n. And
if from so humble a scene as the school, we may be permitted to raise
our observations to the senate, it might be hinted, that gentlemen on
each side of the house, while addressing the chair, can with grace and
propriety only make use of one hand; namely, that which is next to the
speaker; and it may be observed in passing, that to all the other
advantages of speaking, which are supposed to belong to one side of the
house--may be added--the graceful use of the right hand.

The better to conceive the position of two speakers in a scene, a plate
is given representing their respective attitudes; and it must be
carefully noted, that when they are not speaking; the arms must hang in
their natural place by the sides; unless what is spoken by one is of
such importance, as to excite agitation and surprize in the other. But
if we should be sparing of gesture at all times, we should be more
particularly so when we are not speaking.

From what has been laid down, it will evidently appear, how much more
difficult and complicate is the action of a scene than that of a single
speech; and, in teaching both to children, how necessary it is to adopt
as simple and easy a method as possible. The easiest method of conveying
instruction in this point, will be sufficiently difficult; and
therefore, the avoiding of aukwardness and impropriety should be more
the object of instruction, than the conveying of beauties.

There are indeed some masters who are against teaching boys any action
at all, and are for leading them in this point entirely to nature. It is
happy, however, that they do not leave that action to nature, which is
acquired by dancing; the deportment of their pupils would soon convince
them they were imposed on by the sound of words. Improved and beautiful
nature is the object of the painter's pencil, the poet's pen, and the
rhetorician's action, and not that sordid and common nature, which is
perfectly rude and uncultivated. Nature directs us to art, and art
selects and polishes the beauties of nature. It is not sufficient for an
orator, says Quintilian, that he is a man: he must be an improved and
cultivated man: he must be a man favoured by nature and fashioned by
art.

But the necessity of adopting some method of teaching action, is too
evident to need proof. Boys will infallibly contract some action; to
require them to stand stock-still while they are speaking an impassioned
speech, is not only exacting a very diff