The prize speaking last evening was one of the closest contests which have occurred for years between the compe titors for the Boylston prizes. Although as usual some surprise was manifested at the award of prizes, this surprise has come to be one of the concomitants of our Boylston declamations, and arises rather from a diference of opinion than from any exception to the justice of the award. Nothing could be a greater proof of the efficiency of Mr. Jones' work toward eradicating the old-time rant and rage in speaking than the speaking of last evening. Self containment was the most notable characteristic of the speakers in genral. Although some unnaturalness in gesture and attitude was manifest, this arose rather from a lack of individual practice and from distinctive peculiarities than from any defect in the system at present pursued in the college. And yet we cannot but think that the degree of excellence reached in the speaking was hardly what it should have been. There is certainly in the college elocutionary ability of the highest excellence. But upon examination we find that but very few men are in any way interested in the study of elocution. No matter what may be the ability of the few gentlemen who are interested, their work cannot be of the high order of proficiency that would be attained were there a greater competition. It is the work of the elocution department to arouse greater interest, not only in the Boylston prize speaking, but in the study of elocution. Several of the competitors last evening showed themselves to be speakers of great power, a few of high polish. Little of the traditional declamation was heard. It seemed that at last the idea of the best conveyance of the speaker's thoughts and not an independent exercise of his lungs, was the prime idea of declama tion. And yet there is danger in too great an effort to attain naturalness when much of the higher power of declamation is sacrificed in the attempt. The contest was in every way worthy of the college, and will long be remembered as one of the most successful declamations which has occurred for years.