The Southern Literary Messenger, Volume I., 1834-35Various
General
The Southern Literary Messenger, Volume I., 1834-35
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
After all this avowal of stupendous strength of argument, we are told
in a subsequent paragraph, that say what we will of Mr. Pinkney's
argument, he the author, never saw him yet--no never, pursue his
argument steadily for ten minutes at a time. Then how can it be so
overwhelming and convincing? Nothing lessens so much the force of
argument as a perpetual aberration from the subject. Again; "God never
meant him for an orator; he has no property of mind or body," &c. &c.
Not to say any thing of the presumption and impiety of determining for
God, I would ask what are the _bodily properties_ of an orator? This
writer has not condescended to define them, although he dwells at
large upon such as he thinks cast discredit upon Mr. Pinkney. It is
scarcely necessary to observe that Demosthenes was ungraceful in
figure and action; and that not only _orators_, but very wise and
learned men, have been repulsive in their persons, their features, and
their manners also. Though Cæsar and Cicero were exempt from defect in
this respect, as far as I remember Demosthenes stuttered--Socrates was
bald and flatnosed--Anthony a rough soldier--Lord Chatham's eloquence
was forcible, but uniform and ungraceful--Fox was a fop of Bond
street, and wore high heeled morocco shoes. Mr. Pinkney therefore may,
without reproach, be a "_thick, stout man, with a red fat English
face_," and Mr. Fox will keep him in countenance as a fashionable man.
The facetious Peter Pindar has said, that
Love hates your large fat lubberly fellows,
Panting and blowing like a blacksmith's bellows;
but I never heard that oratory did.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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