periods in a speech, which they will retain and repeat, and they will go home as well satisfied, as people do from an opera, humming all the way one or two favorite tunes that have struck their ears and were easily caught. Most people have ears, but few have judgment; tickle those ears, and, depend upon it, you will catch their judgments, such as they are. [Dec. 9, 1749.]
Hampden a Lesson.—Lord Clarendon, in his
history, says of Mr. John Hampden, that he had a head to contrive, a tongue to persuade, and a hand to execute, any mischief. I shall not now enter into
the justness of this character of Mr. Hampden, to
whose brave stand against the illegal demand of
ship-money, we owe our present liberties; but I
mention it to you as the character, which, with the
alteration of one single word, good, instead of mischief,
I would have you aspire to, and use your
utmost endeavors to deserve. The head to contrive,
God must to a certain degree have given you; but
it is in your own power greatly to improve it, by
study, observation, and reflection. As for the tongue to persuade, it wholly depends upon yourself; and
without it the best head will contrive to very little
purpose. The hand to execute depends, likewise, in
my opinion, in a great measure upon yourself. Serious
reflection will always give courage in a good
