Select British Eloquence; Embracing the Best Speeches Entire, of the Most Eminent Orators of Great Britain for the Last Two Centuries; with Sketches of Their Lives, an Estimate of Their Genius, & Notes, Critical & Explanatory

7; the perfection of his imagery, 167; who was Juni-
us? 168-9; his political relations, 170; had previously
written under other signatures, ib.; reasons for his
now coming out with increased strength and boldness,
ib.; impression made by his first letter, 171; attacked
by Sir William Draper, and thus made an object of pub-
lic attention, ib.; hís triumph over Sir William, 171–2;
the power he gained as a writer, ib.; his efforts second-
ed by Lord Chatham, ib.; the King predicts that Junius
will cease writing, ib.; he discontinues his Letters at
the end of three years, and Sir Philip Francis is sent to
India, ib.

LETTER to the Printer of the Public Advertiser..... 173

LETTER to Sir William Draper

LETTER to Sir William Draper..

LETTER to the Duke of Grafton

Sheridan, 230; writes his Relections on the Revolu

tion in France, 231; characteristics of the work, ib.,

its errors, ib.; its excellences, 231-32; his separation

from Mr. Fox, 232-33; loss of his son, 234-35; pension

granted him, 235; his Letter to a Noble Lord on the

subject of his pension, ib.; his Letters on a Regicide

l'eace, ib. ; errors of Mr. Burke respecting the war with

France, 235-36; decline of his health, 237; his death,

ib.; characteristics of his genius and eloquence, 237-40

SPEECH on American Taxation....

SPEECH on Conciliation with America

SPEECH previous to the Bristol Election

SPEECH on declining the Election at Bristol

SPEECH on the East India Bill of Mr. Fox

SPEECH on the Nabob of Arcot's Debts....

PERORATION of Speech against Warren Hastings

EXTRACTS from works on the French Revolution...

MISCELLANEOUS

MR. BURKE on the Death of his son

CHARACTER of Sir Joshua Reynolds

DETACHED SENTIMENTS AND MAXIMS..

382

His birth and education in Dublin, 382; study of the law

in London, ib.; study of Lord Chatham as an orator,

ib.; settlement in Dublin as an advocate, ib.; election

to the Irish Parliament, ib.; moves a Declaration of

Irish right, 383; unsuccessful, ib.; moves it again at the

end of two years, 384; prevails, ib.; opposed by Mr.

Flood, ib.; invective against him, ib.; opposed to the

Union, ib.; chosen to the Imperial Parliament, ib.; de-

voted to the cause of Emancipation, ib.; his death, ib.;

personal qualities and character as an orator, 385.

SPEECH on moving a Declaration of Irish Right

SPEECH on making a second motion for a Declaration of

Irish Right...

LETTER to the Duke of Bedford.

RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN.

REMARKS on the Character of the Duke of Bedford (by His parentage and connection with the stage, 399; early

REMARKS on the character of the Duke of Grafton (by the
Editor)
204
F.STIMATE OF JUNIUS by Mr. Burke and Dr. Johnson. 204
EDMUND BURKE.

206
His birth and delicate constitution, 206; educated at a
Quaker school in Ballitore, ib.; early training, ib.; re-
moved to Trinity College, Dublin, ib.; account of his
studies, 207; early philosophical spirit, ib.; leaves col-
lege and studies law in London, ib.; his severe mental
labor, 208; applies unsuccessfully for a professorship in
Glasgow, ib.; publishes his Vindication of Natural So-
ciety, ib.; publishes his Essay on the Sublime and Beau-
tiful, 209; his society courted by the most distinguished
literary men, ib.; his conversational powers, 210; com.
mences the Annual Register, ib.; goes to Ireland as sec-
retary to Single Speech Hamilton, 211; comes into Par-
liament as a supporter of Lord Rockingham, 212; his
maiden speech, highly praised by Lord Chatham, ib.;
goes out with Lord Rockingham, and becomes leader
of the Whigs in the House, 213; Speech on American
Taxation, its powerful impression, 214; elected mem-
ber for Bristol, 215; circumstances leading to his speech
on conciliation with America, ib.; comparison between
this and his speech on American Taxation, 215-16;
speech on Economical Reform, "King's turnspit a
member of Parliament," 216; speech at Bristol previ
ous to the election, 216-17; declines the polls, and re-
turned for Malton, 217; speech against the continuance
of the American war, "shearing the wolf," 217-218;
after the fall of Lord North, comes in with Lord Rock-
ingham as Paymaster of the Forces, 218; carries his
measures for economical reform, 219; originates the
East India Bill of Mr. Fox, ib.; his intimate acquaint-
ance with India and its concerns, 220; his speech on
Fox's East India Bill, 221; speech on the Nabob of Ar-
cot's debts, ib. ; procures the impeachment of Warren
Hastings, 221-22; draws up the articles of impeach-
ment, 223; delivers the opening speech against Hast-
ings, ib.; delivers his closing speech at the end of nearly
seven years, 224; reasons for the acquittal of Hastings,
225; King becomes deranged, 226; his ground respect
ing a Regency, ib.; his unpopularity and abusive treat-
ment in the house, ib. ; his early jealousy of the French
Revolution, 227 reasons. 227-28; his first collision
with Mr. Fox on the subject, 229; his breach with Mr.

dramatic productions, ib.; purchase of Drury Lane
Theater, ib.; election to Parliament, ib.; made Under
Secretary of State, 400; keen retort on Pitt, ib.; speech
against Hastings in the House, ib.; speech before the
House of Lords under the impeachment, 401; Lord
Byron's lines thereon, ib.; indolence and effrontery as
a speaker, 402; his wit and humor, ib.; habits of intem.
perance, 403; unhappy death, ib.; personal appearance
and character as an orator, 404.

SPEECH against Warren Hastings when impeached be

fore the House of Lords

His birth and early genius, 437; indulgence of his father,

ib.; produces habits of dissipation, 438; eminence in

classical literature, ib.; distinction at Eaton and Oxford,

ib.; early extravagance, 439; enters Parliament, iv.,

first a Tory and in office under Lord North, 440; turr

ed out abruptly, ib.; joins the Whigs as a pupil of

Burke, 441; his labors to form himself as a debater,

443; becomes head of the Whig party, ib.; is made Sec.

retary of State under Lord Rockingham, 444; disap-

pointed in not becoming Prime Minister on the death

of Rockingham, ib.; forms his Coalition with Lore

North, 445; drives out the ministry and becomes Sec-

retary of State, ib.; his East India Bill, 446; speech in

support of it, 447; carried in the House, ib.; defeated

in the Lords, ib.; his speech against secret influence,

448; displaced and Mr. Pitt made Prime Minister, ib.;

unsuccessful efforts to drive Pitt from power, ib.; West-

minster election, 449; Mr. Fox's speech on the subject,

450; decision of the House in his favor, ib.; derange-

ment of the King, ib.; Mr. Fox asserts the right of the

Prince of Wales to the Regency, 451; King recovers,

452; Mr. Fox's speech against Mr. Pitt for arming against

Russia, 453; his Libel bill, ib.; his views of the French

Revolution, 454; his speech on Mr. Pitt's rejection of

Bonaparte's overtures for peace, 458; comes in under

Lord Grenville as Secretary of Foreign Affairs, 459; his

death, personal appearance, 460; characteristics of his

oratory, ib.

WII.LIAM PITT.

.. Page 551

His early ill health and inability to attend a public school,

551; his remarkable proficiency at home, ib.; goes to

Cambridge at fourteen, ib.; his ambition from boyhood

to be an orator, ib.; his training with that view at col-

lege, 552; his mode of studying the classics, ib.; his em

inence in the mathematics, ib.; his severe discipline in

logic, 553; in mental science and political economy, ib.;

his early social habits, 554; comparison between him

and Lord Chatham, 555; his call to the bar, ib.; his

election to Parliament, 556; remarkable success of his

maiden speech, ib.; joins the Whigs, ib.; his sarcasm

on Lords North and Germaine, 557; comes in with Lord

Shelburne as Chancellor of the Exchequer at the age

of twenty-three, ib.; his brilliant speech against Mr.

Fox and the Coalitionists, 558; his felicitous quotation

from Horace, 561; is driven out with Lord Shelburne

by the Coalition, ib.; attacks Mr. Fox's East India Bill,

562; made Prime Minister at twenty-four, 563; Mr.

Fox's efforts to drive him out, ib.; his energetic resist

ance, 564; extraordinary scene in the House, 565; his

keen rebuke of General Conway, ib.; his ultimate tri-

umph, 568; his East India Bill, ib.; motion for reform

in Parliament, 569; plan of paying the public debt, 570;

his admirable speech against the Slave Trade, ib., war

with France, 571; eloquent speech when his proposals

of peace were rejected by the French, 575; speech of

great compass and power when he refused to treat

with Bonaparte, 576; resigns at the end of seventeen

years, ib.; returns to power, 577; his death, ib.; per-

sonal appearance and characteristics of his eloquence,

His birth at Edinburgh, 629; early education at Edin
burgh and St. Andrews, ib.; his remarkable versatility
of mind and liveliness of feeling, ib.; goes to sea at
fourteen as a midshipman, ib.; enters the army as an
ensign at eighteen, 630; marries at twenty, ib.; his
studies in English literature, ib.; determines to study
law, 631; his call to the bar, ib.; his first retainer and
remarkable succese, ib.; his instantaneous overflow of
business, 633; case of Admiral Keppel, ib.; enters Par-
liament and supports Fox, ib.; chief peculiarities as
an advocate, 634; State Trials, ib.; made Lord Chan-
olor under the Grenville ministry, 635; his retire-
went and death, ib.; personal appearance and char.
acter of his eloquence, 635-6.

SPEECH in behalf of Lord George Gordon....

SPEECH on the Rights of Juries

637

SIR JAMES MACKINTOSH

Page 82:

His birth near Inverness, Scotland, 821; precocity and

early love of reading, ib.; distinction at school, ib.; per-

suades bis school-fellows to practice extemporaneous

speaking. ib.; goes to the university, ib.; early attach-

ment to metaphysical inquiries, ib.; intimacy and union

of studies with Robert Hall, 821-22; studies medicine at

Edinburgh, 822; removes to London, and supports him.

self by writing for the periodical press, ib.; publishe

his Vindiciae Gallica in answer to Burke on the French

Revolution, ib.; studies law, and is called to the bar,

823; delivers his lectures on the Law of Nature and Na-

tions, ib.; beautiful character of Grotius in his Intro-

ductory Lecture, 823-24; success as an advocate. 824;

his speech in defense of Peltier when prosecuted for a
libel on Bonaparte, ib.; encomiums of Lord Erskine and
Robert Hall on this speech, 825; is appointed Recorder
of Bombay, and raised to the honors of knighthood, ib.
spends eight years in India, and returns with a broken
constitution, ib.; enters Parliament, ib.; becomes Pro-
fessor of Law and General Politics in Haileybury Col-
lege, 826; his literary labors, ib.; his character as a par
liamentary orator, ib.; his death, ib.

SPEECH in behalf of Peltier

CHARACTER of Charles J. Fox..

GEORGE CANNING..

827

.. 850

851

His birth in London, 851; descended from an Irish far-

ily of distinction, ib.; premature death of his father, ib. ;

dependent condition of his mother, who goes on to the

stage for her support, ib.; his early proficiency at school,

ib.; his love of English literature, ib.; is removed to

Eton, ib.; induces his companions to establish a paper

called the Microcosm, ib.; takes the lead in a debating

society, 852; leaves Eton with its highest honors, and

enters the University of Oxford, ib.; when freshman,

gains the Chancellor's prize for Latin composition, ib.;

high standing at Oxford, ib.; influence of competition,

ib.; leaves the university and commences the study of

the law, ib.; is invited by Mr. Pitt to become his polit

ical adherent, ib.; elected to Parliament, ib.; his early

character as a speaker, 853; unites in establishing the

Anti-Jacobin Review, ib.; author of the most striking

poetical effusions in the work, ib.; the Needy Knife

grinder, 853-4; made Under Secretary of State, and aft

erward Treasurer of the Navy by Mr. Pitt, 854; becomes

Secretary of Foreign Affairs under the Duke of Port-

land, ib.; fights a duel with Lord Castlereagh, and goes

out of office, ib., is chosen member of Parliament for

Liverpool, 855; goes as embassador extraordinary te

Lisbon, ib.; appointed Governor General of India, ib..

is appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs, ib.; his strong

stand against the invasion of Spain by France, ib.; his

celebrated speech on giving aid to Portugal when in-

vaded from Spain, 856; is made Prime Minister, ib.,
his health soon after fails him, ib.; his death, ib.; sketch
of his character by Sir James Mackintosh, 856-8.

SPEECH on the Fall of Bonaparte

655

SPEECH in behalf of Stockdale

683

SPEECH on Radical Reform.

Age of Reason

761

SPEECH delivered at Plymouth.

SPEECH on Affording Aid to Portugal

886

JOHN PHILPOT CURRAN.

His birth and parentage, 785: the family, though in low
circumstances, remarkable for intellectual vigor, ib.; his
early love of sport and wild adventure, ib.; is sent to
school and to the university by a clergyman of the
neighborhood, ib.; distinguished for his classical attain-
ments and love of metaphysical inquiry, 786; studies
law in London, ib.; his unwearied efforts to remove his
defects and gain fluency as a public speaker, ib.; settles
in Dublin and rises to early distinction, ib.; forms the
Society of the Monks of the Screw, ib.; his celebra-
ted address to Lord Avonmore respecting that Society,
787; enters the Irish House of Commons, ib.; his bold.
ness and eloquence during the State Trials, 787-8;
Robert Emmett and Sarah Curran, 788; is appointed
Master of the Rolls, ib.; his misfortunes and decline
of health, 788-9; resigns his office, 789; his death,
ib.; his characteristic excellences and faults as an or
ator, ib.

SPEECH in behalf of Rowan.

Descended from one of the most ancient families of West-

moreland, England, 886; born at Edinburgh, ib.; edu-

cated at the High School under Dr. Adara, ib.; rapidity

of his mind from early life, ib.; enters the University

of Edinburgh, ib.; distinguished for his mathematical

attainments, 15.; early election to the Royal Society of

Edinburgh, ib.; studies law, ib.; his training in extem.

poraneous debate, ib.; publishes his work on Colonial

Polley, ib.; removes to London and commences the

practice of the law, 887; is a regular contributor to the

Edinburgh Review, ib.; becomes a member of Parlia

ment, ib.; subjects of his published speeches, ib.; char-

acter of his oratory, 888; comparison between him and

Mr. Canning, ib.; his attack upon Canning in 1823, when

the latter gave him the lie, 889, 890.

SPEECH on the Army Estimates..

SPEECH in behalf of Williams.

SELECT BRITISH ELOQUENCE.

SIR JOHN ELIOT.

JOHN ELIOT was descended from a family of great respectability in Cornwall, and was born on the 20th of April, 1590. After enjoying the best advantages for education which England could afford, and spending some years in foreign travel, he was elected to Parliament at the age of thirty-three, and became one of the most prominent members in the House of Commons under Charles I.

The House embraced at this time, some of the ablest and most learned men of the age, such as Sir Edward Coke, John Hampden, Selden, St. John, Pym, &c. Among these, Sir John Eliot stood pre-eminent for the force and fervor of his eloquence. The general style of speaking at that day was weighty, grave, and sententious, but tinctured with the pedantry of the preceding reign, and destitute of that warmth of feeling which is essential to the character of a great orator. Eliot, Wentworth, and a few others were exceptions; and Eliot especially spoke at times with all the enthusiasm and vehemence of the early days of Greece and Rome.

Hence he was appointed one of the managers of the House when the Duke of Buckingham was impeached in 1626, and had the part assigned him of making the closing argument against the Duke before the House of Lords. This he did with such energy and effect as to awaken the keenest resentment of the Court; so that two days after he was called out of the House, as if to receive a message from the King, and was instantly seized and hurried off by water to the Tower. The Commons, on hearing of this breach of privilege, were thrown into violent commotion. The cry Rise!" "Rise!" was heard from every part of the hall. They did immediately adjourn, and met again only to record their resolution, "Not to do any more business until they were righted in their privileges." This decisive measure brought the government to a stand, and reduced them to the humiliating necessity of releasing Sir John Eliot, and also Sir Dudley Diggs, another of the managers who had been arrested on the same occasion. Eliot and his companion returned in triumph to the House, which voted that "they had not exceeded the commission intrusted to them." In consequence of this defeat, and the backwardness of the Commons to grant the supplies demanded, Charles soon after dissolved Parliament, and determined to raise money by "forced loans." Great numbers resisted this imposition, and among them Eliot and Hampden, who, with seventy-six others of the gentry, were thrown into prison for refusing to surrender their property to the Crown; while hundreds of inferior rank were impressed into the army or navy by way of punishment. The King found, however, that with all this violence he could not raise the necessary supplies, and was compelled to call another Parliament within eight months. Eliot, Hampden, and many others who had been lying under arrest, were elected members of the new House of Commons while thus confined in prison, and were released only a few days before the meeting of Parliament.

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