An Essay on Elocution

Is felt the first, the only sense
Of guiltless joy that guilt can know.

"There's a drop," said the Peri, "that down from the moon
"Falls through the withering airs of June
"Upon Egypt's land, of so healing a power,
"So balmy a virtue, that ev'n in the hour
"That drop descends, contagion dies,
"And health reanimates earth and skies!-
"Oh, is it not thus, thou man of sin,

"The precious tears of repentance fall?
Though foul thy very plagues within,
"One heavenly drop hath dispelled them all."
And now-behold him kneeling there
By the child's side, in humble prayer,
While the same sun-beam shines upon
The guilty and the guiltless one,
And hymns of joy proclaim through Heaven
The triumph of a Soul Forgiven!

'Twas when the golden orb had set,
While on their knees they linger'd yet,
There fell a light more lovely far
Than ever came from sun or star,
Upon the tear, that warm and meek,
Dew'd that repentant sinner's cheek:
To mortal eye this light might seem
A northern flash, a meteor beam-
But well the enraptur'd PERI knew
'Twas a bright smile the Angel threw
From Heaven's gate, to hail that tear
Her harbinger of glory near!

"Joy, joy for ever! my task is done-
"The Gates are pass'd, and Heaven is won!"

THE SAILOR-BOY'S DREAM.

IN slumbers of midnight the sailor boy lay,
His hammock swung loose at the sport of the wind:
But, watchworn and weary, his cares flew away,
And visions of happiness danc'd o'er his mind.

He dreamt of his home, of his dear native bow'rs, And Pleasure that waited on life's merry morn;

While Mem'ry stood sideways, half cover'd with flow'rs,

And displayed ev'ry rose, but secreted its thorn.

Then fancy her magical pinions spread wide, And bade the young dreamer in extacy rise.

Now far, far behind him the green waters glide, And the cot of his forefathers blesses his eyes:

The jessamine clambers, in flow'r, o'er the thatch, And the swallow sings sweet from her nest in the wall. All trembling with transport, he raises the latch, And the voices of lov'd ones reply to his call.

A Father bends o'er him with looks of delight— His cheek is impearl'd with a mother's warm tear;

And the lips of the boy in a love kiss unite With the lips of the maid whem his bosom holds dear. The heart of the sleeper beats high in his breast, Joy quickens his pulse-all his hardships seem o'er,

And a murmur of happiness steals through his rest"Kind fate thou hast blest me-I ask for no more.'

در

Ah! whence is that flame which now bursts on his eye? Ah! what is that sound which now larums ear?

'Tis the lightning's red glare painting hell on the sky,—"Tis the crashing of thunders, the groan of the sphere.

He springs from his hammock-he flies to the deck, Amazement confronts him with images dire;

Wild winds and waves drive the vessel a wreck, The masts fly in splinters, the shrouds are on fire.

Like mountains the billows tremendously swell: In vain the lost wretch calls on Mercy to save.

Unseen hands of spirits are ringing his knell, And the death angel flaps his broad wing o'er the wave.Oh! sailor boy, woe to thy dream of delight, In darkness dissolves the gay frost-work of bliss.

Where now is the picture that Fancy touch'd bright— Thy parents' fond pressure, and love's honied kiss?

Oh, sailor-boy! sailor-boy! never again Shall home, love, or kindred thy wishes repay!

Unblest and unhonour'd, down deep in the main, Full many a score fathom thy frame shall decay:

No tomb shall e'er plead to remembrance for thee, Or redeem form or fame from the merciless surge.

But the white foam of wave shall thy winding sheet be, And winds in the midnight of winter thy dirge;

On beds of green sea flow'rs thy limbs shall be laid, Around thy white bones the red coral shall grow;

Of thy fair yellow locks threads of amber be made;
And ev'ry part suit to thy mansion below.

Days, months, years, and ages shall circle away,
And still the vast waters above thee shall roll,
Earth loses thy pattern for ever and aye :-
Oh, sailor-boy! sailor-boy!-peace to thy soul!

Speech of Patrick Henry
Declaration of Independence
Washington's Farewell Address to the People of the

United States

A Discourse delivered at Plymouth, December 22d, 1820, in commemoration of the first settlement of New-England

On the Greek Revolution

ELOQUENCE OF POPULAR ASSEMBLIES.

Extract from an Oration delivered at the City Hotel in the New-York Forum, 1821

Eulogy pronounced at the City of Washington, Oct.
19, 1826

Description of General Conway's Situation on the
Repeal of the American Stamp Act
Description of Junius

Lamentation for the loss of his Son

Character of Mr. Fox, in support of his India Bill
Allusion to the Volunteers, and the subsequent de-
generacy of Ireland

On the Natural Desire of Man for Liberty
Character of Lord Chatham

Invective against Mr. Corry in reply to his Aspersions
Extracts from a Speech against Warren Hastings
A Speech delivered at Cheltenham, &c.

Page

76 Ibid. 77 Ibid. 78 Ibid. 80 Ibid. 82

Grattan.

Curran. 89
Ibid. 99
Ibid. 101

114

Jefferson. 118

124

Webster. 143
Ibid. 149

Sheridan.
Phillips.

Dwyer. 161

Wirt. 163

Burke 182
Ibid. 183

Ibid. 134
Ibid. 186

188

Ibid. 189
Ibid. 189
Ibid. 191

192

195

A Speech delivered at a Dinner given on Dinas
İsland, in the Lake of Killarney, &c. &c.
On Education

The Capitol

The Forum

SUBJECTS DESCRIPTIVE AND MISCELLANEOUS.

The Self Inflicting Torments of the Gamester
A Description of the Field of Battle where Varus,
the Roman General, and his army, had been
destroyed by Armineus, &c. &c.

Eulogy on General Washington
On General La Fayette's Reception in the U. States
The Widow and her Son

Reflections on first approaching Rome

The Thermæ, or the Baths of Caracalla
The Pantheon

St. Peters

Description of Etna
Snowdon

The Ocean

The Vale of Tempe

POETIC PIECES.

Time

The Burial of Sir John Moore

The Sacking of Prague

The Pilot