a party tool, and with soul enough to think, as well as feel, for himself, those words were not spoken in vain.  He was warmed up into giving a sketch of his boyhood.  It was an eloquent narrative, and is ineffaceably impressed on my memory, with every look and gesture of the speaker.  What gave chief charm to this history was its fearless ingenuousness.  It was delightful to note the impression produced by his magnetic genius and independent character.

’In the evening we had a long conversation upon Woman, Whigism, modern English Poets, Shakspeare,—­and, in particular, Richard the Third,—­about which we had actually a fight.  Mr. Neal does not argue quite fairly, for he uses reason while it lasts, and then helps himself out with wit, sentiment and assertion.  I should quarrel with his definitions upon almost every subject, but his fervid eloquence, brilliancy, endless resource, and ready tact, give him great advantage.  There was a sort of exaggeration and coxcombry in his talk; but his lion-heart, and keen sense of the ludicrous, alike in himself as in others, redeem them.  I should not like to have my motives scrutinized as he would scrutinize them, for I prefer rather to disclose them myself than to be found out; but I was dissatisfied in parting from this remarkable man before having seen him more thoroughly.

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’Mr. WHIPPLE addressed the meeting at length.  His presence is not imposing, though his face is intellectual.  It is difficult to look at him, for you cannot be taken prisoner by his eye, while, en revanche, he can look at you as long as he pleases; and, as usual, with one who can get the better of his auditors, he does not call out the best in them.  His gestures are remarkably fine, free, graceful, and expressive.  He has no natural advantages of voice,—­for it is without compass, depth, sweetness,—­and has none of the winning tones which reach the inmost soul, and none of the tones of passionate energy, which raise you out of your own world into the speaker’s.  But his modulation is smooth, measured, dignified, though occasionally injured by too elaborate a swell, and his enunciation is admirable.

’His theme was one which has been so thoroughly discussed that novelty was not to be looked for; but his method and arrangement were excellent, though parts were too much expanded, and the whole might well have been condensed.  There were many felicitous popular hits.  The humorous touches were skilful, and the illustrations on a broad scale good, though in single images he failed.  Altogether, there was a pervading air of ease and mastery, which showed him fit to be a leader of the flock.  Though not a man of the Webster class, he is among the first of the second class of men who apply their powers to practical purposes,—­and that is saying much.’

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