But gentlemen, it is difficult to smile with an aching heart; it is ill jesting when our deepest sympathies are awakened. My client's hopes and prospects are ruined; and it is no figure of speech to say that her occupation is gone indeed. The bill is down-but there is no tenant. Eligible single gentlemen pass and repass- but there is no invitation for them to inquire within, or without. All is gloom and silence in the house; even the voice of the child is hushed; his infant sports are disregarded when his mother weeps; his "alley tors" and his " commoneys" are alike neglected; he forgets the long familiar cry of "knuckle down", and at tip cheese, or odd and even, his hand is out. But Pickwick, gentlemen, Pickwick, the ruthless destroyer of this domestic oasis in the desert of Goswell-street- Pickwick, who comes before you to-day with his heartless tomato sauce and warming pans — Pickwick still rears his head with unblushing effrontery, and gazes without a sigh on the ruin he has made. Damages, gentlemen-heavy damages is the only punishment with which you can visit him; the only recompense you can award to my client. And for those damages she now appeals to an enlightened, a high-minded, a right-feeling, a conscientious, a dispassionate, a sympathising, a contemplative jury of her civilized countrymen.

HOW TO TELL BAD NEWS.

DICKENS.

Mr. H. Ha! steward, how are you, my old boy? How do things go on at home?

Steward. Bad enough, your honor; the magpie's dead.

Mr. H. Poor mag! so he's gone. How came he to die?

Steward. Over-ate himself, sir.

Mr. H. Did he, faith! a greedy dog; why, what did he get he liked so well?

Steward. Horse-flesh, sir; he died of eating horse-flesh.

Mr. H. How came he to get so much horse-flesh?
Steward. All your father's horses, sir.
Mr. H. What! are they dead, too?

Steward. Ay, sir; they died of over-work.

Mr. H. And why were they over-worked, pray?

Steward. To carry water, sir.

Mr. H. To carry water! and what were they carrying water for ?
Steward. Sure, sir, to put out the fire.

Mr. H. Fire! what fire?

Steward. Oh, sir, your father's house is burned down to the ground.

Mr. H. My father's house burned down! and how came it set on fire?

Steward. I think, sir, it must have been the torches.

Mr. H. Torches ! what torches?

Steward. At your mother's funeral.

Mr. H. My mother dead!

Steward. Ah, poor lady, she never looked up after it.

Mr. H. After what?

Steward. The loss of your father.

Mr. H. My father gone, too?

Steward. Yes, poor gentleman; he took to his bed as soon as he heard of it.

Mr. H. Heard of what?

Steward. The bad news, sir; and please your honor.

Mr. H. What! more miseries! more bad news?

Steward. Yes sir, your bank has failed, and your credit is lost, and you are not worth a shilling in the world. I made bold, sir, to come to wait on you about it, for I thought you would like to hear the news.

"Noah of old three babies had,

Or grown-up children rather;

Shem, Ham, and Japhet, they were called:
Now, who was Japhet's father?"

"Rat it!" cried Hodge, and scratch'd his head, "That does my wits belabor:

But howsomde'er, I'll homeward run,
And ax old Giles, my neighbor."

To Giles he went, and put the case,
With circumspect intention:

"Thou fool," cried Giles, "I'll make it clear
To thy dull comprehension.

"Three children has Tom Long, the smith, Or cattle-doctor rather;

Tom, Dick, and Harry, they are called :
Now, who is Harry's father?"

"Ha! ha! I have it," Hodge replied,
Right well I know your lingo;
Who's Harry's father? stop- here goes-
Why Tom Long Smith, by jingo!"

Away he ran to find the priest

With all his might and main, Who with good humor instant put The question once again :

"Noah of old three babies had,
Or grown-up children rather;
Shem, Ham, and Japhet, they were called:
Now, who was Japhet's father?"

"I have it now," Hodge grinning cried,
"I'll answer like a proctor;
Who's Japhet's father? now I know;
Why, Tom Long Smith, the doctor!"

ANON.

Ancient Eloquence

An Exhortation to the Study of Eloquence

Character of Fox

Character of Pitt
Chatham

•

Defects in the Usual Course of Elocutionary Instruction
England and America

Eulogium of Antoinette, the late Queen of France

Gold

SELECTIONS IN PROSE.

Insignificance of this World

Liberty and Slavery

Niagara

INDEX.

•

Infatuation of Mankind with Regard to the Things of Time
Indian Eloquence

On Lord Byron's Lines upon the Field of Waterloo
On Milton

On Pronunciation or Delivery

On Public Preaching

On the Elocution of the Pulpit

On Theatrical Manner

Reply

Invective against Hastings

Page
Fordyce 34
Cicero 33

Hazlitt 50
Robertson 52

48

28

66

Greenbank's Lectures

53

Burke
Harris 73

Kirwan 74
Greenbank's Lectures 69
Chalmers 78
Sterne 72

Greenbank's Lectures 70

Knowles 57

Channing 54

Blair 27
Gregory 38
Fordyce 39
Greenbank 44
Goldsmith 36

Wirt

Rush

SPEECHES.

In Commemoration of the Lives and Services of John Adams
and Thomas Jefferson

In Defence of Captain Baillie

In Defence of Finnerty
In Reproof of Pitt

Chambers 29

Burgh 41
Cresollius 47
Brougham 71

Irving 61
Saurin 45

Anon. 35
Hall 75

Blackwood's Magazine 64

Irving 58

Webster 110
Erskine 99
Curran 103
Horace Walpole

81
82

Pitt, afterwards Lord Chatham
Sheridan 91