Table Of Content'Thousands of young readers in 19th century America learned
about eloquence and liberty from the stirring speeches, plays, and
poems in The Columbian Orator. When one reads it today—even
better, reads it aloud—its eloquence speaks to us all."
—Sydney Nathans, Duke University
"Frederick Douglass validated hi s manhood by giving Edward
Covey, his surrogate slave master, a good whipping. What inspired
his fists was not only manly rage, but liberating knowledge—
knowledge gained i n part from his reading o f The Columbian
Orator. I read it now and the words still inspire and inflame."
—Ossie Davis
THE
COLUMBIAN ORATO R
CONTAINING
A VARIET Y O F
ORIGINAL AND SELECTED PIECES
TOGETHER WITH
RULES,
WHICH ARE CALCULATED
TO IMPROVE YOUTH AND OTHERS, IN THE
ORNAMENTAL AND USEFUL
ART OF ELOQUENCE
by CALE B BINGHAM, A.M.
Author of the American Preceptor, Young Ladies Accidence, & c.
BICENTENNIAL EDITION
edited and with an introduction by
David W. Blight
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS
NEW YORK AND LONDON
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS
New York and London
© 1998 by New York University
All rights reserved
Published by arrangement with Bernel Books, a division of B. L Mazel, Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The Columbian orator: containing a variety of original and selected
pieces together with rules, which are calculated to improve youth
and others, in the ornamental and useful art of eloquence /
[compiled by Caleb Bingham. — Bicentennial ed. / with a new
introduction by David W. Blight,
p. cm .
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 0-8147-1322-X (hardcover: alk. paper). — ISBN 0-8147-1323-8
(pbk.: alk. paper)
1. Speeches, essays, etc. I . Bingham, Caleb, 1757-1817.
II. Blight, David W.
PN4200.C68 199 7
808.5f4—dc21 97-3595 5
CIP
New York University Press books are printed on acid-free paper,
and their binding materials are chosen for strength and durability.
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, TO WIT:
BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the twentieth day of November, A. D. 1810, and
in the thirty-fifth Year of the Independence of the United States of America,
CALEB BINGHAM of the said District, has deposited in his Office the title of a
Book, the right whereof he claims as Author, in the words following, to wit: The
Columbian Orator: containing a variety of original and selected pieces; together
with rules; calculated to improve youth and others in ornamental and useful art of
eloquence. By CALEB BINGHAM, AM. author of the American Preceptor, Young
Lady's Accidence, &c. "Cato cultivated eloquence, as a necessary mea n for
defending the rights of the people, and for enforcing good counsels." —Rollins.
In conformity to the Act of Congress of the United States, entitled, aAn Act for
the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts and
Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such copies, during the times therein
mentioned;* and also to an Act entitled, aAn Act supplementary to an Act, entitled,
An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts
and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such copies during the times there-
in mentioned; and extending the benefits thereo f to the Arts of Designing,
Engraving and Etching Historical, and other prints.
WILLIAM S. SHAW
Clerk of the District of Massachusetts
CONTENTS
Editor's Acknowledgments x i
Editor's Introduction xii i
Identification of Authors xxx i
Preface 3
Introduction: General Instructions for Speaking 5
Oration on Eloquence Perkins 2 7
Speech in Congress, 1789 Washington 3 0
Speech of a Roman General P Emilius 3 2
Exhortation on Temperance in Pleasure Blair 3 3
Judah's Plea for Benjamin, before Joseph Philo 3 5
Plea in Behalf of Thomas Muir Muir 3 7
On the starry Heavens Hervey 3 8
Paper, a Poem Franklin 4 0
Speech before the Roman Senate Cato 4 1
Dialogue between Duellist, Savage, and Mercury Littleton . 4 3
Speech of an Indian Chief 4 6
On the Creation of the World Blair 4 7
Lines spoken by a little Boy Everett 4 9
Speech in the British Parliament, 1766 Pitt 5 0
Scene from the Farce of Lethe Garrick 5 2
Eulogy on Dr. Franklin Fauchet 5 5
Epilogue to Addison's Cato 5 9
Self-Conceit, an Address by a small Boy 6 0
Dialogue between Howard and Lester 6 2
Christ's Crucifixion Cumberland 6 3
The Wonders of Nature Hervey 6 6
vii
viii TH E COLUMBIAN ORATOR
Dialogue on Physiognomy 6 8
Oration at the Festival of Gratitude Carnot 7 0
Address to the President of the United States Adet 7 3
President's Answer Washington 7 4
The oppressive Landlord, a Dialogue 7 6
Speech in the British parliament, 1770 Mansfield 8 2
On the Day of Judgment Davies 8 4
Christ triumphant over the apostate Angels Milton 8 6
Slaves in Barbary, a Drama in two Acts Everett 8 8
Speech in the British Parliament, 1770 Pitt 10 4
Plea before a Roman Court Socrates 10 7
Dialogue on Cowardice and Knavery 11 0
Speech in the British Parliament Sheridan 11 4
Extract from an Oration against Catiline Cicero 11 5
Description of the first American Congress Barlow 11 6
Speech of a French General to his Army Buonaparte 11 8
Reflections over the Grave of a young Man Hervey 12 0
Scene from the Drama of "Moses in
the Bulrushes" H. Moore 12 0
Speech of a Roman General G. Cassius 12 5
Speech in the British Parliament, 1784 Erskine 12 7
Address to the People of the United States Washington .... 12 9
Dialogue on the Choice of Business for Life 13 2
Speech of a French General Buonaparte 13 5
Speech in the British Parliament, 1777 Pitt 13 7
Dialogue between a School-master and School Committee... 13 8
Speech in the British Parliament, 1770 Pitt 14 5
On the general Judgment Day Dwight 14 7
CONTENTS i x
On the Works of Creation and Providence Hervey 15 0
Speech in the British Parliament, 1778 Fox 15 1
The Conjurer, a Dialogue Everett 15 3
Speech in the British Parliament, 1775 Pitt 16 1
Speech of the Caledonian General Galgachus 16 2
Modern Education, a Dialogue 16 5
On the Existence of God, a Sermon Maxcy 17 0
The Dignity of Human Nature Burges 17 7
Infernal Conference Cumberland 17 8
Speech in the British Parliament, 1777 Pitt 18 7
On the Day of Judgment Young 18 9
The dissipated Oxford Student Altered from Burney 19 1
Speech in Congress, on the British Treaty Ames 20 1
Oration on Independence, July 4, 1796 Blake 20 4
General Description of America, a Poem Everett 20 7
Dialogue between a Master and Slave 20 9
Speech in the Irish Parliament O'Connor 21 2
Scene from the Tragedy of Tamerlane Rowe 21 6
Speech in the British Parliament Barre 22 0
The Last Day Everett 22 2
Dialogue on Loquacity 22 5
American Sages Barlow 22 8
Speech in the British Parliament, 1777 Pitt 22 9
Scene from the Tragedy of Cato Addison 23 2
Oration delivered at Boston, July 4,1794 Phillips 23 4
Dialogue between a White Man and an Indian Everett 23 5
Oration, pronounced at Boston, July 4,1796 Lathrop 23 8
Dialogue between Edward and Harry Everett 24 0
