two extremes to be shunned. One is, too much abstraction in investigating causes; the other, too much minuteness in specifying effects. By the first, the perspicuity of a performance may be endangered; by the second, its dignity may be sacrificed. The author does not flatter himself so far as to imagine that he hath succeeded perfectly in his endeavours to avoid either extreme. In a work of this kind, it is impossible that everything should be alike perspicuous to every reader, or that all the parts should be equally elevated. Variety in this respect, as well as in others, is perhaps, on the whole, more pleasing and more instructive than too scrupulous a uniformity. To the eye the interchange of hill and dale beautifies the prospect; and to the ear there is no music in monotony. The author can truly say, that he has endeavoured, as much as he could, in the most abstruse questions, to avoid obscurity; and in regard to such of his remarks as may be thought too minute and particular, if just, they will not, he hopes, on a re-examination, be deemed of no consequence. Those may serve to illustrate a general observation, which are scarcely worth notice as subjects either of censure or of praise. Nor is there anything in this book which, in his opinion, will create even the smallest difficulty to persons accustomed to inquire into the faculties of the mind. Indeed, the much greater part of it will, he is persuaded, be level to the capacity of all those readers (not, perhaps, the most numerous class) who think reflection of some use in reading, and who do not read merely with the intention of killing time. He begs leave to add, that though his subject be Eloquence, yet, as the nature of his work is didactical, wherein the understanding only is addressed, the style in general admits no higher qualities than purity and perspicuity. These were, therefore, his highest aim. The best ornaments out of place are not only unbe coming, but offensive. Nor can anything be farther from his thoughts than to pretend to an exemption from such positive faults in expression, as, on the article of elocution, he hath so freely criticised in the best Eng ·lish authors. He is entirely sensible that an impropri ety or other negligence in style will escape the notice of the writer, which hardly escapes that of anybody else. Next to the purpose of illustrating the principles and canons which he here submits to the judgment of the public, the two following motives weighed most with the author in inducing him to use so much freedom in regard to the writings of those for whom he has the highest veneration. One is, to show that we ought in writing, as in other things, carefully to beware of implicit attachment and servile imitation, even when they seem to be claimed by the most celebrated names. The other is, to evince that we are in danger of doing great injustice to a work by deciding hastily on its merit from a collection of such oversights. If the critic be rigorous in marking whatever is amiss in this way, what author may abide the trial? But though such slips are not to be regarded as the sole or even principal test of demerit in literary productions, they ought not to be altogether overlooked. Whatever is faulty in any degree it were better to avoid. And there are consequences regarding the language in general, as well as the success of particular works, which should preserve verbal criticism from being considered as beneath the attention of any author. An author, so far from having reason to be offended, is doubtless obliged to the man who, free from captious petulance, candidly points out his errors, of what kind soever they be. CONTENTS. THE NATURE AND FOUNDATIONS OF ELOQUENCE. CHAP. I. Eloquence in the largest Acceptance defined, its more general Forms exhibited, with their different Objects, Ends, and Characters............. CHAP. II Of Wit, Humour, and Ridicule SECT. I. Of Wit....... ........................ SECT. III. Of Ridicule........ CHAP. III. The Doctrine of the preceding Chapter defended SECT. I. Aristotle's Account of the Ridiculous explained. SECT. II. Hobbes's Account of Laughter examined CHAP. IV. Of the Relation which Eloquence bears to Logic and to Grammar.. 54 CHAP. V. Of the different Sources of Evidence, and the different Subjects to Part III. Common Sense................................................................ SECT. II. Of Deductive Evidence..... Part I. Division of the Subject into Scientific and Moral, with the principal Distinctions between them..... Part IV. The Superiority of Scientific Evidence re-examined.. CHAP. VI. Of the Nature and Use of the scholastic Art of Syllogizing. CHAP. VII. Of the Consideration which the Speaker ought to have of the Hear- ers as Men in general.. SECT. I. As endowed with Understanding.. SECT. II. As endowed with Imagination. SECT. VI. Other Passions, as well as Moral Sentiments, useful Auxiliaries... 112 SECT. VII. How an unfavourable Passion must be calmed.. CHAP. VIII. Of the Consideration which the Speaker ought to have of the Hear- ers as such Men in particular CHAP IX. Of the Consideration which the Speaker ought to have of himself. 118 CHAP. X. The different Kinds of public Speaking in use among the Moderns, compared with a View to their different Advantages in respect of Eloquence 121 THE FOUNDATIONS AND ESSENTIAL PROPERTIES OF ELOCUTION. CHAP. I. The Nature and Characters of the Use which gives Law to Language 162 |