Indeed, it might be hard to find a man, who had for years been conversant with public life, less able to string a few words together for immediate use.

Nor could he learn half-a-dozen sentences by rote.

But he could stand up with unabashed brow and repeat with enduring audacity the same words a dozen times over--"The prosperity of England depends on the Church of her people." Had he been asked whether the prosperity which he promised was temporal or spiritual in its nature, not only could he not have answered, but he would not in the least have understood the question.
But the words as they came from his mouth had a weight which seemed to ensure their truth, and many men in Tankerville thought that Mr.
Browborough was eloquent.
Phineas, on the other hand, made two or three great speeches every evening, and astonished even Mr.Ruddles by his oratory.

He had accepted Mr.Ruddles's proposition with but lukewarm acquiescence, but in the handling of the matter he became zealous, fiery, and enthusiastic.

He explained to his hearers with gracious acknowledgment that Church endowments had undoubtedly been most beneficent in past times.