with this new flood of light. But the subject is too awful for irony.-Erskine.

7. Ironical Condemnation of British Rule in India.

If a stranger, ignorant of all that had happened in the short time since the death of Sujah Dowla, had gone into the province of Oude, and observing the wide and general devastation, and all the horrors of the scene, he would naturally inquire what man had thus laid waste the fertile fields of this once beautiful and opulent country,-what civil dissensions have happened, thus to tear asunder and separate the happy societies that once possessed these villages,-what disputed succession-what religious rage has, with unholy violence, demolished those temples, and disturbed fervent, but unobtruding piety, in the exercise of its duties? What merciless enemy hath thus spread the horrors of fire and sword,-what severe visitation of Providence has dried up the fountain, and taken from the face of the earth every vestige of verdure ? Or rather, what monsters have stalked over the country, tainting and poisoning, with pestiferous breath, what the voracious appetite could not devour? To such questions, what must be the answer? No wars have ravaged these lands and depopulated these villages, no civil discord has been felt, no disputed succession,-no religious rage, no cruel enemy,-no affliction of Providence, which, while it scourged for the moment, cut off the sources of resuscitation,- -no voracious and poisoning monsters, no,-all this has been accomplished by the friendship, generosity, and kindness of the ENGLISH

NATION.-Sheridan.

(5.) ANECDOTE.

Anecdotes are tales generally introduced to confirm or illustrate some subject with which they are connected. In reading, their point must be happily and unpretentiously expressed, in order to convey that

humour or force which the writer or speaker has in view. They frequently assume the form of dialogue; requiring a distinction of the persons speaking to be characteristically maintained.

1. Anecdote against deceiving Children.

His love of sincerity, in words and actions, was constantly apparent. Once, while he was spending an evening at the house of a friend, a lady who was there on a visit, retired, that her little girl, of four years old, might go to bed. She returned in about half an hour, and said to a lady near her-" She is gone to sleep. I put on my night-cap, and lay down by her, and she soon dropped off." Mr. Hall, who overheard this,

66

said "Excuse me, madam; do you wish your child to grow up a liar?” 'Oh, dear! no, sir; I should be shocked at such a thing." "Then bear with me while I say, you must never act a lie before her; children are very quick observers, and soon learn that that which assumes to be what it is not, is a lie, whether acted or spoken." This was uttered with a kindness which precluded offence, yet with a seriousness which could not be forgotten.-Dr. Gregory's Memoirs of Robert Hall.

2. Characteristic Anecdote of Abernethy.

Some people are dreadfully condescending, and cannot avoid seizing upon every small opportunity of making their greatness felt. When Abernethy was canvassing for the office of Surgeon to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, he called upon such a person-a rich grocer, one of the governors. The great man behind his counter, seeing the great surgeon enter, immediately assumed the grand air towards the supposed suppliant for his vote. 66 I presume, sir, you want my vote and interest at this momentous epoch of your life?" Abernethy, who hated humbugs, and felt nettled at the tone, replied—“No, I don't; I want a pennyworth of

figs come, look sharp and wrap them up; I want to be off!"-S. Smiles.

3. Anecdotes on Friendship.

Dear Joseph-five and twenty years ago—
Alas, how time escapes !-'tis even so-
With frequent intercourse, and always sweet,
And always friendly, we were wont to cheat
A tedious hour-and now we never meet!
Changes befall, and friends, we know, may part,
But distance only cannot change the heart:
And were I call'd to prove th' assertion true,
One proof should serve,- -a reference to you.
Whence comes it, then, that in the wane of life,
Though nothing have occurred to kindle strife,
We find the friends we fancied we had won,
Though num'rous once, reduced to few or none?
Can gold grow worthless, that has stood the touch?
No: gold they seem'd, but they were never such.
Horatio's servant once, with bow and cringe,
Swinging the parlour door upon its hinge,
Dreading a negative, and overaw'd

Lest he should trespass, begg'd to go abroad.
Go, fellow!-whither?"-turning short about—
"Nay; stay at home-you're always going out."
""Tis but a step, sir, just at the street's end.".
“For what?"—"An't please you, sir, to see a friend."
"A friend!" Horatio cried, and seem'd to start:
"Yea, marry, shalt thou, and with all my heart;
And fetch my cloak; for though the night be raw,
I'll see him too-the first I ever saw."

I knew the man, and knew his nature mild,
And was his plaything often when a child;
But somewhat at that moment pinch'd him close,
Else he was seldom bitter or morose:
Howe'er it was, his language, in my mind,
Bespoke at least a man that knew mankind.

(I hate long arguments verbosely spun)
One story more, dear Hill, and I have done :
Once on a time, an emp’ror—a wise man-
No matter where, of China or Japan,
Decreed, that whosoever should offend
Against the well-known duties of a friend,
Convicted once, should ever after wear
But half a coat, and show his bosom bare:
The punishment importing this, no doubt,
That all was nought within, and all found out.
O happy Britain! we have not to fear
Such hard and arbitrary measures here;
Else, could a law, like that which I relate,
Once have the sanction of our triple state,
Some few, that I have known in days of old,
Would run most dreadful risk of catching cold:
While you, my friend, whatever wind should blow,
Might traverse England safely to and fro,
An honest man, close button'd to the chin,
Broad cloth without, and a warm heart within.

Cowper to Joseph Hill, Esq.

Part EEE.

READING OF SUBJECTS.

I.-Object of the following Exercises.

The aim of the First Part of this work was to familiarize the pupil with the powers and pliability of his own voice, as based upon its natural pitch; and of the Second, to teach him the natural expressiveness of certain tones of his voice, and their connexion with various sentiments and emotions of the mind. But to continue his instruction no further, would probably lead him to form very incorrect notions as to the main purposes of composition and reading; and cause him to regard ornament as essential, rather than exceptive, in relation to style; and the highest emotions of the mind, as the result of ordinary, rather than the most exciting, impulses.

Here, therefore, it is desirable to introduce a series of Exercises, in which the simple, ornamental, and emotional styles of reading may appear in their proper place and relationship; and although, from the necessary brevity of this work, essays, narratives, and speeches cannot be introduced in extenso, such selections have been made as will answer the intended purpose.

II.-Reading Aloud, Reciting, and Gesture.

Reading aloud, as a daily exercise, whether in the school or in private, and, as frequently as possible, in the open air, is to be strongly recommended.