or later will have its political rewards. Besides, though not one vote is gained, a good speech has its effect. The bill you oppose may pass into a law, but it will be modified and softened by it."

This little fragment of personal remark opens to our view the heart of the great statesman. We discover that principle in his character upon which he was willing to stake his reputation. It was not the rule of mere expediency, or party triumph, or personal advancement upon which he acted. But deep and unyielding devotion to those principles which in his judgment were right, a fixedness of purpose which no circumstance could change, obedience to conscientious conviction that no hope of reward could alter, were the elements which gave luster to the character of him who is the pride of British statesmen and civilians, and which will entwine about the name of Burke in perennial beauty.

In some respects civil society among us is similar to what it was among the Greeks. Ours is a confederated republic, and with us, as with the Greeks, the orator is at liberty to think what he pleases and speak what he thinks. Successful oratory is in high repute.