As a debater in the House of Commons, his speeches were logical and argumentative: if they did not often abound in the graces of metaphor, or sparkle with the brilliancy of wit, they were always animated, elegant, and classical.

But the ablest debater of the convention was Hamilton, and his speeches were impressive and convincing.

She was no stoic, no teacher of moral precepts, no didactic debater about moral duties, no mere dilettante advocate of human rights.

[Footnote 111: An eminent living writer (Mr. Leeky, "History of England," ii., 474) quotes with apparent approval another comparison between the father and son, made by Grattan, in the following words: "The father was not, perhaps, so good a debater as his son, but was a much better orator, a greater scholar, and a far greater man."

Seldom has such eloquence been heard in the House of Commons, and from all the leading debaters on both sides.

The discussion had continued for some time, when another passenger offered a suggestion which opened the eyes of the debaters to the fact (not unfrequently the case in such controversies) that they were both wrong.