to store his mind.* But still, the man of letters will do well to read w th care the most elaborate speeches of the famous orators. To those who wish to peruse the best speeches of eminent British statesmen, we can unreservedly commend the excellent collection of Professor Chauncey A. Goodrich.

Another important feature of this volume is a delineation of the oratorical character-an analysis of that eloquence whose bewitching strains have enchanted listening senates and popular assemblies. Comments are made on the leading peculiarities of each orator. His forte is generally pointed out, the great secret of his power unfolded, and the charms of his manner described. To aid in the execution of this difficult task, opinions of judicious critics and cotemporary writers have often been cited. Many beautiful sketches of character, drawn by master-hands, are thus embodied in the work. For several of these spirited descriptions, the author is indebted to Mackintosh, Wraxall, Brougham, Wirt, Goodrich, Jenkins, March, and Cleaveland.

Many valuable hints on the art of public speaking are thrown out. These, the student of oratory will do well to regard.

The young student of oratory can find in this volume many of the choicest pieces for declamation. For other specimens of eloquence not included in this work, we refer the student to the Standard Speaker, by Epes Sargent - an excellent book, which we strongly commend to those of our readers who are pursuing an academic or collegiate course.

A number of anecdotes are related, making the book amusing as well as instructive.

In the notes which are subjoined, will be found notices of other political orators, whose names are not included in the table of contents; such as Mansfield, Mirabeau, Wilberforce, Hamilton, Hayne, Wirt, Choate, and Kossuth.

It was the original design of the author to embrace in the present collection the most celebrated pulpit orators of France, Great Britain, and America, including some living divines; but it has been thought best to reserve them for a separate volume of the same size as the present.

In conclusion, the author would state that this work is intended to be a text book for students in our academies and colleges; one which shall lie on the table of every one engaged in the study of oratory, and be an every-day book of reference for the literary man, the clergyman, the lawyer, and the politician.

South Argyle, N. Y., 1855.

DAVID A. HARSHA.

ORATORS AND STATESMEN.

CHAPTER I.

DEMOSTHENES.

"To the famous orators repair,

Those ancients, whose resistless eloquence
Wielded at will that fierce democracy,

Shook the arsenal, and fulmined over Greece

To Macedon and Artaxerxes' throne."-Milton.

It is pleasant and interesting to contemplate the orators, whose eloquence has instructed, delighted, swayed and astonished thousands. To sketch the lives of a few of them; to draw their character; to exhibit some specimens of their eloquence will be the object of this volume. The history of those "famous orators" whom we design to notice, is full of incidents of extraordinary interest, and over their names is shed a luster which will never grow dim.

Before we contemplate the prince of orators, it will be interesting to advert to the history of ancient Grecian eloquence We shall do this very briefly.

It was not until the later ages of the republic that oratory made its appearance, and assumed its true character. After Greece had adopted the popular forms of government; after Solon had framed a new constitution; after the incomparable poems of Homer had been collected and