Ford Newton Scott gt. то THE RIGHT HONORABLE WILLIAM PITT, CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER AND FIRST SIR, WHILE Mufick foftens the paf fions, and Poetry illumines the understanding at ease and in filence, Oratory ruling over both, calls them forth to action on the most arduous and critical junctures. Oratory with the tongue of Demofthenes defended Athens against the invasions of Philip; by that of Cicero, it delivered Rome from the confpiracy of Cataline, and in You, Sir, fteps forward with fuperior vigour to stem the tide of Opposition, and and fave the SOVEREIGN and his People from unprecedented attempts, dangerous to the peace of the community, and fubverfive of the Conftitution in Church and State. Joining therefore with the nation at large, in earneft Prayer for the speedy restoration of HEALTH to the KING happily refuming his authority, and in ardent wishes that you may continue to discharge the high truft and duty of a Statesman, with that uncommon, unheard of and unrecorded wisdom and integrity you have hitherto done, in diffufing univerfal profperity through the whole British Empire, I have the honor to fubfcribe myself, Whitebally December 22, 1788. SIR, Your most humble and moft obedient fervant, ANSELM BAYLY. ΟΙ F the following sheets it need only be faid by way of Preface, that whether eftimable or not, they have one property, that of originality. They are indebted very little to the ancients, fuch as Ariftoxenus on Mufick, Aristotle and Horace on Poetry, and Cicero on Oratory, or to the moderns, Boffu, Dryden, Pope, Addison, or any other writer whatever, on thofe fubjects. The obfervations on Musick and Oratory are the result of many years experience, and on Poetry, of studying the originals themfelves, Homer, the father and preceptor of musick, poetry and oratory, and Virgil and Milton, his fons and pupils. * See the Vignette in the Frontispiece, where Homer, under this character and idea, is crowned by one of the Graces. |