modern orators to a seat in the glittering temple of the spirits of the mighty. Of later days, the British Senate has undoubtedly been the best school in the world for eloquence, which has had its effect, too, upon the nation, in no slight degree, notwithstanding the generally received opinion that the English have an indifference to the pleasures of imagination and passion. We may just instance the time when Sheridan was

"The worthy rival of the wondrous three,* Whose words were sparks of immortality," to justify the assertion.

To come, however, to our point -the present times. It is notorious that no art ever made such rapid progress as the one in question has done during the last half century. Up to the year 1770, the exercise of public speaking was confined to M.P.'s, men of the law, and a few stragglers of divinity. But now the case is altered; and the wonder is, not to find a man who can speak, but to find one who cannot. There is, at present, scarcely a village that does not produce its orators; and the multitude of those displaying the eloquent propensity, seems to deny the declaration of Cicero, that study makes men eloquent-(since no one will charge the moderns with largely exercising that awkward qualification) Nascimur poetæ finimus oratores."

In these days, then, there are four sorts of sportsmen in the line of spouting, who gain, at particular seasons, an ample return for their powder and shot. We may class them thus

1

3. The frothy, flowery, flashy orator.

4. The heavy, cart-horse orator. In the first class, perhaps, we may rank such men as Lord Grey, Judge Bayley, and Lord Liverpool. The candidates for admission into this assembly of worthies, must be men who have clear and distinct ideas, and who are not in the habit of sporting to no purpose. This class of orators gain the admiration of but a very small portion of their fellows; they are, however, esteemed by some elderly gentlemen, and are affected to be so by a few younger ones, who have dipped a little into metaphysics, or such light reading, and looked at Locke's Chapter upon Innate Ideas.

The second list is a very numerous one. It comprises nearly all the speaking part of the Senate, and includes some who have graded from the "Cart-horse Class." Here, too, we shall find the great majority of wigs and gowns, the possessors of which, not being in the habit of feeling what they say, contract a formal style of address, and a leadenness of visage. The members of this class are much admired by elderly ladies, and particularly by those who are fond of the game of whist.

Mr. Canning (though somewhat too good for the school) in the Senate, Mr. Phillips at the bar, and Dr. Collyer in the pulpit, belong to the third class; and as our feelings are generally stronger than our reason, the style of eloquence adopted by this class of practitioners is very effective-it does considerable mischief; and has moistened more handkerchiefs than all the other styles put together. It is particularly adopted by young barristers who are lucky enough

to get a crim. con. brief; and by the early sprigs of divinity at the annual meetings of Bible Societies. At debating clubs, likewise, this style is in considerable requisition; and (although generally the vehicle of but little information) when touched with a delicate hand, it is extremely pleasing.

The fourth class comprises all the orators that are left to us after the three parties above-named have been marshalled. A particular notice of this division is scarcely necessary, unless it be to state that to undergo a course or two of its operation, would, in a great measure, supersede the use of lauda

num.

Oratorical sporting, then, is now the order of the day: and, indeed, all occasions are embraced with avidity for the exercise of it. Even public dinners, where each man falls

"Upon whate'er is offered, like A priest, a shark, an alderman, or pike," are not unfrequently held for the sole purpose of affording an opportunity for the display of the flourishing of eloquence. But not to tire with the recital of the state of this eloquent mania in the various classes of society, it will be sufficient to say, that from St. Stephen's to a board of tailors, and from the Court of Common Pleas to the Fives Court, nothing is thought of an oration; at the latter temple of taste, indeed, even Richmond the Black returns the amateurs his thanks for their patronage in a set speech; as if it were not enough to treat them with the striking eloquence of fibbing without at the same time coming down upon them with a bit of "the gentleman."

To shew, however, that we are naturally an eloquent nation, let us

bear in mind the description given of the ancient Britons by the Greek and Roman writers, who, after stating them to have been extremely attached to the chase, and to the amusements of leaping, running, riding, throwing the stone, wrestling, swimming, &c. add, that they possessed a natural propensity to that kind of eloquence which is sublime and masculine. It is to be presumed, too, that in the times to which these writers allude, the English women were remarkable for their talent in public speaking, as they were constituted, particularly the Druidesses, judges of the infraction of treaties, admitted to councils of war, and consulted on all important matters.

The exercise of the eloquent propensity requiring no small degree of self-possession, the old masters recommend the use of wine, to enable the orator to stand well on his feet; and, however strange it may be, something of this kind is frequently needed, since many a man who could speak well while sitting in his arm-chair, loses a great portion of his self-command when he essays to do the same thing standing. There is, then, something more than "truth in wine." It is certainly a great incentive to eloquence; and how many illustrious examples might be given of the truth of this remark! Rarely indeed do we find that the man who is gifted to hold the wand of eloquence over applauding senates, does not frequently acknowledge, in a liberal bumper, the virtues of the grape.

Courage has little to do with the orator: his is the bravery of the tongue; and history confirms the truth of the observation. Science naturally softens the man, and takes away from him those hardy

feelings which necessarily lead to brave actions.

The readers of the Sporting Magazine being in the mass perhaps more aware of the arts of life than any other class of men, it is altogether needless to give cases to illustrate our position, that oratory is sporting, and fine speeches mere "springes to catch woodcocks." Our friends, the sportsmen, will supply their own cases, as it suits their humour; and wishing them all joy intheir jovial occupations, we are theirs, April 20, 1822.

X. X.

THE mode practised in India for antelope shooting is the following:

Antelopes frequently are found among the crops in the cultivated parts of the country; and as they are accustomed to the appearance of, and indeed feed with, the cattle, a bullock trained for the purpose to stand fire, is led by a black man with a cord fastened to a ring in the beast's nose, and used exactly as a stalking horse was formerly in this country, to facilitate the approach to deer or wild fowl. The black people being employed as herdsmen, without fire arms, are little regarded by the game.

ON THE RESPECTIVE MERITS

It is found, I hear, almost invariably, that if a flint gun is altered to a detonator, the charge of powder formerly carried with ease, must be considerably reduced-in some cases, perhaps, to two-thirds of the original measure-or else the shot is driven any way but the right, and the gentleman at the butt experiences a hearty slap on the cheek. Now I would ask any reflecting man, whether the hard shooting of the gun must not, of necessity, be reduced in the same proportion that the quantity of powder is diminished? I know it will be answered, that the apparently increased quickness of ignition produced by the new mode will make up the deficiency. Now I beg to state my opinion, perhaps absurd enough, that the alleged increased quickness in lighting is all imaginary: I admit the feel, in the going of the two, is very different. Persons drawing the trigger of a percussion gun, after one of the old sort, however quick, generally exclaim, "How sharp she shoots! What a wonderful difference!" I think the real difference consists in this: When a flint lock lights, the ear is somehow imperceptibly prepared for the sound, and therefore awaits it without shrinking: when a percussion lock lights, the sound seems to take the ear by surprise, in the same way that a gun or pistol would, if fired close behind any one unaware of what was about to happen. I know persons who can shoot extremely well with flint locks, shoot very indifferently with the new sort: they say they cannot help flinching, the sound seems so startling; and that though they put the gun upon the bird, they miss, without being able to account how." On the other side, I know persons, professedly E