among the Romans, differed from a patronus: The latter was allowed only to plead causes on behalf of his clients; whereas the former might quit the forum and ascend the rostra or tribunal, to harangue the senate or the people. The orators had rarely a profound knowledge of the law, but they were eloquent, and their style was generally correct and concise. They were employed in causes of importance, instead of the common patrons. Orators in the violence of elocution used all the warmth of gesture, and even walked backwards and forwards with great heat and emotion. This it was which occasioned a witticism of Flavius Virginius, who asked one of those walking orators, Quot milia passuum declamasti? "How many MILES he had declaimed?" Similar to the Roman orators were the Grecian Rhetores. See RHETORES.

Public ORATOR, an office of very considerable dignity, and of some emolument, in the English universities.

The public orator is the principal, and in many cases the only official, agent for the university, in all those matters or forms which are merely external. He carries on or superintends all correspondences which are calculated to promote the dignity, or raise the utility, of the seminary which constitutes him. He has little to do, indeed, with the internal government of the body, for which a variety of officers in different departments are appointed; but in all public affairs he is, as it were, the mouth of the whole; putting their deliberations into proper form, and communicating or publishing them, according to the intention of the university. Thus, if the whole university, or a committee appointed by them, or by statute, or by the will of any particular benefactor, have, after a comparative trial, adjudged a prize to any person or persons, it is the business of the public orator to inform the successful parties of the issue of the trial. Again, If for singular learning, or for any remarkable good will shewn to the university by any person or persons, the senate or convocation are pleased to declare their grateful sense of it either by conferring degrees, or otherwise, as they think fit, the public orator is to notify this intention to the person or persons concerned; and so in other cases.

Another part of the public orator's business is to present young noblemen, or those who take honorary degrees, tanquam nobilior, to the vice chancellor; this he does in a Latin speech, which, according to circumstances, is either short or long; and of which the subject is generally a defence of that particular statute which allows the sons of noblemen, and some few others, to proceed to degrees before what is called the statutable time. In doing this, encomiums, often stronger than just, are made upon the learning and virtue of the noble candidate; a view is taken of the dignity of his ancient house; the honour is mentioned which has accrued to the university from the accession of such a member; and the oration concludes with promising great credit from his future conduct, as well as benefit from the influence of his rank in the state. These circumstances are deemed sufficient grounds for exempting the sons of noblemen from that tedious course of study, through which the duller sons of commoners must all pass before they be thought worthy of academical honours.