The Collected Works of William Hazlitt (Volume 3); Free Thoughts on Public Affairs. Political Essays. Advertisement, Etc., from the Eloquence of the British Senate (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1902. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... advertisement and biographical and critical notes from the eloquence of the british senate bibliographical note This work was published in two 8vo volumes in 1807 with the following titlepage: The Eloquence of the British Senate; or, Select Specimens from the Speeches of the most Distinguished Parliamentary Speakers. From the beginning of the Reign of Charles I. to the Present Time. With Notes, Biographical, Critical, and Explanatory. Two Volumes. London: Printed for Thomas Ostcll, No. 3, Ave Maria Lane, Ludgate St. 1807/ In the following year the work appeared with another title-page, which contains the same title, and proceeds By William Hazlitt. In Two Volumes. London: Printed for J. Murray, Fleet-Street, and J. Harding, St. James's-Street, London 5 and A. Constable and Co., Edinburgh. 1808.' advertisement This collection took its rise from a wish which the compiler had sometimes felt, in hearing the praises of the celebrated orators of former times, to know what figure they would have made by the side of those of our own times, with whose productions we are better acquainted. For instance, in reading Burke, I should have been glad to have had the speeches of Lord Chatham at hand, to compare them; and I have had the same curiosity to know, whether Walpole had any thing like the dexterity and plausibility of Pitt. As there are probably other readers, who may have felt the same kind of curiosity, I thought I could not employ my time better than in attempting to gratify it. Besides, it is no more than a piece of justice due to the mighty dead. It is but r...