John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

27. IV. Sunday.

Heard at the Unitarian Church a young man, named Lincoln, from Fitchburg—Massachusetts: from John 15.13. [“]Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” the great doctrine of the Christian Religion, with reference to this world is benevolence and it is almost exclusively the subject of the Sermons of the Unitarian preachers— The doctrine is good, but by perpetual repetition, like the atonement of Calvinism palls upon the understanding. Mr Lincoln’s elocution is also very affected and disagreeable— After the Service I called on Mr and Mrs Brown at Gadsby’s— Mrs Brown has been more than two years in declining health, but appeared lively and cheerful— I met Mr Josiah S. Johnston, who spoke with commendation of a Methodist preacher he had been hearing named Durbin. I went to Mr Campbell’s Church in the Evening, but there was no preaching there. I came home and finished reading the third Dialogue of Cicero de Oratore. It appears that Cicero himself considered this work as his masterpiece— In the 34th. Section of this dialogue mention is made of Plato as the Instructor of Dion of Syracuse. In Section 35 he thinks ineloquent prudence preferable to loquacious folly. From Section 38. Crassus of elegance of language and metaphorical expressions for the use of which he gives rules and numerous examples— In Section 44. He enters upon the collocation of words, and Oratorical numbers—which he says were first introduced into the discourses of the Greeks by Isocrates— The rule prohibited all combinations of words which would form a verse, yet required that they should be measured for rhythmical harmony— Instead of the dactyl and Spondee he recommends the first and second peon for oratorical numbers The first peon being a long syllable followed by three short ones, and the second three short concluding with one long; and he says that Aristotle recommends the first for the beginning and the last for the close of a Sentence— In a few of the last Sections are comprized all the little elegances which illuminate the discourse concluding with the earnest recommendation of suitable action and the management of the eyes— He relates the Anecdote of Demosthenes attributing the first and second and third power of eloquence to action; confirmed by the Story that Aeschines when in banishment at the Isle of Rhodes, after reading his Oration against Cteriphon, was requested by his hearers to read also the answer of Demosthenes, and upon finding it universally admired, exclaimed, what would you have thought if you had heard the monster himself?