study the forms of court, the courfe of procedure; and must attend minutely to all the facts that may be the fubject of queftion or deliberation. Befides the knowledge that properly be. longs to that profeffion to which he addicts himself, a public fpeaker, if ever he expects to be eminent, must make himself acquainted, as far as his neceffary occupations allow, with the general circle of polite literature. The study of poetry may be useful to him on many occafions, for embellishing his style, for fuggefting lively images, or agreeable allufions. The study of kiftory may be ftill more ufeful to him; as the knowledge of facts, of eminent characters, and of the course of human affairs, finds place on many occafions, There are few great occafions of public speaking, in which one will not derive affiftance from cultivated tafte, and extenfive knowledge. They will often yield him materials for proper ornament; fometimes, for argument and real ufe. A deficiency of knowledge, even in fubjects that belong not di rectly to his own profeffion, will expofe him to many difadvantages, and give bet ter qualified rivals a great fuperiority over him. Blair. Allow me to recommend, in the third place, not only the attainment of ufeful knowledge, but a habit of application and industry. Without this, it is impoffible to excel in any thing. We must not imagine that it is by a fort of mushroom growth, that one can rife to be a diftinguished pleader, or preacher, or fpeaker in any aflembly. It is not by starts of application, or by a few years preparation of tudy afterwards difcontinued, that eminence can be attained. No; it can be attained only by means of regular industry, grown up into a habit, and ready to be exerted on every occafion that calls for induftry. This is the fixed law of our nature; and he must have a very high opinion of his own genius indeed, that can believe himself an exception to it. A very "Imprimis verò, abundare debet Orator ex"emplorum copiâ, cum veterum, tum etiam no. ❝ vorum ; adeò ut non modò quæ confcripta funt "hiftoriis, aut fermonibus velut per manus tra dita, quæque quotidie aguntur, debeat nôffe; ❝ verùm ne ea quidem quae a clarioribus poëtis "funt ficta negligere." QUINCT. L. xii. Cap. 4. wife law of our nature it is; for induftry is, in truth, the great "Condimentum," the feafoning of every pleafure; without which life is doomed to languifh. Nothing is fo great an enemy both to honourable attainments, and to the real, to the brik, and ipirited enjoyment of life, as that relaxed ftate of mind which raifes from indolence and diffipation. One that is def tined to excel in any art, especially in the arts of fpeaking and writing, will be known by this more than by any other mark whatever, an ehthufiafm for that art; an enthufiafm, which, firing his mind with the object he has in view, will difpose him to relish every labour which the means require. It was this that characterised the great men of antiquity; it is this, which must diftinguish the moderns who would tread their steps. This honourable enthufiafm, it is highly neceffary for fuch as are ftudying oratory to cultivate. If youth wants it, manhood will flag miferably. Ibid. § 76. Attention to the best Models recom mended to the Student in Eloquence. Attention to the best models will contribute greatly towards improvement. Every one who speaks or writes fhould, indeed, endeavour to have fomewhat that is his own, that is peculiar to himself, and that characterifes his compofition and ftyle, Slavish imitation depreffes genius, or ra ther betrays the want of it. But withal, there is no genius fo original, but may be profited and affifted by the aid of proper examples, in ftyle, compofition, and delivery. They always open fome new ideas; they ferve to enlarge and correct our own, They quicken the current of thought, and excite emulation, Ibid. Much, indeed, will depend upon the right choice of models which we purpos to imitate; and fuppofing them rightly chofen, a farther care is requifite, of not being feduced by a blind universal admiration. For, " decipit examplar, vitiis imi"tabile." Even in the most finished models we can felect, it must not be forgotten, that there are always fome things improper for imitation. We should study to acquire a juft conception of the peculiar characteristic beauties of any writer, or public fpeaker, and imitate thefe only. One ought ought never to attach himself too clofely to any fingle model: for he who does fo, is almost fure of being feduced into a faulty and affected imitation. His bufinefs fhould be, to draw from feveral the proper ideas of perfection. Blair. $78. On the Style of BOLINGBROKE and SWIFT, Some authors there are, whofe manner of writing approaches nearer to the ftyle of fpeaking than others; and who, there fore, can be imitated with more fafety. In this clafs, among the English authors, are Dean Swift, and Lord Bolingbroke. The Dean, throughout all his writings, in the mid of much correctnefs, maintains the eafy natural manner of an unaffected fpeaker; and this is one of his chief excellencies. Lord Bolingbroke's ftyle is more fplendid, and more declamatory than Dean Swift's; but ftill it is the style of one who speaks, or rather who harangues. Indeed, all his political writings (for it is to them only, and not to his philofophical ones, that this obfervation can be applied) carry much more the appearance of one declaiming with warmth in a great affem. bly, than of one writing in a clofet, in order to be read by others. They have all the copioufnefs, the fervour, the inculcating method, that is allowable and graceful in an orator; perhaps too much of it for a writer: and it is to be regretted, as I have formerly obferved, that the matter contained in them should have been so trivial or fo false; for, from the manner and style, confiderable advantage might be reaped. Ibid. 179. Frequent Exercife in compofing and Jpeaking, neceffary for Improvement in Eloquence. Befides attention to the best models, frequent exercife, both in compofing and fpeaking, will be admitted to be a neceffary mean of improvement. That fort of compofition is, doubtless, most useful, which relates to the profeffion, or kind of public fpeaking, to which perfons addict themfelves. This they fhould keep ever in their eye, and be gradually inuring themfelves to it. But let me alfo advife them, not to allow themselves in negligent compofition of any kind. He who has it for his aim to write, or to fpeak correctly, fhould, in the most trivial kind of compo. fition, in writing a letter, nay, even in common difcourfe, ftudy to acquit himself with propriety. I do not at all mean, that he is never to write, or to fpeak a word, but in elaborate and artificial language, This would form him to a ftiffness and affectation, worse, by ten thoufand degrees, than the greatest negligence. But it is to be obferved, that there is, in every thing, a manner which is becoming, and has propriety; and oppofite to it, there is a clum fy and faulty performance of the fame thing. The becoming manner is very often the moft light, and feemingly careless manner; but it requires talle and attention to feize the juft idea of it. That idea, when acquired, we fhould keep in our eye, and form upon it whatever we write or fay. Ibid. § 8o. Of what Ufe the Study of critical and rhetorical Writers may be. It now only remains to enquire, of what ufe may the study of critical and rhetorical writers be, for improving one in the practice of eloquence? Thefe are certainly not to be neglected; and yet, I dare not fay that much is to be expected from them. For profeffed writers on public speaking, we must look chiefly among the ancients. In modern times, for reafons which were before given, popular eloquence, as an art, has never been very much the object of ftudy; it has not the fame powerful effect among us that it had in more democratical states; and therefore has not been cultivated with the fame care. Among the moderns, though there has been a great deal of good criticifm on the different kinds of writing, yet much has not been attempted on the fubject of eloquence, or public difcourfe; and what has been given us of that kind has been drawn mostly from the ancients. Such a writer as Joannes Gerardus Voffius, who has gathered into one heap of pondrous lumber, all the trifling, as well as the useful things, that are to be found in the Greek and Roman writers, is enough to disgust one with the study of eloquence. Among the French, there has been more attempted, on this subject, than among the English. The Bishop of Cambray's writings on eloquence, I before mentioned with honour. Rollin, Batteux, Crevier, Gibert, and several other French critics, have alfo written on oratory; but though fome of them may be useful, none of them are fo confiderable as to deferve particular recommendation. Ibid. It is to the original ancient writers that we muft chiefly have recourfe; and it is a reproach to any one, whofe profeffion calls him to fpeak in public, to be unacquainted with them. In all the ancient rhetorical writers, there is, indeed, this defect, that they are too fyftematical, as I formerly thewed; they aim at doing too much; at reducing rhetoric to a complete and perfect art, which may even fupply invention with materials on every fubject; infomuch that one would imagine they expected to form an orator by rule, in as mechanical a manner as one would form a carpenter. Whereas, all that can in truth be done, is to give openings for affifting and enlightenang tafte, and for pointing out to genius the courfe it ought to hold. Ariftotle laid the foundation for all that was afterwards written on the fubject. That amazing and comprehenfive genius, which does honour to human nature, and which gave light into fo many different fciences, has inveftigated the principles of rhetoric with great penetration. Ariftotle appears to have been the firft who took rhetoric out of the hands of the fophifts, and introduced reafoning and good fenfe into the art. Some of the profoundeft things which have been written on the paffions and manners of men, are to be found in his Treatise on Rhetoric; though in this, as in all his writings, his great brevity often renders him obfcure. Succeeding Greek rhetoricians, most of whom are now loft, improved on the foundation which Ariftotle had laid. Two of them ftill remain, Demetrius Phalerius, and Dionyfius of Halicarnaffus; both write on the conftruction of fentences, and deferve to be perufed; efpecially Dionyfius, who is a very accurate and judicious critic. I need scarcely recommend the rhetorical writings of Cicero. Whatever, on the fubject of eloquence, comes from fo great an orator, must be worthy of attention. His molt confiderable work on this fubject is that De Oratore, in three books, None of Cicero's writings are more highly finished than this treatife. The dialogue is polite; the characters are well fupported, and the conduct of the whole is beautiful and agreeable. It is, indeed, full of digreffions, and his rules and obfervations may be thought fometimes too vague and general. Ufeful things, however, may be learned from it; and it is no fmall beneft to be made acquainted with Cicero's own idea of eloquence. The "Orator ad M. "Brutum," is also a confiderable treatife; and, in general, throughout all Cicero's rhetorical works there run thofe high and fublime ideas of eloquence, which are fitted both for forming a juft tafte, and for creating that enthufiafm for the art, which is of the greateft confequence for excelling in it. But, of all the ancient writers on the fubject of oratory, the most inftructive, and moft ufeful, is Quinctilian. I know few books which abound more with good fenfe, and discover a greater degree of juft and accurate tafle, than Quinctilian's Inftitutions. Almost all the principles of good criticifm are to be found in them. He has digefted into excellent order all the ancient ideas concerning rhetoric, and is, at the fame time, himfelf an eloquent wri ter. Though fome parts of his work contain too much of the technical and artificial fyftem then in vogue, and for that reafon may be thought dry and tedious, yet I would not advife the omitting to read any part of his Inflitutions. To pleaders at the bar, even these technical parts may prove of fome ufe. Seldom has any perfon, of more found and diftin&t judgment than Quinctilian, applied himself to the ftudy of the art of oratory. Blair. $82. On the Neceffity of a Claffical Edu cation. The fairest diamonds are rough till they are polifhed, and the pure gold muft be run and washed, and fifted in the ore. We are untaught by nature; and the fine qualities will grow wild and degenerate, if the mind is not formed by difcipline, and cultivated with an early care. In fome perfons, who have run up to men without a liberal education, we may obferve many great qualities darkened and eclipsed; their minds are crufted over like diamonds in the rock, they flash out fometimes into an irregular greatness of thought, and betray in their actions an unguided force, and unmanaged virtue; fomething very great and very noble may be difcerned, but it looks cumbersome and aukward, and is alone of all things the worfe for being natural. Nature is undoubtedly the bet miftrefs and apteit fcholar; but nature herfelf muft be civilized, or she will look favage, as fhe appears in the Indian princes, who are vefted with a native majefty, a fur prifing greatnefs and generofity of foul, and difcover what we always regret, fine purts, and excellent natural endowments, without improvement. In thofe countries, which we call barbarous, where art and politenefs are not underflood, nature hath the greater advantage in this, that fimplicity of manners often fecures the innocence of the mind; and as virtue is not, fo neither is vice, civilized and refined: but in thele politer parts of the world, where virtue excels by rules and difcipline, vice allo is more inftructed, and with us good qualities will not fpring up alone: many hurtful weeds will rife with them, and choak them in their growth, unlefs removed by fome fkilful hand: nor will the mind be brought to a juft perfection without cherishing every hopeful feed, and repreffing every fuperfluous humour: the mind is like the body in this regard, which cannot fall into a decent and eafy carriage, unless it be fashioned in time: an untaught behaviour is like the people that ufe it, truly ruftic, forced and uncouth, and art must be applied to make it natural. Felton. 83. On the Entrance to Knowledge. Knowledge will not be won without pains and application: fome parts of it are eafter, fome more difficult of accefs: we must proceed at once by fap and battery; and when the breach is practicable, you have nothing to do, but to prefs boldly on, and enter: it is troublefome and deep digging for pure waters, but when once you come to the fpring, they rife and meet you: the entrance into knowledge is oftentimes very narrow, dark and tiresome, bat the rooms are fpacious, and gloriously Furnished: the country is admirable, and every profpect entertaining. You need not wonder, that fine countries have ftrait averues, when the regions of happiness, like thofe of knowledge, are impervious, and fat to lazy travellers; and the way to hoven itself is narrow. Common things are easily attained, and no body values what lies in every body's way: what is excellent is placed out of ordinary reach, and you will eafily be perfuaded to put forth your hand to the utmost Bretch, and reach whatever you afpire at, Ibid. $84 Claffics recommended. Many are the fubjects which will invite and deferve the fteadieft application from thofe who would excel, and be diftinguifhed in them. Human learning in general; natural philofophy, mathematics, and the whole circle of fcience. But there is no neceffity of leading you through thefe feveral fields of knowledge: it will be most commendable for you to gather fome of the fairest fruit from them all, and to lay up a store of good fenfe, and found reafon, of great probity, and folid virtue. This is the true ufe of knowledge, to make it fubfervient to the great duties of our most holy religion, that as you are daily grounded in the true and faving knowledge of a Chriftian, you may use the helps of human learning, and direct them to their proper end. You will meet with great and wonderful examples of an irregular and mistaken virtue in the Greeks and Romans, with many inftances of greatness of mind, of unfhaken fidelity, contempt of human grandeur, a moft paffionate love of their country, prodigality of life, disdain of fervitude, inviolable truth, and the most public difinterested fouls, that ever threw off all regards in comparison with their country's good you will difcern the flaws and blemishes of their faireft actions, fee the wrong apprehenfions they had of virtue, and be able to point them right, and keep them within their proper bounds. Under this correction you may extract a generous and noble fpirit from the writings and hiftories of the ancients. And I would in a particular manner recommend the claffic authors to your favour, and they will recommend themfelves to your approbation. If you would refolve to mafter the Greek as well as the Latin tongue, you will find that the one is the fource and original of all that is moft excellent in the other: I do not mean fo much for expreffion, as thought, though fome of the most beautiful ftrokes of the Latin tongue are drawn from the lines of the Grecian orators and poets; but for thought and fancy, for the very foundation and embellishment of their works, you will fee, the Latins have ranfacked the Grecian fore, and, as Horace advifes all who would fucceed in writing well, had their authors night and morning in their hands. And they have been fuch happy imitatators, that the copies have proved more exact than the originals; and Rome has triumphed over Athens, as well in wit as arms; for though Greece may have the honour of invention, yet it is easier to ftrike out a new courfe of thought than If I may detain you with a fhort comparifon of the Greek and Roman authors, I muft own the last have the preference in my thoughts; and I am not fingular in my opinion. It must be confeffed, the Romans have left no tragedies behind them, that may compare with the majefty of the Grecian stage; the best comedies of Rome were written on the Grecian plan, but Menander is too far loft to be compared with Terence; only if we may judge by the method Terence ufed in forming two Greek plays into one, we fhall naturally conclude, fince his are perfect upon that model, that they are more perfect than Menander's were. I fhall make no great difficulty in preferring Plautus to Ariftophanes, for wit and humour, variety of characters, plot and contrivance in his plays, though Horace has cenfured him for low wit. Virgil has been fo often compared with Ilomer, and the merits of thofe poets fo often canvaffed, that I fhall only fay, that if the Roman fhines not in the Grecian's flame and fire, it is the coolness of his judgment, rather than the want of heat, You will generally find the force of a poet's genius, and the ftrength of his fancy, difplay themselves in the defcriptions they give of battles, ftorms, prodigies, &c. and Homer's fire breaks out on thefe occafions in more dread and tetror; but Virgil mixes compaffion with his terror, and, by throwing water on the flame, makes it burn the brighter; fo in the ftorm; fo in his battles on the fall of Pallas and Camilla; and that fcene of horror, which his hero opens in the fecond book; the burning of Troy; the gheft of Hector; the murder of the king; the maffacre of the people; the fudden furprife, and the dead of night, are fo relieved by the piety and pity that is every where intermixed, that we forget our fears, and join in the lamentation. All the world acknowledges the Eneid to be moft perfect in its kind; and confidering the difadvantage of the language, and the feve rity of the Roman mufe, the poem is still more wonderful, fince, without the liberty of the Grecian poets, the diction is fo great and noble, fo clear, fo forcible and expreffive, fo chafte and pure, that even all the ftrength and compafs of the Greek tongue, joined to Homer's fire, cannot give us stronger and clearer ideas, than the great Virgil has fet before our eyes; fome fes inftances excepted, in which Homer, thro' the force of genius, has excelled. I have argued hitherto for Virgil; and it will be no wonder that his poem fhot!! be more correct in the rules of writing, i that flrange opinion prevails, that Homer writ without any view or defign at all; that his poems are loofe independent piece. tacked together, and were originally only fo many fongs or ballads upon the gods and heroes, and the fiege of Troy. If this be true, they are the completeft ftring of ballads, I ever met with, and whoever collected them, and put them in the method we now read them in, whether it were Pififratus, or any other, has placed them in fuck order, that the Iliad and the Odyffeis feem to have been compofed with one view ani defign, one fcheme and intention, which are carried on from the beginning to the end, all along uniform and confiftent with themfelves. Some have argued, the world was made by a wife Being, and not jumbled together by chance, from the very abfurdity of fuch a fuppofition; and the have illuftrated their argument, from the impoffibility that fuch a poem as Homer's and Virgil's fhould rife in fuch beautifu' order out of millions of letters eternally fhaken together: but this argument is ha fpoiled, if we allow, that the poems of Hemer, in each of which appears one conti nued formed defign from one end to the other, were written in loofe fcraps on ro fettled premeditated fcheme. Horace, we are fure, was of another opinion, and was Virgil too, who built his neid upc the model of the Iliad and the Odyficis After all, Tully, whofe relation of this pa fage has given fome colour to this fugge tion, fays no more, than that Pififtratus (whom he commends for his learning, and condemns for his tyranny) obferving the books of Homer to lie confufed and out of order, placed them in the method the great author, no doubt, had firft formed them in: but all this Tully gives us only as report. And it would be very strange, that Ariftotle fhould form his rules on Hmer's poems; that Horace fhould follow his |