Did the educated class really speak so well in the 19th century?

[Juan Marrero]

Whenever, I read quotes from people from the 19th century, I am struck by how elegantly they spoke. Certainly, the writing (especially of letters) rises to a level of eloquence not usually seen today. I was struck by this when reading "Fortune's Fool" and noticed that, even in angry ripostes, JWB's quotes were uniformly well stated. On the other hand, 18th century letters and quotations seem somewhat stilted by comparison. Did the American English language peak in the 1860s? Perhaps, it is just a matter of taste. Or more likely that only the best examples are still remembered from times past.