indeed in phrases of this kind sometimes omitted; But, when it is omitted the Style becomes elliptic; and though in conversation, or in the very light and easy kinds of writing, such elliptic Style may not be improper, yet in grave and regular writing, it is better to fill up the construction, and insert the relative pronoun. After having said, I could produce several instances of both kinds, if it were of any use or entertainment, our Author begins the next paragraph thus:

"To examine into the several circumstances by which the "language of a country may be altered, would force me to en"ter into a wide field."

There is nothing remarkable in this sentence, unless that here occurs the first instance of a metaphor since the beginning of his treatise; entering into a wide field, being put for beginning an extensive subject. Few writers deal less in figurative language than Swift. I before observed, that he appears to despise ornaments of this kind; and though this renders his Style somewhat dry on serious subjects, yet his plainness and simplicity, I must not forbear to remind my readers, is far preferable to an ostentatious, and affected parade of or

nament.

"I shall only observe, that the Latin, the French, and the "English seem to have undergone the same fortune. The "first from the days of Romulus, to those of Julias Cæsar, suf"fered perpetual changes; and by what we meet in those "Authors who occasionally speak on that subject, as well as "from certain fragments of old laws, it is manifest that the "Latin, three hundred years before Tully, was as unintelligi"ble in his time, as the French and English of the same peri❝od are now; and these two have changed as much since Wil"liam the Conqueror, (which is but little less than 700 years) as the Latin appears to have done in the like term."

The Dean plainly appears to be writing negligently here. This sentence is one of that involved and intricate kind, of which some instances have occured before; but none worse than this. It requires a very distinct head to comprehend the whole meaning of the period at first reading. In one part of it we find extreme carelessness of expression. He says, It is manifest that the Latin, 300 years before Tully, was as unintelligi

ble in his time, as the English and French of the same period are now. By the English and French of the same period, must naturally be understood, the English and French that were spoken three hundred years before Tully. This is the only grammatical meaning his words will bear; and yet assuredly what he means, and what it would have been easy for him to have expressed with more precision, is, the English and French that were spoken 300 years ago; or at a period equally distant from our age, as the old Latin, which he had mentioned, was from the age of Tully. But when an author writes hastily, and does not review with proper care what he has written, many such inaccuracies will be apt to creep into his Style.

"Whether our Language or the French will decline as fast "as the Roman did, is a question that would perhaps admit 66 more debate than it is worth. There were many reasons "for the corruption of the last; as the change of their gov"ernment to a tyranny, which ruined the study of eloquence, "there being no further use or encouragement for popular "orators; their giving not only the freedom of the city, but capacity for employments, to several towns in Gaul, Spain, “and Germany, and other distant parts, as far as Asia, which "brought a great number of foreign pretenders to Rome; the "slavish disposition of the senate and people, by which "the wit and eloquence of the age were wholly turned into "panegyric, the most barren of all subjects; the great corrup❝tion of manners, and introduction of foreign luxury, with for

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eign terms to express it, with several others that might be as"signed; not to mention the invasions from the Goths and Van"dals, which are too obvious to insist on."

In the enumeration here made of the causes contributing towards the corruption of the Roman Language, there are many inaccuracies--- The change of their government to a tyranny---of whose government? He had indeed been speaking of the Roman language, and therefore we guess at his meaning, but the Style is ungrammatical; for he had not mentioned the Romans themselves; and therefore, when he says their government, there is no antecedent in the sentence to which the pronoun, their, can refer with any propriety---Giving the capacity for employments to several towns in Gaul, is a questionable

.

expression. For though towns are sometimes put for the people who inhabit them, yet to give a town the capacity for employments, sounds harsh and uncouth. The wit and eloquence of the age wholly turned into panegyric, is a phrase which does not well express the meaning. Neither wit nor eloquence can be turned into panegyric; but they may be turned towards panegyric, or, employed in panegyric, which was the sense the Author had in view.

The conclusion of the enumeration is visibly incorrect--The great corruption of manners, and introduction of foreign luxury, with foreign terms to express it, with several others that might be assigned---He means, with several other reasons. The word reasons, had indeed been mentioned before; but as it stands, at the distance of thirteen lines backward, the repetition of it here became indispensible, in order to avoid ambiguity. Not to mention, he adds, the invasion from the Goths and Vandals, which are too obvious to insist on. One would imagine him to mean, that the invasions from the Goths and Vandals, are historical facts too well known and obvious to be insisted on. But he means quite a different thing, though he has not taken the proper method of expressing it, through his haste, probably, to finish the paragraph; namely, that these invasions from the Goths and Vandals, were causes of the corruption of the Roman Language too obvious to be insisted on.

I shall not pursue this criticism any further. I have been obliged to point out many inaccuracies in the passage which we have considered. But, in order that my observations may not be construed as meant to depreciate the Style or the writings of Dean Swift below their just value, there are two remarks which I judge it necessary to make before concluding this Lecture. One is, That it were unfair to estimate an Author's Style on the whole, by some passage in his writings, which chances to be composed in a careless manner. This is the case with respect to this treatise, which has much the appearance of a hasty production: though, as I before observed, it was by no means on that account that I pitched upon it for the subject of this exercise. But after having examined it, I am sensible that in many other of his writings, the Dean is

more accurate.

My other observation, which applies equally to Dean Swift and Mr. Addison is, that there may be writers much freer from such inaccuracies, as I have had occasion to point out in these two, whose Style, however, upon the whole, may not have half their merit. Refinement in Language has, of late years, begun to be much attended to. In several modern productions of very small value, I should find it difficult to point out many errors in language. The words might, probably, be all proper words, correctly and clearly arranged; and the turn of the sentence sonorous and musical; whilst yet the Style, upon the whole, might deserve no praise. The fault often lies in what may be called the general cast, or complexion of the Style; which a person of a good taste discerns to be vicious; to be feeble, for instance, and diffuse: flimsy or affected; petulant or ostentatious; though the faults cannot be so easily pointed out and particularised, as when they lie in some erroneous, or negligent construction of a sentence. Whereas such writers as Addison and Swift, carry always those general characters of good Style, which, in the midst of their occasional negligencies, every person of good taste must discern and approve. We see their faults overbalanced by higher beauties. We see a writer of sense and reflexion expressing his sentiments without affectation, attentive to thoughts as well as to words; and, in the main current of his Language, elegant and beautiful; and, therefore, the only proper use to be made of the blemishes which occur in the writings of such authors, is to point out to those who apply themselves to the study of composition, some of the rules which they ought to observe for avoiding such errors; and to render them sensible of the necessity of strict attention to Language and to Style. Let them imitate the ease and simplicity of those great Authors; let them study to be always natural, and, as far as they can, always correct in their expressions; let them endeavour to be, at some times, lively and striking; but carefully avoid being at any time ostentatious. and affected.

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LECTURE XXV.

ELOQUENCE, OR PUBLIC SPEAKING....HISTORY OF ELOQUENCE....GRECIAN ELOQUENCE....

DEMOSTHENES.

HAVING finished that part of the Course which relates to Language and Style, we are now to ascend a step higher, and to examine the subjects upon which Style is employed. I begin with what is properly called Eloquence, or Public Speaking. In treating of this, I am to consider the different kinds and subjects of Public Speaking; the manner suited to each; the proper distribution and management of all the parts of a discourse; and the proper pronunciation or delivery of it. But before entering on any of these heads, it may be proper to take a view of the nature of Eloquence in general, and of the state in which it has subsisted in different ages and countries. This will lead into some detail; but I hope an useful one; as in every art it is of great consequence to have a just idea of the perfection of that art, of the end at which it aims, and of the progress which it has made among mankind.

Of Eloquence, in particular, it is the more necessary to ascertain the proper notion, because there is not any thing concerning which false notions have been more prevalent. Hence, it has been so often, and is still at this day, in disrepute with many. When you speak to a plain man, of Eloquence, or in praise of it, he is apt to hear you with very little attention. He conceives Eloquence to signify a certain trick of Speech; the art of varnishing weak arguments plausibly; or of speaking, so as to please and tickle the ear. "Give me good sense,” says he, "and keep your Eloquence for boys." He is in the right, if Eloquence were what he conceives it to be. It would be then a very contemptible art indeed, below the study of any