most others are through, and for the purpose of concentrating the dispersed and bewildered thoughts of the body, of allaying exasperated feelings, or clinching the subject by some summary and conclusive argument. When, however, occasion requires it, he can enter the arena full armed, and fight the combat out-invariably with victory. Mr. Everett, who has lately become noted as his assailant, once gave the following sketch of him as a debater: "See him: there he sits on the platform, surrounded by the leading members of the Conference, his elbow on the table, and his chin embedded in the palm of his hand. A subject of importance being on the tapis, and the speaker being low, or at a distance, the hand is speedily relieved of the chin, and placed behind the ear, where it remains as a substitute for a trumpet, gathering together the words, while the sense which it is intended to aid drinks in the sound. An occasional note is made on a slip of paper, or the back of a letter, in the course of a protracted discussion; but memory, which rarely ever fails him, is mostly depended upon. Now, he is calm and dignified; but in an instant the scene is changed. The speaker has the misfortune to oppose some favourite theory, to trench upon some of the peculiarities of Methodism, or belongs to the other side of the house: that moment, the eye of our pleader is darted like the eye of a lynx along the line of sound, and either quails or rouses the person who has gained his attention. He again appears tranquil; but it is the tranquillity of a man who is pondering upon what has been said. Speaker succeeds speaker, till at length silence ensues, and, during the momentary pause, he looks round; but no one essaying to rise, he considers his own time to have come. He loves the closing speech; and now that he is on his feet, let the eye be thrown around the audience, and all will be seen on the tip-toeall will be still to the ear. The first feeling in operation in the breasts of previous speakers, refers as much to themselves as the subject; and the first thought in the mind of the mere hearer, is inadvertently directed to the same quarter, and is followed up with anxiety or pleasure -looking forward to see how it will fare with such as have thus entered the arena of debate, as well as toward the fate of the question in which he himself may have an interest, and which absolutely hangs upon the breath, and is to be decided by him upon whom every eye is now fixed, as by fascination. Listen to him: he takes, perhaps, at first, a dispassionate view of the general question, then gives you his own opinion; next goes on to establish certain positions; notices the remarks of previous speakers, so far as they seem to interfere with his own sentiments; and, lastly, proceeds to the formal reply, in which he often takes upon himself the onus probandi, either classifying the arguments of his opponents, or taking up their objections separately, as may best suit his purpose; encircling himself all the while in a tower of strength, from whose impregnable walls he nods defiance to all his assailants. Very often, at a moment when a man is congratulating himself on the probability of a happy escape, or of finding his arguments valid, by a less early notice, he will come down upon him in an instant, like an unexpected flash of lightning, broad and vivid, shivering to pieces, by a single stroke, the whole superstructure he had reared, and upon which he had long gazed with the fondness of a parent on a favourite child-compelling him at the time by its glare to shrink back into himself. On |