cated English almost universally pronounce such words as if no H occurred. The only exception to this that has come under my notice, is in that part of Northumberland contiguous to Scotland. Persons of education however, are careful to make the proper distinction between when and wen, whale and wale.

These remarks may appear trifling to some; but those who know how much pains were taken by the Roman rhetoricians to pronounce their language correctly, will not think them unimportant. And those who are fond of observing the mutations and diversities of our language, will be pleased at gaining information of its present state in America.

This is a suitable place for me to mention, that the German spoken in Pennsylvania and the neighbouring parts of New York and Virginia, is very corrupt, being a compound of German, English and I know not what besides. Some idea may be formed of the corruption it has undergone, from a remark made by one with whom I was conversing, which was, that I spoke better German than he did. On smiling at his bantering, he said he was in earnest, for that natives of Germany all told the German Americans of

their bad language, and that mine corresponded with that of the native Germans much more than his. Various as are the dialects in Germany, and bad as some of them are, judging by the most generally approved standards, perhaps the worst is less faulty than that in Pennsylvania. It seems to be what the author of Hudibras calls a Babylonish dialect. I suspect that Adelung, with all his knowledge as a linguist, would be as puzzled with it, as the people in Sir John Mandeville's tale, when they heard the mingled voices which the thaw had freed from their icy fetters.

CHAPTER XXIV.

ORATORY.

IN America, as in all countries where popular government is established, oratory is much studied, it being one of the most powerful means of obtaining the favour of the public. The complaint of Milton, that since the decay of Roman eloquence, no revival has taken place, has been long since refuted. France and England have produced orators, of reputation scarcely inferior to that of Demosthenes or Cicero ; and America may justly be proud of her Patrick Henry, a man whose eloquence illuminated with a sudden glare like that of a meteor, so dazzling and terrific that inferior lights were obscured in the blaze. She likewise boasts of the names of Pinckney, Ames and a few others. But of her living orators, there is not, so far as my information reaches, a single name of transcendent merit. I heard some of the most distinguished lawyers in the United States, as well as several of the most active members of Congress; but it was not but it was not my lot to hear a single speech which was overpowering. Perhaps the

best plan I can adopt to give a correct idea of American oratory, will be to mention what I observed on several public occasions.

I was present at a meeting of the Debating Society of Boston, when a question was proposed for discussion on the policy of prohibiting usury. The first speaker was a short, jolly man, who seemed much more likely to please a dinner party by acting as their chairman, than to throw light on an abstract question. He began with diffidence, a good symptom; but after blundering through his speech, bewildering himself and his auditory, he concluded with no more confidence than he manifested at the commencement. The second speaker was quite as obscure, though with rather The third, with some appearance of method in the handling of his subject, and with the air of a man who is to bear down all opposition, floundered in the mud of his own spreading, till he had tired himself and blinded those about him. The chairman was about to put the question, when a gentleman suggested that if the debate were adjourned, some further light would be thrown on it at another meeting. Some one might have told him, that there had been no light, but rather darkness visible." The motion for adjournment was carried, and the

more assurance.

meeting dispersed, having as I thought, shown a most exemplary patience.

When I was at New York, a public meeting was held for the purpose of raising a subscription for the relief of the family of an officer who had lost his life in the suppression of piracy off Cuba. A friend of mine invited me to attend this meeting, telling me that he expected there would be a fine display of eloquence. Accordingly I went, but how great was my disappointment! There was not a single speech worth the trouble of the walk, notwithstanding the admirable opportunity for awakening the sympathetic feelings, and so inciting to generosity. Probably not a person present gave a dollar, except those who had made up their minds to contribute before they entered the room.

I have mentioned the anniversary of the Colonization Society. The principal orator on that occasion was animated, and so far agreeable; but then his speech was so bestrewed with dazzling metaphors and similes, so full of repetitions, so incoherent and contradictory, that the listening to it was as amusing and puzzling as the attempt to thread a labyrinth. The other speakers were not remarkable for any thing but

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