particular meaning which is not directly implied by the construction of the sentence, but which depends entirely upon the intention of the speaker. As in this example, "Will you ride into the country with me to-day ?" This contains several meanings according as the emphasis is varied. If it be laid upon the word, will, it signifies, "Are you determined, have you made up your mind to ride into the country, &c. If the emphatic tone be given to the pronoun, you, the sentence expresses the interrogation as addressed to some particular person among several others; will you be the one to ride with me, &c. If the emphasis be placed upon the word ride, then the question means will you ride, not walk, &c. If it be laid upon the word, country, another sense is produced; namely, will you ride with me into the country, not to the city. And finally, lay the stress of the voice upon the word, to-day, and the sentence conveys a different signification again; will you ride into the country with me to-day particularly; as you could not accompany me yesterday, and will not be able to go to-morrow.

"On the right management of emphasis (says "Dr. Blair) depend the life and spirit of every "discourse. If no emphasis be placed on any "words, not only is discourse rendered heavy "and lifeless, but the meaning left often am

"biguous. If the emphasis be placed wrong, "we pervert and confound the signification "wholly. In order to acquire the proper manage"ment of the emphasis, the great rule, and, "indeed, the only rule possible to be given, is, "that the speaker or reader study to obtain a "just conception of the force and spirit of those "sentiments which he is to pronounce. For, to "lay the emphasis with exact propriety is a con"stant exercise of good sense and attention. "It is far from being an inconsiderable attain❝ment. It is one of the greatest trials of true "and just taste; and must arise from feeling "delicately ourselves, and from judging accu"rately, of what is fittest to strike the feelings "of others. There is as great a difference be"tween a chapter of the Bible, or any other "piece of plain prose, read by one who places "the several emphases, every where, with taste "and judgment, and by one who neglects

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or mistakes them, as there is between the same "tune played by the most masterly hand, or by "the most bungling performer."

The last requisite to good speaking which it is proper to mention, is gesture, or action. It is obvious that this belongs rather to reciting and public oratory than to reading. And yet, even in reading, a certain degree and modification of it may be of great advantage. The reader who

never lifts his eyes from his book, or paper, who never moves a hand nor extends an arm, but sits or stands like a statue, must trust entirely to the excellence of the composition he is reading, for the production of any effect; and scarcely will the finest, most finished composition meet with success, if merely read, without any animation. By gesture is meant, a suitable conformity of the motions of the countenance, and of the several parts of the body, in speaking, to the subject of the discourse. Cicero calls it the language of the body; and certainly, meaning, as well as passion, may be expressed, in a great degree, by looks and gestures. The same illustrious orator says that he often diverted himself, by trying this with Roscius the celebrated comedian, who could express a sentence as many ways by his gestures, as he himself could, by words. Gesture may be properly styled the second part of pronunciation; in which, as the tones of the voice should be adapted to the impressions of the mind, so the movement of the muscles of the face, and of the limbs of the body, should be accommodated to the various tones and inflections of the voice.

When the voice is even and moderate, little gesture is required; and nothing is more unnatural than violent action, in discoursing upon familiar subjects. It is not the business of a

speaker to form to himself a certain set of motions and gestures, which he may think most becoming and graceful, and to practise them, without their having any correspondence to the manner that is natural to him. His gestures ought, all, to carry that kind of expression which nature has dictated to him. Premeditated action will never be so impressive as that which is prompted by the feelings of the moment, and which appears to burst from the speaker instinctively and irresistibly. But though natural feeling must be the groundwork of appropriate gesture, yet art may be very beneficial in guarding against awkward and ungraceful movements, and in teaching to perform those that are natural, in the most becoming manner.

In conversing with one another, men frequently use most expressive gestures, which show when they are animated by joy, sorrow, indignation, compassion, or any strong emotion. These natural looks and gesticulations should be noticed, and studied as the only just models. Let it be remembered that affectation is the certain ruin of good delivery.

Such, then, appear to be the best rules for the attainment of propriety and gracefulness in reading and speaking. Let care be taken to sound clearly and fully, every letter. Let distinctness and elasticity of articulation be studied.

Let a firm and equable tone of voice be cultivated. Let flexibility of voice be an object of attention. Let the power of suspending the voice in any tone, and of resuming the same tone; of pausing emphatically and judiciously, be attained and practised. Let the capability of distinguishing the most important words in sentences, and of laying the emphasis upon them, in proper manner and degree, be duly exercised. Finally, let appropriate, graceful gesture, and looks of meaning, accompany enunciation.

If careful attention be paid to these particulars, there can be little doubt, but that, where no natural deficiency of organs exists, complete success will crown the endeavour to attain propriety and gracefulness of delivery, in reading and speaking.