should proceed from the shoulders; that which arises from the elbow, and, more especially, from the hands, is not sufficiently dignified. When your period is finished, let your action cease: and do not use a variety of gestures to express one idea.

The two arms, only, can contribute to action. Be careful, when you use them together, that their motions correspond. Their want of concord would be as offensive to the eye, as harshness of sound is grating to the ear.

In general, when one hand only is used, the right should be preferred. Not that it has any advantage over the left; but whether it is that a public speaker is more accustomed to use it, or that the eye is more habituated to the use of it, the action of the left hand seldom appears graceful.

Some writers on oratory have endeavored to prescribe bounds to the height the action of the hand should be carried: do not, it has been said by some let it pass the head; by others, let your passions direct you; and if they impel you to raise your hands above your head, they will produce no bad effect. It is, then, nature which dictates it. Nature, alone, should limit you in your animating exclamations; and in an ardent invocation, and in a transport of admiration, nature, alone, should be your guide.

But let your action be always just; there are some men, in whom it is, unfortunately, always false.

Having neither judgment nor ear, their action is never what it should be.

Should this, unhappily, be your case, discard action altogether. It is much better to deprive yourself of its advantages, were it even unexceptionable, than to make it either embarrass your periods, or give them a contrary meaning. Just action, and a correct judgment, usually go together. Nature seldom allows the perfection of one, with the absence of the other.

The action which would attempt to express words, of which a sentence is composed, would evidently fail in its effect. It would be as offensive as trifling; it is the general meaning, and predominant idea which should be conveyed. But how is this to be accomplished? It cannot be taught. Judgment, taste, and above all, good models will illustrate it.

To vary the gesture is a talent, and this talent leads to correctness; for, if the turn of a discourse varies considerably, the action in order to express it, ought to vary likewise. When a Preacher has only one gesture, it will, necessarily, be incorrect or insignificant: notwithstanding which, a dull uniformity of action is the common defect of Preachers. The whole eloquence of the person, at least, with many Preachers, consists in spreading their hands, for the purpose of uniting them with a

loud noise*, and in continually repeating this periodical motion. Thus they make the auditor the victim of their unskilfulness; they torment his eyes, and wound his ears, without mercy, by means injudiciously designed to attach and please them.

The arms and hands are not the only instruments of action; the whole person ought to concur in it. The positions of the body should vary, sometimes by turning to the right †, and sometimes to the left. I have often regretted, that our pulpits + were not, as in many places in Italy, formed like a tribune, where the Preacher could move at liberty.

Expression of countenance, the fire and energy of the looks, add greatly to the manner of delivery; the turn of the eyes is a species of action, which gives life to eloquence.

These various talents are only means to add efficacy to the action of the Preacher. To action, all

* This censure equally applies to the Methodists, Calvinists, Independents, &c.

+ In small Churches no inconvenience may arise from following these directions, but in a large building, where the pulpit is central, whilst the person of the Preacher is turned towards one half the congregation, the other is generally prevented from hearing.

Many of the English pulpits are, it is true, sufficiently awkward: but such as M. Reybaz proposes, would only tend to make the speaker theatrical, and would totally destroy the solemnity of the preaching.

the observations I have made, exclusively relate. It is the vehicle of thoughts and feelings, with which a Minister can more sensibly affect his audience. To say that a preacher has just and appropriate action, is to say, he possesses, in an eminent degree, all the exterior qualities of an orator, in alliance with the liveliness which gives to these qualities their power, and determines their effects.

Demosthenes being asked, in what eloquence consisted, centered the whole in action; and repeated the same word three time, as if he had said, it included every thing, and that eloquence could not exist, independent of it. I contrast action with the coolness of those orators, little deserving of the name, with those Ministers of habit, who do not, themselves, feel the truths of which they are commissioned to make others sensible; or, who are absolutely indifferent to the religion which they preach, and the effect it is intended to produce.

I do not hesitate to pronounce, however influenced we may be by custom, that the effect of eloquence is astonishing. Compose an indifferent discourse, and repeat it perfectly, you will satisfy your audience much more, than with an excellent sermon, delivered with disgusting monotony, or lifeless utterance.

How many times have we been delighted with the delivery of a composition, the perusal of which we

could not endure? And, on the contrary, how often has a work, which pleased us in the reading appeared otherwise when spoken? what inference shall we draw from this? That elocution is an important art; and that a Preacher cannot apply himself to it too attentively; not for the purpose of giving effect to a bad discourse, but to exhibit with all its advantages, a sermon, convincing by its argument, and efficacious by its persuasion.

You will find, in the History of Eloquence, that the orator owes his success, principally, to declamation. The harangues of Pericles, produced, in his mouth, the highest effect. He published them; but Quintilian esteemed them unworthy of the reputation they had acquired. The Minister Du Bosc was deputed by the Protestant Clergy to address to Louis XIV. their remonstrances. I have just heard, said that Prince, the finest Preacher in my kingdom. The extreme feebleness of the Sermons published by Du Bosc, strongly prepossess us in favour of his exterior eloquence.

There are three* sorts of declamation; that of the Pulpit, of the Theatre, and of the Bar. But as each has a species of eloquence peculiar to itself, so it hath of declamation likewise. Whatever it is that a person repeats, he should always consider

* M. Reybaz knew nothing of the Eloquence of the British Parliament, which surpasses often the eloquence of the Pulpit, even in Franch.