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LECT.

XIX. General characters of flyle-Simple, af

fected, vehement -
forming a proper fiyle.

page

Directions for

355

XX. Critical examination of the flyle of mr.
Addifon, in No. 411 of the Specta-

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414 of the Spectator,

XXIV. Critical examination of the flyle in a paffage of dean Swift's writings.

XXV. Eloquence, or public fpeaking-Hiflory of eloquence-Grecian eloquenceDemofthenes.

XXVI. Hiflory of eloquence continued-Ro

374

393

409

424

438

459

man eloquence

loquence.

Cicero-Modern

481

LECTURE I.

INTRODUCTION.

ONE of the most distinguished privileges which

providence has conferred upon mankind, is the power of communicating their thoughts to one another. Destitute of this power, reafon would be a folitary, and, in fome measure, an unavailing principle. Speech is the great inftrument by which man becomes beneficial to man: and it is to the intercourfe and tranfmiffion of thought, by means of fpeech, that we are chiefly indebted for the improvement of thought itself. Small are the advances which a fingle, unaffifted individual can make towards perfecting any of his powers. What we call human reason, is not the effort or ability of one, fo much as it is the refult of the reafon of many, arifing from lights mutually communicated, in confequence of difcourfe and writing.

It is obvious, then, that writing and difcourfe are objects entitled to the highest attention. Whether the influence of the speaker, or the entertainment of the hearer, be confulted-whether utility or pleasure be the principal aim in view-we are prompted, by the strongest motives, to study how we may communicate our thoughts to one another with most advantage. Accordingly we find, that in almost every nation, as foon as language had extended itself beyond that fcanty communication Vol. I,

B

which was requifite for the supply of men's neceffities, the improvement of difcourfe began to attract regard. In the language even of rude, uncultivated tribes,we can trace fome attention to the grace and force of thofe expreffions which they ufed, when they fought to perfuade or to affect. They were early fenfible of a beauty in difcourfe, and endeavoured to give it certain decorations, which experience had taught them it was capable of receiving, long before the study of thofe decorations was formed into a regular art.

But, among nations in a civilized state, no art has been cultivated with more care, than that of language, ftyle, and compofition. The attention paid to it may, indeed, be affumed as one mark of the progrefs of fociety towards its most improved period. For, according as fociety improves and flourishes, men acquire more influence over one another by means of reafoning and difcourfe; and in proportion as that influence is felt to enlarge, it must follow, as a natural confequence, that they will beftow more care upon the methods of expreffing their conceptions with propriety and eloquence. Hence we find, that, in all the polished nations of Europe, this study has been treated as highly important, and has poffeffed a confiderable place in every plan of liberal education.

Indeed, when the arts of fpeech and writing are mentioned, I am fenfible that prejudices against them are apt to rife in the minds of many. A fort of art is immediately thought of, that is oftentatious and deceitful; the minute and trifling ftudy of words alone; the pomp of expreffion; the ftudied fallacies of rhetoric; ornament fubftituted in the room of ufe. We need not wonder, that, under fuch imputations, all study of difcourfe as an art, fhould have fuffered in the opinion of men of understanding and I am far from denying, that rhetoric and criticifin

have fometimes been fo managed as to tend to the corruption, rather than to the improvement, of good taste and true eloquence. But fure it is equal ly poffible to apply the principles of reafon and good fenfe to this art, as to any other that is cultivated among men. If the following lectures have any merit, it will confift in an endeavour to fubftitute the application of these principles in the place of artificial and fcholaftic rhetoric; in an endeavour to explode falfe ornament, to direct attention more to wards fubftance than fhow, to recommend good fenfe as the foundation of all good compofition, and fimplicity as effential to all true ornament.

When entering on the fubject, I may be allowed, on this occafion, to suggest a few thoughts concerning the importance and advantages of fuch studies, and the rank they are entitled to poffefs in academical education*. I am under no temptation, for this purpose, of extolling their importance at the expenfe of any other department of fcience. On the contrary, the ftudy of rhetoric and belles lettres fuppofes and requires a proper acquaintance with the rest of the liberal arts. It embraces them all within its circle, and recommends them to the higheft regard. The firft care of all fuch as with either to write with reputation, or to speak in public fo as to command attention, muft be, to extend their knowledge; to lay in a rich ftore of ideas relating to thofe fubjects of which the occafions of life may call them to difcourfe or to write. Hence, among the ancients, it was a fundamental principle, and fre

The author was the firft who read lectures on this fubject in the univerfity of Edinburgh. He began with reading them in a private character in the year 1759. In the following year he was chofen profeffor of rhetoric by the magiftrates and town council of Edinburgh; and, in 1762, his majefty was pleased to erect and endow a profeffion of rhetoric and belles lettres in that university; and the author was appointed the firft regius profeffor:

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