melancholy vicissitudes of worldly bliss, pomp, and glory, are exhibited in such a pathetic view in this masterly night-piece, that it cannot be contemplated without exciting congenial emotions: nor can the eulogy, consecrated by the same sublime genius to the memory of the great Conde, be perused without venerating the character of the hero and the exalted genius of the orator, without experiencing feelings equally strong, though opposite, in contemplating the dignity and the insignificance of man.
Among free nations, in the assemblies of the people or of their representatives, eloquence frequently produces effects not inferior to those which were exhibited in ancient times. At the reconciliation of jarring opinions, unanimous applause has often confessed a power operating upon mankind more strongly than prepossessions, more effectually than selfinterest. It is unnecessary to recur to foreign countries, to exemplify an assertion attested by our own annals and our own experience.
In reading the pathetic speech of the first Gustavus to the states of the kingdom, do we not burst into tears as warm, and breathe forth blessings as fervent, as those excited by that great monarch, when for the last time he addressed the Swedish people. Eloquence, the sceptre of Gustavus-Adolphus, supported the throne of Charles-Gustavus. By eloquence, Stenbock, a name worthy to rank with that of kings, inspired courage into husbandmen, converted them into warriors, and obtained relief to the kingdom from those very hands which discontent and avarice seemed determined to close.
On
