distinct classes; in the first class were the philosophical treatises, of great value, but sealed books to young students by reason of their depth and technicality. In the other were the more elementary books, which treat chiefly of style, and give forms and exercises for perfecting one's self in the rhetorical use of language. Holding with Dr. Campbell that Rhetoric is allied to Logic in the sense, as well as to Grammar in the expression, the author has attempted to give a clear exposition of the art of constructing discourse; by the application of philosophy to practice. Beginning with clear definitions, the art is divided according to its three great functions of INVENTION, ARRANGEMENT, and STYLE. The place of Rhetoric among the arts is then determined; then a lucid analysis of the DIFFERENT KINDS OF DISCOURSE is given; and after this, the great functions just mentioned are treated in their order. While in most other works old illustrations, handed down from generation to generation, have been used, the author has chosen his examples from the Bible, and, as far as possible, from modern English and American writers. His effort has been to be perspicuous and simple in treating of a subject, which, as a whole, is seldom grasped, although many parts of it have been currently studied, and much appertaining to it has been investigated. To mention the numerous sources from which he has derived valuable information would require too much space. He would, however, especially notice Whately's Elements of Rhetoric;" Campbell's "Philosophy of Rhetoric;" Aristotle's "Rhetoric and Poetic," translated by Buckley, with Hobbes' Brief; and many treatises on Logic and Grammar. Impelled by the great want of such a text-book, and actuated by the desire to form a work suited to his own classes, the author ventures to express the hope that this little treatise will commend itself to his brother instructors, who may have felt the same want. UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, March 1, 1859. 1* |