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LE C T. municated, in confequence of difcourfe and

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writing.

IT is obvious, then, that writing and difcourfe are objects intitled to the highest attention. Whether the influence of the fpeaker, or the entertainment of the hearer, be confuited; whether utility or pleasure be the principal aim in view, we are prompted, by the strongest motives, to ftudy how we may communicate our thoughts to one another with most advantage. Accordingly we find, that in almost every nation, as foon as language had extended itself beyond that scanty communication which was requifite for the supply. of men's neceffities, the improvement of difcourfe began to attract regard. In the language even of rude uncultivated tribes, we can trace fome attention to the grace and force of thofe expreffions which they used, when they fought to perfuade or to affect. They were early fenfible of a beauty in discourse, and endeavoured to give it certain decorations which experience had taught them it was capable of receiving, long before the study of those decorations was formed into a regular art.

BUT, among nations in a civilized ftate, no art has been cultivated with more care, than that of language, ftyle, and compofition. The attention paid to it may, indeed, be

affumed

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affumed as one mark of the progress of fo- LEC T. ciety towards its most improved period. For, according as fociety improves and flourishes, men acquire more influence over one another by means of reafoning and difcourfe; and in proportion as that influence is felt to enlarge, it muft follow, as a natural confequence, that they will bestow more care upon the methods of expreffing their conceptions with propriety and eloquence. Hence we find, that, in all the polished nations of Europe, this study has been treated as highly important, and has poffeffed a confiderable place in every plan of liberal education.

INDEED, when the arts of speech and writing are mentioned, I am fenfible that prejudices against them are apt to rife in the minds of many. A fort of art is immediately thought of, that is oftentatious and deceitful; the minute and trifling ftudy of words alone; the pomp of expreffion; the ftudied fallacies of rhetoric; ornament fubftituted in the room of use. We need not wonder, that, under fuch imputations, all ftudy of difcourfe as an art, fhould have fuffered in the opinion of men of understanding and I am far from denying, that rhetoric and criticism have fometimes been fo managed as to tend to the corruption, rather than to the improvement, of good taste and true eloquence. But fure it is equally poffible

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LEC T. poffible to apply the principles of reafon and good fenfe to this art, as to any other that is cultivated among men. If the following Lectures have any merit, it will confift in an endeavour to fubftitute the application of these principles in the place of artificial and fcholaftic rhetoric; in an endeavour to explode falfe ornament, to direct attention more towards fubftance than fhow, to recommend good fenfe as the foundation of all good compofition, and fimplicity as effential to all true

ornament.

WHEN entering on the fubject, I may be allowed, on this occafion, to fuggeft a few thoughts concerning the importance and advantages of fuch ftudies, and the rank they are intitled to poffefs in academical education *. I am under no temptation, for this purpose, of extolling their importance at the expence of any other department of science. On the contrary, the ftudy of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres fuppofes and requires a proper acquaintance with the rest of the liberal arts.

*The Author was the firft who read Le&tures on this fub ject in the Univerfity of Edinburgh. He began with read. ing them in a private character in the year 1759. In the following year he was chosen Profeffor of Rhetoric by the Magiftrates and Town-council of Edinburgh; and, in 1762, his Majefty was pleafed to erect and endow a Profeffion of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres in that University; and the Author was appointed the firft Regius Profeffor.

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It embraces them all within its circle, and LEC T. recommends them to the highest regard. The first care of all fuch as with either to write with reputation, or to fpeak in public fo as to command attention, must be, to extend their knowledge; to lay in a rich ftore of ideas relating to thofe fubjects of which the occafions of life may call them to difcourfe or to write, Hence, among the ancients, it was a fundamental principle, and frequently inculcated,

Quod omnibus difciplinis et artibus debet "effe inftructus orator;" that the orator ought to be an accomplished fcholar, and converfant in every part of learning. It is indeed impoffible to contrive an art, and very pernicious it were if it could be contrived, which fhould give the ftamp of merit to any compofition rich or fplendid in expreffion, but barren or erroneous in thought. They are the wretched attempts towards an art of this kind which have fo often difgraced oratory, and debased it below its true ftandard. The graces of compofition have been employed to disguise or to fupply the want of matter; and the temporary applaufe of the ignorant has been courted, instead of the lafting approbation of the difcerning. But fuch imposture can never maintain its ground long. Knowledge and science muft furnish the materials that form the body and fubftance of any valuable compofition. Rhetoric ferves to add

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the

LECT. the polish; and we know that none but firm and folid bodies can be polished well.

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Of those who perufe the following Lectures, fome, in confequence either of their profeffion, or of their prevailing inclination, may have the view of being employed in compofition, or in public fpeaking. Others, without any profpect of this kind, may wish only to improve their taste with respect to writing and discourse, and to acquire principles which will enable them to judge for themselves in that part of literature called the Belles Lettres.

WITH respect to the former, fuch as may

have occafion to communicate their fentiments to the Public, it is abundantly clear that fome preparation of study is requifite for the end which they have in view. To speak or to write perfpicuously and agreeably, with purity, with grace and ftrength, are attainments of the utmoft confequence to all who purpose, either by fpeech or writing, to addrefs the Public. For without being master of thofe attainments, no man can do justice to his own conceptions; but how rich foever he may be in knowledge and in good fenfe, will be able to avail himself lefs of those treasures, than fuch as poffefs not half his store, but who can display what they poffefs with more propriety. Neither are thefe attainments of that

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