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sity. It is however said, that general propriety of conduct, and regularity in attendance at chapel, go far in influencing the adjudication of the rewards. Be this as it may, prizes will be of little use, unless the students are supplied with instruction as to the means by which they are to deserve the prizes. In all other branches of Academical education, the tutor teaches, the pupil attains excellence, and excellence is rewarded. But the aspirants to the prizes in elocution are left unassisted, it being presumed that they have been sufficiently instructed at school.

In this state of affairs, it will afford heartfelt satisfaction to all who are duly aware of the importance of the subject, to find, that it is attracting an increased share of Episcopal attention. It appears that in the diocese of Salisbury, the candidates for Holy Orders, previously to any inquiry respecting theological attainments, are "examined as to their qualifications in the reading of the Liturgy and the delivery of sermons, by commissioners appointed by the Bishop." From so judicious a plan, very great benefit may be justly expect ed; as it will compel the candidates to study a subject, which has hitherto been greatly neglected. Nor will the hope that the plan may

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be universally adopted, appear chimerical to those who have observed the active zeal in the cause of religion which characterizes the Bishops of the present day.

To this anxiety for the encouragement of whatever aims at being useful to the sacred cause, the author of these pages wholly and gratefully ascribes the permission to dedicate his humble labours to an eminent Prelate, and to place them under the sanction of his muchrespected name.

It is worthy of remark, that a similar regulation exists in the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America. * Before Ordination, the candidate" is required to perform such exercises in reading, in the presence of the Bishop and Clergy, as may enable him to give him such advice and instruction, as may aid him in performing the Service of the Church, and in delivering his sermons with propriety and devotion."

But for this exercise, the candidate has been previously prepared. In the course of learn

* See the extracts from its Canons, given in the Appendix to Bishop Hobart's Discourse, recently published.

ing which is pursued in the General Theological Seminary of the United States, are included "Pastoral Theology and Pulpit Eloquence ;explaining and enforcing the qualifications and duties of the clerical office; and including the performance of the service of the church; and the composition and delivery of sermons." This department is under the direction of a " Professor of Pastoral Theology and Pulpit Eloquence." In consequence of Bishop Hobart's discourse, in which "the United States of America are compared with some European countries, particularly England," some useful discussion may probably arise. The spirit of improvement is strongly at work in our Universities; and an expectation may be confidently entertained, that they will not decline any seasonable advice, though it come from their younger sister at New York.

In the interval before the adoption of some general system for the improvement of Clerical elocution, the author humbly hopes that he may be usefully employed in offering such aids to the student as may be communicated by the pen. He is the more induced to make the present attempt from the consideration (see Introduction, p. 2.), that the works of preceding writers have not superseded the possibility of

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supplying Clerical students with further assistance*. His attention has for many years been directed to the subject. In the course of his engagements as an instructor of young persons in various branches of classical education, he has been accustomed to assist them occasionally in the study of elocution. His official situation, has afforded him frequent opportunities of hearing the best Readers that the Universities, the Chapels Royal, and the Metropolis supply. On these grounds he ventures to hope, that he cannot justly incur the

*After the present pages had been committed to the press, the author accidentally discovered that Mr. Smart's "Theory and Practice of Elocution," a work to which he so frequently refers, has been recently republished with an Appendix, containing "Practical Aids for reading the Liturgy." The author of the present attempt trusts, however, that sufficient diference will be found to exist between the two works, to justify him in proceeding to publish the result of his labours. The above-mentioned' Appendix' being arranged for the use of the writer's clerical pupils, fewer accents and other assistances are inserted, than it is presumed would have been supplied for the use of those who could not enjoy the further advantage of oral instruction. But the present work having been intended to supply tbe want of a living teacher, more accents, more mechanical aid, and more minuteness of explanation were considered to be necessary. The prefatory remarks likewise on Clerical Reading, and the introduction of the Sacramental and Burial Services, constitute a further and material distinction between the two works.

imputation of conceit and arrogance in offering a few suggestions on the subject of reading the Liturgy, to young men who are on the point of presenting themselves for Ordination. During their residence in the University, their time is absorbed in studies more peculiar to Academical education: thence they are immediately summoned to perform the duties of public reading and preaching, for which, as far as respects delivery, they are often very indifferently prepared.

To render the present work more deserving of their attention, the author has selected from the publications of the best writers on the Liturgy, such remarks as relate to the elucidation of doubtful passages, and to the general manner of officiating. He has also derived many observations, connected with the object in view, from the works of professed writers on Elocution. In truth, he has devoted much time and pains to render these pages worthy of the student's notice; for being, by defect of health, disabled from discharging his usual public duties, he considers the present as one way which a gracious Providence still permits him to be subordinately useful, by endeavouring to extend the utility of his Clerical brethren. He hopes by the pen to supply the

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