expert in it.  This Inability, as I conceive, proceeds from the little Care that is taken of their Reading, while Boys and at School, where when they are got into Latin, they are looked upon as above English, the Reading of which is wholly neglected, or at least read to very little purpose, without any due Observations made to them of the proper Accent and Manner of Reading; by this means they have acquired such ill Habits as won’t easily be removed.  The only way that I know of to remedy this, is to propose some Person of great Ability that way as a Pattern for them; Example being most effectual to convince the Learned, as well as instruct the Ignorant.

You must know, Sir, I’ve been a constant Frequenter of the Service of the Church of England for above these four Years last past, and ’till Sunday was Seven-night never discovered, to so great a Degree, the Excellency of the Common-Prayer.  When being at St. James’s Garlick-Hill Church, I heard the Service read so distinctly, so emphatically, and so fervently, that it was next to an Impossibility to be unattentive.  My Eyes and my Thoughts could not wander as usual, but were confin’d to my Prayers:  I then considered I addressed my self to the Almighty, and not to a beautiful Face.  And when I reflected on my former Performances of that Duty, I found I had run it over as a matter of Form, in comparison to the Manner in which I then discharged it.  My Mind was really affected, and fervent Wishes accompanied my Words.  The Confession was read with such a resigned Humility, the Absolution with such a comfortable Authority, the Thanksgivings with such a Religious Joy, as made me feel those Affections of the Mind in a Manner I never did before.  To remedy therefore the Grievance above complained of, I humbly propose, that this excellent Reader, [1] upon the next and every Annual Assembly of the Clergy of Sion-College, and all other Conventions, should read Prayers before them.  For then those that are afraid of stretching their Mouths, and spoiling their soft Voice, will learn to Read with Clearness, Loudness, and Strength.  Others that affect a rakish negligent Air by folding their Arms, and lolling on their Book, will be taught a decent Behaviour, and comely Erection of Body.  Those that Read so fast as if impatient of their Work, may learn to speak deliberately.  There is another sort of Persons whom I call Pindarick Readers, as being confined to no set measure; these pronounce five or six Words with great Deliberation, and the five or six subsequent ones with as great Celerity:  The first part of a Sentence with a very exalted Voice, and the latter part with a submissive one:  Sometimes again with one sort of a Tone, and immediately after with a very different one.  These Gentlemen will learn of my admired Reader an Evenness of Voice and Delivery, and all who are innocent of these Affectations, but read with such an Indifferency as if they did