man genius, the fullest development of all the powers, and the manifestations of the highest qualities of our nature.

17. There is certainly no display of mortal power so imposing as that of the great orator, at the moment of putting forth his energies; when the highest mental faculties are called into action, in concert with those physical powers which are so noble that the Greeks held them divine; when the "thoughts that breathe" and the "words that burn," are enforced by the graceful and impressive geture, the form that seems to tower up and dilate, the beaming eye, the voice with its thousand tones, embodying thought in the most resistless forms, and the enraptured crowds are ready to cry out: "It is the voice of a god and not of a

man."

18. Cicero loved eloquence as an art; he felt that his capacities were peculiarly adapted to it; and, smitten with the ideal that existed in his mind, he was urged by an irresistible desire to give it expression. He bound himself for life to the pursuit, and no change of circumstance, no danger, no distress, could induce him to abandon it. The iron hand of the dictator could not crush the growing flower of Roman oratory.

19. The birth-place of art is in the soul; it does not depend upon rules: it exists previously to all theories and sciences; it is a perfect idea, an image of beauty dwelling in the mind in distinct and radiant traits, which we seek to clothe, in some form that may be comprehended by the

senses.

20. The ideal of eloquence existed in Cicero's mind above all rules. It was with him something not acquired byrules, but pre-existing in his mind; aided, but not formed by industry; giving birth to rhetoric, not receiving existence from it. To but few individuals has the beautiful conception been granted.

21. Cicero's style belongs peculiarly to himself. Language with him becomes a new thing; it is perfectly transparent and radiant with thought. It seems, when we are reading his works, as if intellect itself had become vissible before us. We feel sure at the first sentence Cicero utters, that he will prevail.

22. The depth of pathos, passages of heart-rending emo

tion, light and playful satire, blasting sarcasm, the deep tone of indignation, gathering strength as it rolls on, and swelling into bursts of thunder, and the furious storm of invective which crush and overwhelm the criminal; all are found in these wonderful remains of art.-N. Am. Review.

Cicero, to whom the above most admirable article relates, and whose name is but another for eloquence itself, was born in the city of Arpinum, 107 years before Christ. He was the greatest man, whether we consider him as an orator, a statesman, or a philosopher, that Rome ever produced. Being proscribed by Mark Antony, for freedom of opinion, he was assassinated at the age of 64.

ELOQUENCE, ITS TRUE NATURE.

1. When public bodies are to be addressed on momentous occasions, when great interests are at stake, and strong passions excited, nothing is valuable in speech farther than it is connected with high intellectual and moral endowments. Clearness, force, and earnestness, are the qualities which produce conviction.

2. True eloquence, indeed, does not consist in speech. It cannot be brought from far. Labor and learning may toil for it, but they will toil in vain. Words and phrases may be marshalled in every way, but they cannot compass it. It must exist in the man,-in the subject,-and in the occasion.

3. Affected passion, intense expression, the pomp of declamation, all may aspire after it: they cannot reach it. It comes, if it comes at all, like the outbreaking of a fountain from the earth, or the bursting forth of volcanic fires, with spontaneous, original, native force.

4. The graces taught in the schools, the costly ornaments and studied contrivances of speech, shock and disgust men, when their own lives, and the fate of their wives, their children, and their country, hang on the decision of the hour.

5. Then, words have lost their power, rhetoric is vain, and all elaborate oratory contemptible. Even genius itself feels rebuked and subdued, as in the presence of higher qualities. Then, patriotism is eloquent: then, self-devotion is eloquent.

6. The clear conception, outrunning the deductions of logic, the high purpose, the firm resolve, the dauntless spirit, speaking on the tongue, beaming from the eye, informing every feature, and urging the whole man onward, right onward to his object-this, this is eloquence; or rather, it is something greater and higher than all eloquence-it is action-noble, sublime, godlike action.-D. Webster.

The above judicious observations on eloquence, are extracted from Daniel Webster's discourse at Boston, on John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, both of whom died in 1826, on the 4th of July! In describing the characteristics of genuine eloquence, he has unconsciously described his own. He has, for many years, been a member of the Senate of the United States from Massachusetts, his adopted State. On the 4th of March, 1841, he was appointed Secretary of State, by President Harrison. His features are prominent, especially his forehead; his eyes, which are over-arched by dark, heavy brows, are expressive and penetrating; and his countenance is so serious in its aspect, that it seems to border on solemnity.

ELOQUENCE OF THE PULPIT.

1. The eloquence of the pulpit is nearly allied to music, in its effects upon the moral faculty. It is true, there can be no permanent change in the temper and moral conduct of a man, that is not derived from the understanding and the will; but we must remember that these two powers of the mind are most assailable when they are attacked through the avenue of the passions; and these we know, when agitated by the powers of eloquence, exert a mechanical action upon every power of the soul.

2. Hence we find in every age and country where Christianity has been propagated, the most accomplished orators. have generally been the most successful reformers of mankind. There must be a defect of eloquence in a preacher, who, with the resources for oratory which are contained in the Old and New Testaments, does not produce in every man who hears him, at least, a temporary love of virtue.

3. I grant the eloquence of the pulpit alone cannot change men into Christians, but it certainly possesses the power of changing brutes into men. Could the eloquence of the stage be properly directed, it is impossible to conceive the extent of its mechanical effects upon morals.

4. The language and imagery of Shakspeare upon moral and religious subjects, poured upon the passions and the senses in all the beauty and variety of dramatic representation; who could resist or describe their effects?-Rush.

Dr. Benjamin Rush was born near Philadelphia, in 1745, and died in the year 1813. He was very distinguished.

TASTE FOR READING.

1. If I were to pray for a taste which would stand me in stead of every variety of circumstances, and be a source of happiness and cheerfulness through life, and shield against its many ills, however things might go amiss, and the world frown upon me, it would be a taste for reading. I speak of it, of course, only as a worldly advantage, and not in the slightest degree superseding or derogating from the higher office and surer and stronger panoply of religious principles; but as a taste, an instrument, and a mode of pleasurable gratification.

2. Give a man this taste and the means of gratifying it, and you can hardly fail of making him a happy man, unless, indeed, you put into his hands a most preverse selection of books. You place him in contact with the best society of every period of history-with the wisest, the wittiest, the tenderest, the bravest, and the purest characters which have adorned humanity. You make him a denizen of all nations, cotemporary of all ages. The world has been created for him.

3. It is hardly possible that his character should not take a higher and a better tone from the constant habit of associating with a class of thinkers, to say the least of it, above the average of humanity. It is morally impossible that the manners should not take a tinge of good breeding and civilization, from having constantly before one's eyes the way in which the best bred and best informed men have talked and conducted themselves, in their intercourse with each other.

4. There is a gentle but perfectly irresistible coercion in a well directed habit of reading, over the whole tenor of a man's character and conduct, which is not the less essen.

tial because it works insensibly, and because it is really the It civilizes the conduct of men, and suffers them not to remain barbarous.Sir J. Herschell.

last thing he dreams of.

sun.

A RABBINICAL TALE.

1. And it came to pass after these things, that Abraham sat at the door of his tent, about the going down of the And behold! a man bent with age, coming from the way of the wilderness, leaning on a staff. And Abraham arose, met him, and said unto him: "Turn in, I pray thee, and wash thy feet, and tarry all night, and thou shalt arise early in the morning, and go on thy way."

2. And the man said: "Nay, for I will abide under this tree." But Abraham pressed him greatly; so he turned, and they went into the tent. And Abraham baked unleavened bread, and they did eat. And when Abraham saw that the man blessed not God, he said unto him: "Wherefore dost thou not worship the most high God, Creator of heaven and earth?"

3. And the man answered and said: "I worship the God of my fathers, in the way which they have appointed." And Abraham's wrath was kindled against the man, and he arose and fell upon him, and drove him forth with blows into the wilderness. And God called unto Abraham, saying: "Abraham, where is the stranger?"

4. And Abraham answered and said: "Lord, he would not worship thee, neither would he call upon thy name, therefore have I driven him out before my face into the wilderness." And God said: "Have I borne with him these hundred and ninety years, and nourished him, and clothed him, notwithstanding his rebellion against me; and couldst not thou, who art thyself a sinner, bear with him one night?"

5. And Abraham said: "Let not the anger of my Lord wax hot against his servant; lo! I have sinned, I pray thee forgive me. And Abraham arose, and went forth into the wilderness, and sought diligently for the man, and found him, and returned with him to the tent; and when he had treated him kindly, he sent him away on the morrow, with gifts.-Dr. Franklin.