THE ſubject is important, delicate and extenſive. It would be vain therefore to hope that I ſhall eſcape inperfection: It is ſufficient for me that I ſhall offer hints upon which ſuperior abilities may improve.

THE cultivation of Oratory is particularly incumbent upon the riſing youth of America. The influence of the revolution will give efficacy to their exertions, ſince where Liberty is eſtabliſhed Oratory will flouriſh. And not only honor, but the well being of the country demand thoſe exertions, ſince when Oratory moſt generally flouriſhes, Liberty is moſt ſecure. There are circumſtances that now combine in their favour, with which the ſtudents of Oratory in ancient days, & even your predeceſſors in this country, were unaſſiſted. I ſincerely wiſh, and confidently expect, that their abilities, improving theſe circumſtances, will give to this country, already rendered illuſtrious, additional brilliancy.

IN the ſchool of Oratory which was inſtituted under the reign of Theſeus, the youth of abilities was taught to diſpute juridically and to deceive Eti de, tanantia dei dunasthai peithein, kathoper kai en tois ſullogiſmois. Ariſt Rhetor. as in the regular form of ſyllogiſm. In the Lyceum, the Portico and the Academy, where generous precepts flowed from eloquent lips, the young philoſopher had the opportunity of liſtening. But now, in this riſing country, he may not only learn the accumulated wiſdom of every age, but he may learn to apply that wiſdom to the great purpoſes of life. Neither a forenſic Sophiſt as in the one caſe, nor an indolent auditor as in the other, he is taught to emulate with active diligence thoſe powers that once preſerved Greece in the enjoyment of her liberties, and that aſſiſted to reſcue this country.

IN former times the works of great maſters (which are the true models for improvement) were ſcarce and difficult of acceſs; but now by the happy art of Gottenburg, The inventor of Printing. the glowing pages not only of the Hiſtorian Thucydides and Iſaeus—See Plutarch in vita Demoſthen. and the orator from whom the great Athenian copied, but of the great Athenian himſelf and of his Roma competitor, are endowed (if I may ſo ſpeak) with a benevolent ubiquity, by which while preſent with all, they invite all to rival them. And by the encouragements here given to compoſition, of which ſo many ſpecimens have lately been exhibited; Upon the Death of General Waſhington. they who are animated with the laudable ambition of excelling in that art which governs the ſoul, inſlead of being obliged like the orators of old to have recourſe for improvement to the unfaithful mirror of the cave, or to the unconſcious waves of the ocean, enjoy the ineſtimable advantage of a rational and indulgent people, to inſpin admire and reward their Eſſays.

Hiſtory ſhould be carefully ſtudied and we ſhould always bear in mind its uſes, and direct our inveſtigations in ſuch a manner, as to render our knowledge applicable to purpoſes of practicable utility. The annals of remote antiquity are in general mere chioniclen of names and dates, which form in fact the only links whereby the events they record are connected.

But we ought not to be ſatisfied with being mere Hiſtorians. If Hiſtory, Cicero. who is the meſſenger of Antiquity, were not to be alſo the miſtreſs of life, her documents would be of little uſe, except to divert the anxieties of the recluſe Hypochondriac; her volumes would be of little value, except to ſwell the Library of the lettered ſpeculiſt. But Hiſtory was not meant to be the ſolace of the indolent, Tacitus. it is her province and her praiſe to be the guide of the active. Since few can by mere prudence diſtinguiſh the juſt from the prejudicial, the uſeful from the dangerous: Many are taught by the events of others. Mark, however, that the inſtructions of hiſtory are not fitted for the regulation of private intercourſe, but for the momentous adminiſtration of public affairs. To the ſtateſman and to the patriotic Orator, ſhe manifeſts herſelf the light of truth and the ſoul of memory: To all, however inexperienced, ſhe liberally diſpenſes wiſdom, and points out, with an unerring hand how they may aſſert and defend the deareſt privileges of mankind. Thus it is that Hiſtory is ſubſervient to Oratory, as Oratory is to the nobleſt purpoſes of exiſtence.

WITH ſimilar recommendations, Compoſition courts attention. Nothing (ſays Tully, is ſo conducive to Oratory as writing. And we find that the greateſt See Plutarch in vita Demoſthenes. Orator the world ever produced, did not deem it unworthy his genius to ſpend ſeveral months in a cave, in poliſhing a ſpeech; to tranſcribe Thucydides eight times, and to labour for the ſpace of an Olympiad in imitating the orations of Iſaeus—we muſt allow ample authority to the aſſertion.

THUS wiſely did theſe founders provide Hiſtory and compoſition as ſupporters for Oratory, which may itſelf be ſtyled the eſcutcheon of freedom. To demonſtrate this, the annals of the world evince, that it has been by the influence of this divine art, which arouſes, perſuades and inſpirs, that ever the oppreſſed have been awakened from their ignominious acquieſcence, have been taught to know the dignity of their nature, and animated with courage to aſſert their rights. It may be uſeful to enquire how this has happened.

FEW ſtates have been originally free, and, what is remarkable, ſtill fewer have become free. The cauſe of this ſeems to be, that Oratory, which is the inſtrument of freedom, cannot flouriſh under arbitrary government; ſometimes however it may happen that Mr. S. Adams, General Waſhington &c one or two great and good men, endowed with abilities which fear does not repieſs, and animated with a love for the public good which ambition or intereſt cannot warp, may become orators; theſe men may command the ſouls of their countrymen, and arouſe them to vindicate their native rights. This country hazarded what appeared at firſt raſhneſs to many; but the beneficial conſequences are now very viſible to all the induſtrious throughout the United States. I think the Hiſtories of every age and of every nation concur in demonſtrating the truth of theſe principles. As they are of ſuch moment, they ought to be illuſtrated and confirmed by applying to Hiſtory.

The Teſtimonies of Hiſtory, it muſt be acknowledged, are often tedious, but they are always impartial and concluſive: And I hope that truth will be received with pleaſure. The firſt conſtitution which human ſociety knew was by no means propitious to the birth of cioquence. The families of the Patriarchs were ruled with abſolute Plato de legib. l. iii. and he adduces in corroboration of his opinion the Cyclopean polite, ſee Hom. Odyſs, l. i. authority; and there was little other occaſion for ſpeech than to ſignify the will of the aged father. Men were thus from their infancy habituated to implicit ſubmiſſion; and when in time they found it neceſſary to ſupport public hoſtilities, they crowded, without reluctance or compunction, around the deſpotic banners of ſome illuſtrious chieftain.

SUCH was the early government of the Jews. Such was the conſtitution which obtained among the Celtae, reputed the moſt ancient of nations, Being deſcended from Gomer the eldeſt ſon of Japhet. and which continued with them unaltered even down to the time of Julius Caeſar, from whom we receive the ſame Com. de bell. Gall. l. vi. c. 13—according to him their ſituation was very abject—In omni Gallia, plebs pene ſervorum habetur loco; quae per ſe nihil audet et nulli adhibetur concilio. account of it. Such was the government of the Phrygians, the Phoenicians, Who were deſcended from the Chaldaean's, and had the ſame government, ſee Bochart. the Huns, the Scythians, Heroditus l. iv. c. 46. 76. 79. and all the northern nations. In Egypt the government was monarchical, and the ſceptre hereditary. Every thing ſeems to have been conducted in this kingdom with a myſterious ſilence, even the juridical proceedings were tranſacted by Hyeroglyphics. Diod. Sic. l. i. ſec. 75. In Perſia, deſpotiſm commanded the proſtration of the intellect as well as of the body. In Aſſyra Though the Cteſian hiſtory has been objected to with ſeeming propriety, yet we cannot diſcredit its account of the form of the government, ſince this is corroborated by ſcripture. See Euſeb. Pamph. Chron. lib. poſt. and compare Amos, Kings, &c. the ſovereign power was no leſs arbitrary; and the royal lineage of Nimrod, like himſelf, were mighty upon the earth.

IN Greece alone did a Democracy exiſt; and climate ſeemed happily to conſpire with conſtitution to elevate the Grecians above the reſt of mankind. Leſs fierce than the northern Europeans, leſs effeminate than the Aſiatics, they were neither always in the field like the one, nor always on the couch like the other: they had leiſure and genius to invent arts; and wiſdom and courage to protect them. See Ariſt. de Rep. l. vii. c. 7. Here it was accordingly, in the midſt of Republics, that eloquence was called into exiſtence. Cicero de orat. l. 1. c. 5. And it is worthy of remark that where eloquence was firſt known, there ſhe was moſt perfect: Like the tutelary Goddeſs of the place of her nativity, another offspring of the head, ſhe appeared conſumate at her birth.

Examming the records of Hiſtory we become convinced that eloquence not only abhorred deſpotiſm, but diſcerned and abandoned ſuppoſititious freedom. The ſtudy of oratory (ſaid Tully) was not common to Greece, but peculiar to Athens. For who hath known an Argive, a Corinthian or a Theban orator: unleſs we except Epaminondas, a man of ſingular accompliſhments. Or hath a Spartan orator been heard of even to this day? Lace-daemon was called a free ſtate, but the people had no right to propoſe laws, nor to alter or debate upon ſuch as the Senate would propoſe, and hence their conſtant Laconic ſtyle. Carthage too was called a free State; but its government (as Ariſtotle proves) was in fact an oligarchy. At Carthage nothing was accounted baſe if it ſupplied lucre: Polybius. The votes of the electors were avowedly purchaſed: And the people, who were the agents and factors of all other nations, intent as they were upon traffic, and accuſtomed to naval diſcipline, were not leſs regardleſs of the bleſſings of liberty, than they were ignorant of the charms and energies of ſpeech. In ſhort, do we wiſh for a criterion of genuine conſtitutional Freedom? enquire Dionyſius Halicar. if oratory flouriſhes in the ſtate.

By comparing the number and ſtyle of the Athenian orators, with the political tranſactions of the different periods in which they lived, it not only appears that when Athens was moſt free, then were her citizens moſt generally eloquent; but it is alſo diſcernable that among her great orators the excellence of each was accurately paralleled by the ſpirit of independence with which he was inſpired. How far did Lyſias, Iſocrates, Iſaeus, Demoſthenes outvie Timaeus, Soſigenes, Philagrius and Molo? Among the former how inferior to the reſt was the mild Iſocrates, whoſe very cenſures were couched in panegyric, and who, if he afforded any aſſiſtance to liberty, did it rather by deprecation See his Oration to Philip than by patronage!

From the death of Phocion, 'till the time of Dyoniſius the Halicarnaſſian (which was about the Auguſtan age of Rome) the original and Philoſophic ſpecies of eloquence Dyonyſ. Halic was gradualy decaying, and in the time of Dyoniſius was almoſt extinct. The chaſte and native Attic muſe (ſays he) was deſpoiled of her property and her reſpect, by the meretricious intrigues of the Phrygian, who ſupplanted her, and ſeduced all the cities of Greece. And eaſily indeed muſt they have been liable to ſuch a ſeduction, when they were previouſly reduced into ſubjection by the Macedonian arms.

The ſubject would take up too much time to trace, with accuracy, the progreſs of eloquence through Greece and Rome, although new proof;s would ſtill ariſe in corroboration of what is here advanced. We might notice what influence every political eſtabliſhment at Athens had upon the art of ſpeaking; and obſerve how the authority of Pericles Plu. Polit. and the tyranny of Piſiſtratus Piſiſtratus 〈◊〉 tantum valuiſſe dicitur, ut ei Athenienfes regium imperium oratione capts permitterent. Val. Maxim. l. viii. c. 9. were effected, not by the force of their arms but by the powers of their elocution: and from thence advert to that objection which has been raiſed againſt eloquence, that its powers have been ſometimes perverted even to the purpoſes of deſpotiſm. It might be demonſtrated that ſuch perverſions are unuſual, never occurring, except where this powerful faculty is permitted to become appropriate to one; that the light of eloquence ſhould be, if poſſible, as univerſally diffuſed as the light of heaven; for that, concentred into a ſingle point, however it may dazzle, it always becomes dangerous.

THESE conſiderations might ſuggeſt new ideas of the uſefulneſs of thoſe ſtudies, and infer new motives for the invigoration of your efforts to accompliſh them.

In might be obſerved how, in the laſt century of the Roman republic the Grecian arts were imported into Rome, By Mumm •• s particularly—See Velleins, Pateri, etlut. how the taſte of Cicero, and of all the great geniuſes of that age, was formed before Julius Caeſar was made perpetual dictator, and before Octavius was born. See a diſquiſiton on the influence of liberty over taſte, in letters to a young Nobleman on the ſtudy of Hiſtory—lett. vi. It might finally be remembered, how eloquence fled from Rome as ſoon as the commonwealth expired. Then might a deſcent be made to preſent times, and a review taken with triumph, of cotemporary nations—Rome might be compared to Babylon, Holland to Carthage, Switzerland to Sparta, France (before the revolution) to Perſia, Spain to Aſſyria, England to Attica; See a beautiful character of the Athenians in a parallel between them and the Carthagenians, by Plutarch—Cic. Hor. &c. and with what pleaſure do we add that this government enjoys all the excellencies of the Athenian, unpolluted by one of its defects. Thus it appears that eloquence is the ſatellite of liberty, deriving its ſplendor from the ſame common ſource, riſing and ſetting with it invariably and giving it new radiance by the emanations of its luſtre; but we muſt ſtop leſt our patience ſhould be exhauſted, for the ſubject is inexhauſtible—Let us hope that the important principles are fully eſtabliſhed which were deſired to be impreſſed upon the mind. That there only where liberty obtains, can oratory flouriſh —and that where oratory moſt generally flouriſhes, liberty is moſt ſecure.

Now endeavour to apply theſe principles to circumſtances.

UNTIL the ever memorable and happy revolution, America was nominally, but not really free. In the pride of the heart, and the ignorance or deluſion of the underſtanding, the people were accuſtomed to boaſt of ſuch a conſtitution as the philoſophic annaliſt of Rome deſcribes Tacit. Ann. l. iv. c. 33—In that remarkable Paſſage. as the moſt perfect—But they did not advert to the interference of Britain nor to the exerciſed ſupremacy of a Britiſh parliament. Theſe powers however have been chaſed from the United States, and they are now free and independent. What does not this country owe to the eloquence of ſome of its original congreſs? and with what praiſes is not that art worthy to be adorned which can obtain the greateſt bleſſing human ſociety can poſſeſs? The conſequence of emancipation will be the diffuſion of that faculty which obtained it: and the effect of this diffuſion will be the preſervation of thoſe bleſſings that have been acquired.

IT is liberty (ſays Longinus) that cheriſhes the thoughts of generous ſpirits, Theſe bold and energetic words, Longinus puts into the mouth of a philoſopher with whom we are to ſuppoſe him converſing. But the beſt critics have agreed, that they contain his own ſentiments, which he could not have openly expreſſed without giving offence to Zenobia. that elevates their hopes, that invigorates their faculties, and incites them to mutual emulation and ambition for the palm of Honor. The powers of their ſouls are ſtruck out, as it were by colliſion, and the freedom of their ſpeech is not leſs illuſtrious than the freedom of their actions. Thus, ſince the eſtabliſhment of liberty, has oratory raiſed her head in the United States; and, fraught with every grace and every bleſſing heaven can beſtow, ſhall be the tutelary genius of the Land. In every ſtate where the government has been upheld by force, and not by reaſon, ſhe has been unknown: In every ſtate where the abilities of men have been neither ſhackled by ſubmiſſion to a deſpot, nor compoſed by ſovereignty over ſlaves, ſhe has been venerated and found beneſicent of the moſt happy effects. It appears, then, that while to preſerve your freedom, and to tranſmit it to your poſterity pure and ſtabilitated, is a duty which every one of you owes to his country: Ye can only fulfil that duty by encouraging and improving, as far as ye are able, that art which is the true Palladium of a free conſtitution. But ye muſt not confine yourſelves to ſuch oratory alone, as obtains within the walls of a Senate. He who at the bar aſſerts property and perſonal liberty, he who in the pulpit vindicates toleration and mental liberty, and he who ſupports independence and the liberty of fair elections, is a friend to his country, and contributes to preſerve in Equipoiſe the great balance of political power.

YE may perceive that every extrinſic circumſtance combines to aſſiſt you in the performance of an important duty. Nothing remains but that ye ſhould ſupply your exertions, which ye ought not to remit, when ye recollect the conſiderations by which ye are called upon to employ them in their utmoſt enegy.

As men of abilities, as the riſing hope of America, ye are called upon to cultitivate oratory, to cultivate that field, where while ye reap the produce which is the true ſuſtenance of liberty, ye may gather immortal amaranths and laurels for your own brows. And now let it be aſked—Enjoying the peculiar and ſupereminent advantages juſt now enumerated, men of abilities! What ſhould prevent you from equalling, from excelling the orators of Greece? Nothing except your own idolence. Surmount that; employ, as your profeſſions may lead you, thoſe advantages and thoſe abilities in ſupporting your happy conſtitution, where perſonal, civil and religious liberty are amply ſecure; and in merit and honor, ye will not yield to the greateſt, or moſt enlightened nations of mankind.

THOUGH it were to be wiſhed, that every individual in ſociety would exert whatever abilities of elocution he may poſſeſs with decency and propriety, it would be wrong to accuſe the ſilent man of a careleſs indolence or of a ſullen pride. Silence not unfrequently proceeds from modeſty; and the modeſt, though often culpable, are always ſo amiable they ought not to be cenſured; the delicate ſenſibility of their nature recedes from the touch of reproof, tender as the ſenſitive plant, and as tenderly to be cheriſhed. There is no occaſion to be ſo cautious with the more bold and manly ſpirits who ſometimes nobly err; but let them remember, that error, whatever be its denomination, is ſtill error, and ought to be reclaimed: Genius will never charm if it be not attempered by taſte, that & even the ſublime fails to impart pleaſure when it is unaccompanied by the beautiful. It is to be lamented to obſerve men of good abilities abandoning, thro' an unhappy falſe taſte, argument and philoſophy, and proſtituting their faculties to the indiſcriminate embrace of every vagrant metaphor, and alluſion, that their pandaring imaginations could collect.—Rhetorical beauties are not hard to be acquired; to the imagination that explores for them, thouſands of ſplendid figures readily preſent themſelves. The mind that is influenced by a juſt ſenſe of beauty ſelects thoſe only that are uſeful as well as ornamental; it will act like the Magnet, which attracts from innumerable particles ſuch alone as have a ſympathetic quality with itſelf. It is not to be recommended to ſubſtitute phelgmatic diſcuſſion and cold analyſis in the place of warm language, and animated argument. But remember never to let the intrigues of a reſtleſs fancy ſupplant, from the adminiſtration of your ſpeech, ſober reaſoning and deliberate deciſion.

GOOD financiers ought to preſide over the intellectual as well as the political treaſury; and the orator ſhould always conſider that his end is to perſuade; but, that by mere fancy he never can perſuade. However, in warning againſt that error, which the vivacity of youth renders moſt common, let it not be forgotten that matter muſt be ſupported by language, Ariſtotle. that it muſt not only be ſaid what ſhould be ſpoken, but as it ſhould be ſpoken—And the beſt rule is, that perſpicuity ſhould ever be the leading conſideration, ornament but the ſubſervient; for every endeavour to pleaſe muſt be vain, unleſs it is underſtood.

IT too frequently happens that ſimilies and metaphors but obſcure the original thought—they ought to be employed as philoſophers do certain optics, which while they magnify the objects to which they are applied, repreſent them at once more ſplendid and diſtinct.

BUT the uſe of almoſt every precept might be ſuperceded in earneſtly recommending the ſtudy of that great man; who combining every attic excellence gave the world a perfect model of Oratory, who added the grace and plainneſs of Lyſias, the ſweetneſs and purity of Iſocrates, the conciſeneſs and expreſſion of Thucydides, the art and energy of Iſoeus, to his own peculiar vehemence and ſublimity.

STUDY (when capable) with unremitting diligence, this maſter, this God of eloquence. It is impoſſible, if ye do, but that ſome portion of his ſoul ſhall be transfuſed into yours. Import his works, more generally, have them in your libraries, and here you may find ſome capable of explaining them—There are ſome copies with private individuals only A public library, or a good book ſtore ſhould have at leaſt the works of all the excellent Hiſtorians, Orators and Critics.—Leland's Demoſthenes is very good—Taylor's (though not perfect) is well worth purchaſing. which is to be lamented. Apply cloſe to thoſe fountains from whence this advice has been derived. Every labour you ſhall beſtow upon the ſages of antiquity, celebrated for Oratory and Rhetoric, as Demoſthenes, Cicero, Ariſtotle, &c. you will find amply and beyond expreſſion rewarded.

TRANSPOSITION is advantageous, inasmuch as it engages the mind to a reaſonable degree of attention.

LOGIC is very uſeful to accompliſh the orator, when diveſted of its pedantic and unneceſſary ſubtilties: Ariſtotle called it an Organon, to facilitate the attainment of all other ſciences. Rational Logic, or common ſenſe improved by rules, is a moſt valuable art. I have compiled and publiſhed a ſyſtem of Logic, which I recommend, as diveſted of every thing ſuperfluous, and I flatter myſelf not unworthy the attention of the moſt ſcientific. The profeſſors of Columbia college, New-York, and of ſome of the New-England colleges, make uſe of no other.

Let the youth be exerciſed in compoſition, for excellent, and highly to be praiſed, is he who can employ a ſucceſsful pen in the cauſe of ſcience, of virtue or of liberty—every thing ought to be done to encourage and inſpirit growing genius— great caution ſhould be uſed in judging of compoſitions, always remembering of youth and inexperience, and that there is the greateſt danger, Dionyſius Halic—Longinus is the laſt Greek book read in the univerſity of Dublin and other European colleges for degrees, therefore not ſuitable for ſchool-boys. Toup's Longinus is the beſt edition for the text—the notes in Tollius's edition are very good. even to the old, in determining on the merit of literary performances. According to Longinus, a judicious criticiſm of writings is the very lateſt acquiſition of long experience.— Proſe compoſition, ſeems too much neglected, although particularly entitled to regard. Independent of the conſideration, that poetry is the gift of nature, proſe writing the production of ſtudy and knowledge, and therefore that it behoves rather to attend to what may be attained by all, than to what can be only the lot of a few; and as time is ſo very precious in this country and climate, let no waſte of it be made in madly pretending to make poets, by writing nonſenſe verſes and ſuch like vagaries.

IT has been often enquired why the Greeks or Romans never compoſed verſes in Rhyme. By ſome it has been attributed to chance, and by others to a precellency of taſte: Some have conjectured that Rhyme was not ſufficiently obvious or requiſite to procure its adoption; while others more ingeniouſly, have aſſigned the facility of its compoſition, evident in the ſimilar terminations of verbs, nouns &c. as the cauſe of rejection. The true reaſon however, ſeems moſt ſurprizingly to have eluded all the crities: they never once reflected that from the ſtructure of theſe languages it was utterly impoſſible to compoſe in Rhyme. The accent never fell upon the laſt ſyllable, and conſequently they were for ever precluded from Rhyming, except in the Hudibraſtic ſtrain, to which the gravity of theſe nations little encouraged them. What a ſine figure would Amantem, hiantem, merui, deterui munditiis, conviciis, and ſuch pretty coincidences, have cut in an heroic poem; I believe however, all will agree that they would be far from enhancing its dignity.

Conſider, that as oratory is the chief object, to preſer that ſpecies of compoſition, which conduces moſt to that deſirable end; namely that which gives an habit of cautious diſquiſiton, deep thought, accurate diſcrimination, correct reaſoning and ſound inference; rather than that which teaches to conclude before examination, to be perſuaded without conviction, to be led by paſſion and not by reaſon, to be loquacious without knowledge, and poſitive without proof. It was not by quaint alluſions, unexpected tropes of Rhetoric, or a bombaſtic pomp of words, that Demoſthenes governed at will the accompliſhed citizens of Athens. No, he ſpoke irrefutable truth in the natural language of the heart, and the people cried out "to arms! To arms! Let us march againſt Philip! We will preſerve our liberties or die!"

Then, entertain the muſes, rather as the daughters of memory, than the Goddeſſes of fiction, and while you offer every indulgence to the proſe writer, you will encourage the Poet only ſo far as he gives ſpirit to ſentiment, beauty to truth, and makes his art ſubſervient to the intereſts of ſcience and virtue.

Some models of perfect narration. The Hiſtory of the death of Polyxeni in the Hecuba of Euripides: — of Oedipus blinding himſeff in Oedipus Tyrannus; — of the death of the ſame, Oedipus Coloneus. — of Haemon and Antigone in Antigone; — of the rage of Hercules, when poiſoned, Trachinice; — And of Ajax killing himſelf, in the Ajax of Sophoeles &c.

There ſeems to be a gradation among the cultivators of intellectual knowledge, which may be traced by the different degrees of obſcurity in their inſtructions or writings. The loweſt and moſt inſignificant claſs appear to be obſcure from their ideas being confuſed; another, though devoid of ſpirit, may be capable of arranging their thoughts: Theſe are diſtinguiſhable from each other, as the former are intricately nonſenſical, the later methodically ſlupid. There are, to whom ſome ſmall portion of ſpirit has been dealt out, beſide theſe pettifoggers of literature, (puiſne heads) which like the fooliſh moth, captivated by every thing glittering and uncommon, hover about the blaze of wit, 'till they ſinge thoſe wings, on which they flattered themſelves, they could raiſe their reputation. Thus their writings or inſtructions become generally a heap of obſcure inconſiſtencies, Serpentes avibus geminantur tigribus agui, which eternally dazzle with their ſparkling, or weary with their jingling; the worthieſt or the commoneſt thoughts are equally trick'd out in theatrical tinſel.— The laſt claſs are they, who inſpired with the generous ſlame of true etherial ſpirit, ſpurn the glittering toys that amuſe their puiſne inferiors, and aim at what is exactly adequate to the ſupremity of human conception.

As truth, though naked, is more beautiful than falſhood in her proſtitute garb of parti-coloured hues, ſo is the ſtrenuous plainneſs of a generous ſoul, more energetic than the flimſy ſinery of affected eloquence; but when the ſentiments of a noble ſpirit ſhall deign to be clad, you will ſee them ſhining through the radiant veſtments of an angel, not hidden, not obſcured, but diſplaying their rational form more conſpicuouſly by being covered.

BUT to return—The Engliſh Language, it muſt be obſerved, unlike thoſe of the Ancients, has little or no inflexion. The various relations of a word in a ſentence, are denoted either by juxta poſition, or by the annexion of an auxiliary particle: Whereas among the Ancients they were always known by a reſemblance in termition. This great diſſimilarity in the original ſtructure of the Language neceſſarily occaſions a great diverſity in the expreſſion. The direct and immediate conſequences of it, we find are, See Doctor Louth's Engliſh Grummer. that in the Engliſh Language, ſubſtantives have but one variation of caſe, whereas in the Latin they have five: Adjectives admit of no variation, except that which expreſſes the degrees of compariſon; and verbs do not undergo above five or ſix mutations from their original form, though in ſome Languages they undergo as many hundreds. Theſe peculiarities in the formation of the Engliſh Language ſufficiently diverſify it from almoſt every other: For though there are many modern Languages, whoſe inflexions do not much exceed ours in point of number, yet there is none wherein theſe deficiencies are ſo adequately ſupplied, nor is there, perhaps, any language, the ſtructure of which is altogether ſo ſimple as ours. But though ſimplicity and commodiouſneſs of conſtruction are juſtly to be regarded, and cannot but be owned commendable qualities in a Language, yet if they exclude other advantages of a more important and requiſite nature, our endeavors ſhould rather be directed to add to its complication, than to continue the excluſion of more favorable acceſſions. Of theſe the moſt important that ſeems to be incompatible with ſuch plain ſimplicity, is Melody of Language; an acquiſition of too happy utility not to be ſtrongly deſirable, and whoſe loſs, ſimplicity of ſtructure alone can never compenſate.

IT may be uſeful to enquire how this ſimplicity of ſtructure becomes inimical to harmony, ſince a knowledge of the diſeaſe is the firſt ſtep of ſanation, and though it may not entirely remove the malady, yet it will certainly tend to its mitigation.

IT ſeems then that to this cauſe has been owing in a great meaſure that vaſt multitude of monoſyllables wherewith our language abounds: a circumſtance which will be found hereafter very prejudicial to melody. As the final ſyllables of our words remain unvaried, the advantages which in other languages reſult from inflexion, are procured with us by auxiliary monoſyllables. Many of theſe are of an uncouth and awkward pronunciation: and particularly incommodious, for this reaſon, that their quantity is indiſtinctly, if at all marked, whereby their pronunciation is unſettled and wavering; and above all, ungraceful in verſification, where yet their aſſiſtance is very often indiſpenſibly required. But the zeal of our anceſtors to preſerve their language in its original Teutonic form, conſpiring with its own proneneſs, has added ſtill more to this defect, by their etymological deductions. They imagined the introduction of polyſyllables would have been an unpardonable innovation; but yet perceiving the neceſſity of ſupplying themſelves with terms to denote thoſe combinations of ideas which the Romans had taught them to form, they contracted the Roman words into as conciſe a pronunciation as poſſible; and thus though they naturalized them, yet they entirely diveſted them of their primitive harmony, and cloathed them in the rugged harſhneſs of their own taſte. Many examples which illuſtrate the juſtice of this obſervation may be ſeen in Doctor Wallis; I ſhall juſt mention a few; ſcape from excipio, ſtretch'd from extractum, ſcour from excorio, mend from emendo. I think, that, though the puerency of Doctor Wallis's imagination occaſioned him ſometimes to ſtretch his derivations too far, yet his final deductions are generally founded in reaſon and reaſson truth.

ALL theſe cauſes combining with accident, and perhaps reſulting from the phlegmatic ſimplicity of the original formers, have beſtowed on our language that ſuperabundance of monoſyllables, of which we complain as ſo injurious to melody. That this effect muſt enſue is evident; in ſome caſes no doubt monoſyllables may be arranged to advantage; but it is no leſs indubitable that their general tendency is to obſtruct the run of a period, to render it rough and uneven, and to intercept the melodious flow of the cadence. And this I take to be one principal cauſe why our periods are frequently deſtitute of that ſmoothneſs and harmony, which ſo eminently characterize, and ſo engagingly adorn thoſe of the ancients. Another no leſs remarkable cauſe, however, contributed to this; which I ſhall mention here as it may enable us to aſcertain how far the former operates. I mean the ſuperior opportunities the ancients had of modulating their ſtyle by inverſion. For as the relations and dependencies of words in a ſentence were expreſſed among them by ſimilarity of termination (a mode equally free from obſcurity and miſapprehenſion) they were at liberty to tranſpoſe their words in ſuch an order as was moſt aptly accommodated to their varieties of length and tone; but we, having no adequate equivalent to this, are obliged to depend upon juxta poſition alone, which, though perhaps the moſt natural, is Lord Kaims. confeſſedly the moſt inconvenient method, ſince it deprives us, in a great meaſure, of the benefit of tranſpoſition, which beſides improving the harmony, adds much to the dignity, force and elevation of a period.—Still as we ſtrutinize the Engliſh language, new cauſes preſent themſelves of its eſſential defect in melody: and ſtill ariſing in the chief part from the peculiar form of its ſtructure.

THE next that appears is a ſuperabundance of Conſonants: A due proportion of vowels and conſonants ſeems as neceſſary, as of high and low notes in muſic, towards the production of melody.

The antient Languages are excellent in this reſpect; the coalitions of ſoft and rough form a melodious equanimity of ſound, which renders the pronouciation eaſy and muſical; whereas in our language an aſperity of ſound and a roughneſs of tone predominate, which indicate ſomething repugnant to delicacy, and very often render the expreſſion inadequate to the idea; ſo, that ſhould the one endeavor to excite the refined and delicate feelings, the other may counteract its deſign, and repulſe them by its ſeverity. This latter defect appears to owe its origin to the multiplicity of monoſyllables, before remarked.

FOR we may perceive that in a monoſyllable one vowel is generally ſufficient to give utterance to four or five, and ſometimes even to ſix or ſeven conſonants, ſo that the ſound of each may be diſtinguiſhed, as for inſtance, grunt, drudg'd ſnatch'd, ſtretch'ts. But in words of a greater length, as ſufficient leiſure cannot be afforded to dwell ſo long on each particular ſyllable as would be requiſite to articulate many conſonants, therefore the mixture of vowels and conſonants muſt neceſſarily be more equal, and of courſe, more uniform and harmonious: Thus, for inſtance, compare theſe words with the foregoing, Magnanimity, Reiterate, Anticipation. But as words of the former ſpecies are infinitely more numerous in our language than of the latter, it is plain how hard and rough muſt be our pronunciation, and evident from whence it proceeds. It has been obſerved, however, by a learned Critic, Doctor Ward in his Treatiſe on Oratory. that what we have deemed a defects, is in reality an acceſſion of value; for the obſerves (and judiciouſly) that where a language like the Italian abounds in vowels, the ſound of it muſt be ſoft, effeminate and languid, whereas a predominancy of conſonants beſtows ſublimity, energy and animation. But this can only relate to their equal and proportional interſperſion through every part of language; and I fear that when they come in the queſtionable ſhape in which they viſit our tongue, theſe effects may be doubted or denied: Their mode of conveyance ſeems better adapted to impediment than to animation; to laconic diſſonance than to energetic majeſty: and to the production of almoſt any other character than that of ſublime and ſonorous. But of all the conſonants which abound in the Engliſh language there is none more abhorrant of harmony than the letter s; yet at the ſame time none which ſo eminently predominates.

What charms our anceſtors found in ſibilation, that they became ſo attached to it, I cannot conceive. It is not, I am ſure (if we may believe See Paradiſe Loſt, Book 10th. Milton) of ſo very honorable an extraction as to conciliate our regard; and it was ſo very odious to the Greeks that they gave it (I think) the epithets of Savage and Impure. Yet this letter, with all its ungracefulneſs, has acquired ſuch a predominancy in our language, that I queſtion if there could be a ſingle line ſelected from any of our poets wherein it is not reiterated, more or leſs: Nay, what is worſe, it has found means to inſinuate itſelf into our gentleſt and ſofteſt expreſſions. Witneſs the following example of Pope.

Obſerve how differently ſpeaks the Latin poet whom he imitated.

To ſay that this Letter is eſſential to language is abſurd; nor is the aſſertion either unſupported or novel. This letter has ſcarcely once been expreſſed throughout the whole inimitable compoſitions of Pindar; ſo far is it from being eſſential to excellence, and ſo far was the moſt beautiful and ſublime of poets from eſteeming it advantageous to harmony, or conducive to the production of exalted emotions.

THUS we have endeavoured to trace by its ſeveral channels that inharmoniouſneſs with which our language labours, and we find that the ſimplicity of its formation is the ultimate ſource. And indeed when we compare our language with thoſe of Greece and Rome, in reſpect of this circumſtance, we find the greateſt reaſon to deplore our inferiority. The aſcendancy ſeems not only to have been meaſured out to them from the beginning, along with the genius of their tongue, but alſo to have been ſucceſſively and regularly encreaſed through their diligence in acquiring adventitious acceſſions. As we are in a great meaſure deprived of one of theſe ſources of advantage, it more immediately behoves us to apply with attention to extract improvement from the other: I mean from our own diligence, nor will it be ſo unworthily employed: To harmonize the diction, to attune the diſcordance of ſtyle, and above all to accommodate the expreſſion to the feelings of the heart, cannot certainly be unworthy motives to attention. Longinus aſcribes Aill greater advantages to it—Section 39. Nor can they be eſteemed ſo by the man of learning and refined taſte, ſince it is the exiſtence of theſe circumſtances which introduces his qualities and renders them acceptable. Diſcoveries no doubt may be made in Philoſophy by a ſtranger to the elegancies of language, and common tranſactions may be negociated by the illiberal. But he to whom the treaſures of the underſtanding are dear, who wiſhes to expand his intellectual powers, and to comprehend the cogency of his ſpeech; who ſeeks to convey information in the vehicle of delight, and who deſires to partake thoſe pleaſures which imagination ſuggeſts; he, I ſay, muſt not neglect the harmony of language, nor eſteem ſuch philological inquiries unworthy.— The beauties of native harmony which already ſubſiſt are comparatively but ſew, and of trifling importance, there yet remains an extenſive field for the ingenuity and ſagacity of the reformer; and the Engliſh language, from the imperfection of not only this, but of moſt other branches, ſeems (ſo far from being on the decline) not yet to have attaine the previous ſummit of perfection—It ſeems however to be ſpeedily verging towards it. As to the pre excellencies in reſpect of harmony which the Engliſh enjoys over the ancient languages, their paucity renders them inſignificant; yet there are ſome that ſhould be obſerved. We frequently accent the laſt ſyllable, which beſides inducing the advantages and beauties that reſult from rhyme (of which the ancient languages are for this reaſon incapable) renders the pronunciation even in proſe, more lively and muſical, and tends to produce that regular and equable proportion of accents which ſmooths the period, promotes the delivery, and adorns the cadence. Another advantage of our language above the Roman is, that a great part of their words end in m, a broad and hollow ſound; but the generality of Engliſh words find their termination either in n or y, ſounds which are evidently more efficient of melody.

The next important contingency of language, and which conduces in a principal degree to conſtitute its character, is ſignificancy; a quality which though perhaps more abſolutely eſſential to language than the preceding, yet has been thus far poſtponed, as not ſeeming to be ſo intimately connected with its peculiarity of ſtructure, And under this head our language aſſumes a more reſpectable and flouriſhing appearance: Its peculiar energy and force of expreſſion have juſtly been the ſubject of admiration and praiſe: to ſay it equals the Greek is no exaggerated commendation; but its ſuperiority over every other language (except perhaps the Hebrew) admits not of a doubt. The recency of its exiſtence has perhaps contributed to this in no ſmall degree. There remain but few traces of the old Saxon, upon which it was grafied: the Greek, the Roman, the Norman, nay even the Italian and the Dutch, have poured in ſuch plentiful ſupplies, as to render it rather the heir of many families, than the hereditary deſcendant of a ſingle lineage.— The Tutonic and Roman languages were its original parents, but it has culled the moſt expreſſive and energetic ſounds not only from them, but almoſt from every other with whoſe people the Engliſh had any intercourſe. In ſhort it is like the ſtatue of Zeuxis, in which were combined the excellencies of the principal beauties of Greece. But beſide this happineſs which we owe to the ſingular judgment of our predeceſſors, and which univerſally pervades our language and may be exemplified in almoſt every word we utter, there are ſome other inſtances of ſignificancy which may admit a more particular illuſtration. Of theſe the principal is that obſerved by doctor Lowth, occaſioned by its poſſeſſing two articles, whereby the extent of the ſignification is determined with the greateſt preciſion.

THERE is another extrinſical inſtance of the energy and ſignificancy of our language (which I ſhall juſt mention, as it has been deſcanted upon by other writers;) that is its capacity, in common with the Greek, of forming a compound adjective, by uniting an adjective and a ſubſtantive or adverb, as fair-haired youth, roſy-fin-gered Aurora, dark-minded doemon, lack-luſtre eye, quaint-eyed viſage, &c. Theſe combinations, of which the Roman language is by no means ſo Latin examples—Verbi potens ſacerdos—Auricomum rus—&c. generally ſuſceptible, have a beautiful effect when formed with judgment, eſpecially in poetry: They introduce ideas into the mind ſearce ever raken notice of before; and they pleaſe the ear as well by the melody, as by the novelty of the expreſſion.

Notwithſtanding, however, that the general tenor of our language far exceeds the Latin in reſpect of ſignificancy, yet it ſeems to be inferior in ſome few particulars; as for inſtance in diminutives, ſuch as homunculus, animula, vagula, &c. which abound very much in that language, and are always extremely beautiful: in ours, diminutives are very infrequent, I can reckon only a few, but they are ſuch as confirm, in the livelieſt manner, the opinion of a deficiency; ſtreamlet, eaglet, flowrer, hiſlock, lambkin, hamlet, droplet, nymphlin.

THERE is likewiſe a great delicacy in ſeveral verbs and nouns compounded of the prepoſition ſub, which ſerves to diminiſh the force of the words with which it is connected; as ſubruſticus, ſubraucus, ſubiraſci, &c.—we have ſomething analogous to this in our termination in iſh, as blackiſh, ſaltiſh, &c. which, as Doctor Johnſon obſerves, when applied to adjectives, diminiſhes the compariſon ſomewhat below the poſitive; but this diminution is far inferior, both in point of ſervice and beauty to the Latin; for, as the ſame writer continues, it is ſeldom added but to words expreſſing ſenſible qualities, and moſtly of one ſyllable; and is ſcarcely uſed in a ſtyle that is ſolemn or ſublime.

THE Latin verbs frequentatives; as ſcriptito, declamito, have alſo a peculiar grace: to theſe, Engliſh verbs exhibit nothing analogous. Such beauties as theſe, not depending upon any original texture of language, but merely upon accidental and ſupervenient cauſes, are eaſily imitable. To transfer them directly from one language to another may be too harſh a proceeding: but when the principles of beauty are once eſtabliſhed, particular illuſtrations continually preſent themſelves. The mind, amongſt the perpetual viciſſitude of objects which paſs in ſucceſſion before it, will naturally attract and combine thoſe that tend to excite the feelings once remarked. And though the attainment of excellence may ſometimes be previous to the knowledge of what conſtitutes that quality, yet ſuch an abſtract, or general knowledge, neceſſarily prediſpoſes the mind to ſelect and dwell upon particular inſtances.

THERE is another light in which languages are capable of being compared, I mean in reſpect of their copiouſneſs. And this is a ſubject which demands our attention equally for its Philoſophical as its Philological importance. Here it is that the deepeſt marks of the genius and propenſities of a people are impreſſed; their manners are delineated by this expreſſive peneil, which only pourtrays the truth; for never does impartial language expatiate or amplify upon ſubjects uncongenial to the diſpoſition of its nation. The delicate luxuries of the Perſian were inexpreſſible in the language of the hardy Scythian: The political or forenſic dialect of an Athenian was jargon to the heedleſs and peaceful inhabitant of Arcadia: while the meandering rills, the verdant lawns and the ſhady bowers of a ſhepherd were juſt as ineffable by the ſtorm-borne citizen of Carthage

THE ſpeculiſt who improves theſe conſiderations, has before him materials for the moſt refined and pleaſing, as well as, the moſt incontrovertable knowledge. He may trace the courſe of arts and ſciences through the world. He may purſue every nation through its ſeveral progreſſions of intellectual capacity, from the darkneſs of ignorance, through the dawn of reſſnement, and the meridian blaze of perfection, to the declenſion of excellence and the re-eſtabliſhment of night: He may obſerve the characteriſtics of every people: He may ſee their ruling paſſion, and their ruling ſtudy: He may contemplate religious ceremonies in Judea, Aſtronomy in Chaldaea, the polite arts in Greece, war in Rome, trade in Holland, pleaſure in Italy, Philoſophy in France, and all theſe in Great-Britain, Ireland and here. In ſhort, the arguments which probability and moral certainty furniſh for hiſtorical deductions, are no where more exuberant than in the copiouſneſs of language. And though a regular application profeſſedly for this deſign would be laborious, tedious, and perhaps in the end nugatory, or at leaſt inſufficient, yet the incidental remarks of any perſon acquainted with the extent of language, muſt be highly eſtimable, as ſtrongly conducive, and always coinciding with truth.

IN copiouſneſs of words and univerſality of expreſſion, the Engliſh far exceeds not only the ancient, but even the modern languages. It has indeed been generally equalled by the Greek in the richneſs of ſynonimous terms: but in that tranſcendental extent of words, whereby we are enabled to give utterance to almoſt every idea, it ſtands, perhaps, without a rival.

THESE inſtances, with numberleſs others that might eaſily be adduced, ſuggeſt the nature of ſynonimes; they have the ſingular character of reſemblance, and this reſemblance makes us indifferent in the uſe of them; but, on a nearer view, we ſhall find, that each has peculiar and appropriate ideas; and that in the choice and uſe of theſe, delicacy, preciſion, and taſte is diſplayed. If this was not the caſe, Synonimous words, ſo far from contributing to the richneſs of language, they would be uſeleſs ſounds, and a ſuperfluous abundance; ſerving no other end, but that of producing uſeleſs repetitions. Thus it is ſaid a perſon is light, inconſtant, fickle and changeable. Theſe, by writers, are often uſed indiſcriminately, and frequently applied to the ſame perſon. This may ſhew copiouſneſs; but to the critical ſcholar, it is want of judgement and knowledge of the juſt ideas annexed to words. The light form no ſtrong attachments; the inconſtant are attached but for a ſhort time; the ſickle attach themſelves to no one, &c.

AND yet notwithſtanding this inconteſtible univerſality of expreſſion, new augmentations are daily found requiſite. It is pleaſant enough to ſee how this copiouſneſs has been exemplified by authors. One, Mr. Greenwood, very gravely enumerates thirty ſynonimous terms to expreſs the action of STRIKING, and above forty to expreſs ANGER, and its different degrees, as if the Engliſh had been the moſt quarrelſome people on earth'; while another, with a great air of triumph, obſerves THAT we bake our bread, boil our meat, ſeethe our ſalmon, poche our eggs, ſtew our plums, and coddle our apples; but the Romans were obliged to coquere them all.— The fine arts are even yet but a little advanced beyond the ſtate of infancy: Our Philoſophy is complete, our Divinity perfect, our Poetry conſummat : but yet, how novel are the terms ſbozzo and clear-obſcure in printing; piano and rondeau in muſic; terrace and viſta in gardening, with many others that are equally the creatures of yeſterday; and like other foreigners are only beginning to emerge our manners from ignorance. From theſe poſitions we may very juſtly infer, that neither are we, or our language, in that ſtate of declenſion which ſome have ſuppoſed: And that when our language attains its full completion, it will be more perfect and univerſal than any ever ſpoken on the globe.

THE language of Rome, though now, by the induſtry of monks and ſchoolmen, pretty well furniſhed with ſpurious terms both in Philoſophy and Divinity, was yet in the days of Auguſtus much more notorious for its poverty in this branch, than we are for ours in the fine arts. How ſurpriſed would a ſtranger to the ſtate of that country be to hear Lucretius apologizing for the deficiencies of his performance, and accounting for the difficulty of writing upon ſuch a ſubject in poetry, not by the uſual and obvious excuſes, but Propter egeſtatem linguae, & rerum novitatem. l i, v. 139. And to hear Cicero unable to communicate ideas, not the moſt abſtracted or refined, without coining new terms of his own, or deriving from thoſe of the Greeks.

THAT the language of Greece ſhould be found inadequate to the fulneſs of modern knowledge is not to be wondered at, conſidering the early period of its exiſtence: It ſhould rather excite our admiration to find a people perpetually involved in domeſtic feuds and external wars, making ſo rapid a proficiency in literary improvement; and by their application and happy genius, attaining a knowledge of which their immediate ſucceſſors were too indolent even to receive information.

THESE conſiderations, however, though they redound to the honor of Greece, yet infer ſuch a deficiency in her acquirements, as plainiy declare her language incomplete in point of copiouſneſs. The Greek is a very polite or affectionate language; the mode of addreſs is always in the ſuperlative degree; as Philtate, Beltiſte, &c. &c.

IT is to modern times alone that we are to look for a language fraught with all the inſtruments of knowledge: And where ſhould we more naturally expect to meet with ſuch a one, than in that country which has produced the moſt illuſtrious adepts in every intellectual ſcience?

AFTER allowing theſe encomiums to the Engliſh language which it ſo juſtly merits, it is ſomewhat irkſome to deſcend to animadverſion. But there is one inſtance, which however trivial, yet appears ſo ſtriking a deviation from its general character, that it would be partiality not to mention it. Amid the unbounded richneſs and luxuriancy of our tongue, one word, Love, ſeems to ſtand without any ſynonimous or appropinquating expreſſion. The ardour of lovers generally ſurmounts this obſtacle by the reſource of Tropes and Figures: But ſtrictly ſpeaking, though there are a thouſand different modifications of this paſſion, and a thouſand different degrees of its energy and delicacy; yet, the moſt refined ſenſibility can ſay no more, than the moſt depraved luſt, I love. The Romans had two words to expreſs their affection by, Diligo and Amo; but the Greeks had (if I may uſe the expreſſion) a correct and regular ſcale of paſſion, as, Phileō, agapaō, eraō & potheō, &c.

IT has often been ſaid that our attention ſhould not be arreſted by words, but ſhould be fixed on things; that grammatical diſquiſitions are puerile contentions; and ſuch like common-place contumelies againſt philological inveſtigations. But can any one reſlect for a moment, without acknowledging, that our thoughts can neither be ſatisfactorily adjuſted, nor correctly imparted, unleſs we poſſeſs words aptly accommodated to them; and conſequently that the improvement of language muſt ever keep pace with the progreſs of the underſtanding. Language is the attire in which knowledge muſt be cloathed: and, like our bodily veſture, may either encumber, diſguiſe, and obſcure it, or may diſtinguiſh its rank, diſplay its ſtrength, and enhance its native beauty.

IT is the duty of philology to interpoſe for the welfare of mankind. The influence of language upon thought has, in all ages and countries, been conſiderable. Poverty of language circumſcribes the flight of ideas: inaccuracy of expreſſion precludes preciſion of thought, and equivocal words generate erroneous opinions.

THE ancients, eſpecially the Greeks and Romans, took conſiderable pains to poliſh and improve their languages; and in modern times ſome of the moſt diſtinguiſhed men in England and France have not diſdained to employ their talents in the ſame way. And if propriety of ſpeech be worthy of ſuch attention when we conſider it as miniſtering to the ordinary intercourſe of mankind; with how much more ſtrictneſs ſhould we regard it when we conſider it as the agent of philoſophic preciſion.

AFTER having firſt attended to our language, which is naturally entitled to pur chief regard, our next attention ſhould be turned to that, by means of which the intercourſe of the learned in different parts of the world is moſt generally upheld.—

THE claim of the Latin language is of a ſimilar nature with that of our own; and higher, though not more binding upon us; and alſo the Greek very neceſſary and uſeful.

THUS a phyſician may very properly write a treatiſe in Engliſh, upon urine, ſaliva, mucus, &c! Though he would fall into deſerved deriſion, if he were to treat of theſe excretions by the only names for them which the Engliſh language furniſhes.

No doubt the Greek and Latin which we pronounce, and often which we write, are very different from the pronunciation and compoſition of an old Greek or Roman: but this is no argument againſt our underſtanding the ancient languages, which contain ſo many excellent works, or againſt our acquiring the ſame knowledge which the moſt accompliſhed perſons of our times poſſeſs.

THOUGH a pulpit orator muſt be born ſuch, as well as a poet; yet moderate talents, with conſtant exerciſe of compoſition and ſpeaking, will ſoon enable him to appear gracefully and ſucceſ fully before any congregation. Every ſubject, regarding the preſent and future happineſs of man, is of ſo dignified and exalted a nature, that it is not difficult to be eloquent on them.

USEFUL ſermons ſhould touch on no controverſial points, which moſt unchriſtianly enflame the minds of one ſect againſt the other, and prepare them for blood and ſlaughter, rather than the practice of the milder charities of the goſpel. Theological diſſertations on thorny, dark, and diſputed points of divinity, which bewilder the beſt underſtandings, and fill the weaker with gloomy notions, ought to be avoided.

IT is almoſt impoſſible, with our preſent limited faculties, to fathom, or by language to explain, the myſteries of the Trinity, of election and grace? Simple belief of theſe, and other incomprehenſible doctrines, is only neceſſary for ſalvation; their inveſtigation is, perhaps, far beyond the powers of common reaſoning faculties) notwithſtanding what has been ſaid concerning them) as the celeſtial illuminations of baron Swedenborgh, or his converſations with angelic ſpirits in the new Jeruſalem. No ſuch unſolid food ſhould be adminiſtered, which may inflate, but never can ſupply healthful nutriment to hearers. Neither ſhould time be waſted in an uſeleſs diſplay of ſubtile reaſoning, or in detailing curious erudition, the reſult of critical and extenſive reading; theſe ſhould be relinquiſhed for matters of more general and higher importance; although, to preſerve the reputation of a ſcholar and a man of ſenſe and judgement, a logical connection muſt be preſerved from the beginning to the end: Such compoſitions do much better in a cloſet, or for a ſelect company; than in a mixt congregation, where it acts only as an opiate, and where its ſoperiferous effects are viſible in the half-cloſed eye lids of the auditors. The heavy and unintereſting ſtyle of many preachers, both as to compoſition and delivery is to be lamented. The various intonations of the voice, and lively correſponding action (which Tully happily calls eloquentia corporis, the eloquence of the body) Magna eloquentia ſicut flamma, materia alitur, & motibus excitatur & utendo clereſcit.— Tac. 487. irreſiſtibly ſeize the hearers, and lead the paſſions captive. Quintilian obſerves, that the ſineſt productions of dramatic genius receive grace and effect from good acting. In like manner, we never perceive the full force and impreſſion of the ſublime truths of the revelation, but when accompanied with animated delivery, which keeps the attention upon the ſtretch without tiring, and ſtrikes the imagination; hence, the animal ſpirits take a new direction, the moving fibres are ſhaken, the ſoul is moved, and reaſon appears triumphant; then it is that we feel ourſelves changed, converted, regenerated.

I abhor the wild rants of fanatics, who if they ſubdue one vice, plant in its ſtead ſome wretched unmeaning dogma. The wild ravings of Cromwell's ſaints, kept up a high degree of fanaticiſm, the only Palladium of that artful and bloody impoſter. The famous Tycho Brache, writing to a friend, and praiſing an excellent preacher who happened to be a good Mathematician, ſaid—I wiſh there were many ſuch preachers who underſtood Geometry well; for, then, perhaps, we ſhould have more inſtances of cautious and ſolid judgment, and fewer of idle diſputes and logomachies.

THE propoſed end of preaching is the inſtruction of the people in the practice of virtue, which ſhould be impreſſed upon the hearers, avoiding all queſtions of controverſy, as only productive of diſſention; however, the clergy ſhould be maſters of controverſial divinity, and prepared to repel the attack of the infidel or caviller. When controverſial divinity is inculcated, there ſhould be full opportunity for reflection to go hand in hand with argument, which cannot eaſily be done in a limited diſcourſe from the pulpit.

WHERE preachers are more ſolicitous to eſtabliſh favorite opinions of their own, than to inculcate that divine ſyſtem of morality, which the goſpel diſpenſes for the regulation of our conduct; where congregations have been continually wearied with abſtract reaſoning, which ſeldom ſatisfies the moſt learned, and rather ſilences, than convinces the enquiring mind; where men have endeavored to explain myſteries, ſome of which are inexplicable, and others not to be underſtood, but by perſevering ſtudy; the conſequence has been, that many have been driven into diſguſt from liſtening to preachers, from whom they could reap no advantage, and others have been induced to view chriſtianity rather as a ſyſtem of ſpeculative opinions, than as a religion, the beſt calculated to promote the happineſs of mankind.

THERE is not a book on earth, ſo favorable to all the kind, and all the ſublime affections; or ſo unfriendly to hatred and perſecutions; to tyranny, injuſtice and every ſort of malevolence, as the goſpel. It breathes nothing throughout, but mercy, benevolence and peace. All the genius and learning of the heathen world; all the penetration of Pythagoras, Socrates and Ariſtotle, had never been able to produce ſuch a ſyſtem of moral duty, and ſo rational an account of providence and of man, as are to be found in the new teſtament. Chriſtian charity, which ought to regulate mens diſpoſitions, ſhould be inculcated from the pulpit, as the baſis of order and happineſs among mankind; for the poſitive and contentious, the rude and quarrelſome (whether preachers or hearers) are the peſt of ſociety. How amiable appears a good diſpoſition, when contraſted with a malicious or envious one, which wraps itſelf up in its own narrow intereſt, looks with an evil eye on the ſucceſs of another, and, with an unnatural ſatisfaction, feeds on his diſappointments or miſeries: If mankind would be happy, let them guard againſt this malignant ſpirit: Let them ſtudy that charity which thinketh no evil.

THE general decay of piety, and prevailing depravity of morals, with which the preſent age ſeems too juſtly changeable, deſerve the ſerious attention of every friend to religion and ſociety.

THE natural weakneſs of the human mind, has rendered it at all times ſuſceptible of thoſe impreſſions, which free-thinkers and atheiſts have arfully attempted: And the ignorant and unſuſpiciou: have too often been deluded by the moſt abominable doctrines, conveyed under a ſubtile diſguiſe. To prevent conſequences ſo deſtructive to the preſent and future happineſs of mankind, nothing ſeems more neceſſary or effectual, than the cultivation of knowledge, through every rank of life: That kind of knowledge particularly, which may convey to the mind ſatisfactory evidence of its own imperfection, and the infinite wiſdom of its creator.

To be convinced that there is a God, to us invinſible, whoſe exalted nature is far beyond the finite comprehenſion of man; it is requiſite that we acquire ſome humiliating ideas of ourſelves, and avoid the wretched error of thoſe who, attributing too much to human reaſon, deny the exiſtence of every thing they cannot underſtand.

THE narrow limits of our underſtanding, and the boundleſs perfection of the deity, are no uncommon ſubjects of pulpit eloquence: The facts are often preſſed upon our minds, and frequently (it muſt be hoped) have the proper effect. Something more, however, there ſeems yet neceſſary toward the conviction of mankind, which might reach more generally the different claſſes of ſociety—guard them againſt the attacks of irreligion—and eſtabliſh in their minds a firm perſuaſion of God's abſolute exiſtence and power.

THE church is the only ſchool where the public mind can be ſaid to be cultivated, and its morals formed; and where we are to learn the neceſſary duties towards our creator and each other. Even here, ſome divines ſeem too inattentive to ſubjects of the firſt importance—they apply themſelves principally to the conſideration of moral truth, and ethical ſyſtems, that teach men thoſe common duties in ſociety, which even conſcience itſelf will dictate: but the belief of a Deity on which the whole ſuperſtructure of religion and virtue muſt be founded, is taken for granted, or ſcarcely ever inforced.

IT may be anſwered, that ſubjects which require a mode of diſcuſſion above the comprehenſion of common capacities, are not the moſt eligible for the pulpit; and that the exiſtence of a Deity, being the firſt principle of a Chriſtian's creed, needs no enquiry before a Chriſtian congregation. But how often is the mind found to give its aſſent to propoſitions without proof? and though youth follow the example and perſuaſion of their parents, how little acquainted muſt they really be, with the true principles of their faith, until they arrive at a maturity of judgment, capable of diſcriminating between truth and deluſion? Nay we may ſafely aſſert, that this imperfect degree of knowledge is a misfortune attendant on far the greateſt part of mankind; and if ſo, how liable muſt they be to impoſitions? How eaſily ſhaken in their belief? How readily led from a ſtate of ignorance to that of ſcepticiſin, and from thence to infidelity? But as it is the fool who ſays in his heart there is no God, ſo the more our knowledge is encreaſed, our minds improved, and our faculties extended, the more permanent will be our belief of that important truth: that the Deity, though inviſible to the mortal eye, is yet perceivable to the rational mind, in theſe his lower works.

LET us remark that the moſt ſatisfactory evidence, the ſtrongeſt proofs of a divine being, are deducible from our ſenſes; every object affords this proof; all nature demonſtrates the God of nature; and it is only neceſſary to lead the mind to a proper coutemplation of theſe objects, by diſcovering to it ſome of thoſe peculiar properties that before lay unobſerved, and it muſt yield to the propoſition unequivocal aſſent.

RIGHTLY therefore has the Apoſtle aſſerted that the inviſible things of God (whereby he means his eternal power and Godhead) are clearly ſeen, being underſtood by the things which are made.— Unfortunately indeed all mankind are not equally capable of diſcovering the nature of Gods works; and therefore they do not alike perceive his infinite power and wiſdom. Hence the neceſſity of that inſtruction, as the moſt uſeful, and eſſential to the ſupport of piety and virtue.

NOTHING can enlarge the mind more, than an extenſive view of the works of God. He who beſt knows the deſign and effect of things, will moſt clearly diſcover their cauſe; and he who is acquainted with the wiſdom, order, harmony, and uſe of the ſeveral parts of this ſublunary ſyſtem will ſoon cry out, "Theſe are thy glorious works, Parent of good?" THOUGH the pulpit perhaps is not ſo well calculated for arguments of this kind, yet the miniſters ſhould make ſuch attempts amongſt their hearers, and it would redound to the praiſe of this country, that whilſt other people are inſulting, and even dethroning, the majeſty of God, they were anxious to preſerve the knowledge of him, without which we deſerve not the name of men.

I am ſenſible much more might be ſaid on thoſe ſubjects, but I would not intrude upon your time and patience: An abler pen may perhaps improve theſe hints.

IT is to be ſincerely hoped and wiſhed, that the faſcinating arts of oratory may attain perfection among the riſing generation of thoſe wide extended ſtates, and I truſt that yet I may be a witneſs of that improvement, which from every auſpice there is reaſon to foreſee. I expect that in whatever country I may be, your fame will reach me, when it ſhall be my greateſt boaſt to have been once in ſome ſmall degree See the Author's Syſtem of Logic, publiſhed at New-York in 1796. an uſeful member of ſociety and peaceful inhabitant of this country.