AN ABRIDGMENT OF LECTURES ON RHETORIC. BY HUGH BLAIR, D. D. REVISED AND CORRECTED. PUBLISHED BY P. N. GREEN AND THOMAS CAREY, P. N. Green, Printer, 1817. ADVERTISEMENT. THE want of a system of Rhetoric upon a concise plan, and at an easy price, will, it is presumed, render this little volume. acceptable to the public. To collect knowledge, which is seattered over a wide extent, into a small compass; if it has not the merit of originality, has at least the advantage of being useful. Many, who are terrified at the idea of travelling over a pondrous volume in search of information, will yet set out on a short journey in pursuit of science with alacrity and profit. These, for whom the following essays are principally intended, will derive peguliar benefit from the brevity, with which they are conveyed. To youth, who are engaged in the rudiments of learning; whese time and attention must be occupied by a varisty of Wubjects; every Branch of science should be rendered as concise as possible. Henoe the attention is not fatigued, nor the memory overloaded. That a knowledge of Rhetoric forms a very material part of the education of a polite scholar must be universally allowed. Any attempt, therefore, however imperfect, to make so useful an art more generally known, has claim to that praise which is the reward of good intention. With this the editor will be sufficiently satisfied; since being serviceable to others is the most agreeable method of becoming contented with ourselves. INTRODUCTION. A PROPER acquaintance with the circle of liberal arts is requisite to the study of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres. To extend the knowledge of them must be the first care of those, who wish, either to write with reputation, or so to express themselves in public, as to command attention. Among the ancients it was an essential principle, that the orator ought to be conversant in every department of learning. No art indeed can be contrived which can stamp merit on a composition, rich or splendid in expression, but barren or erroneous in sentiment. Oratory, it is true, has often been disgraced by attempts to establish a false criterion of its value. Writers have endeavoured to supply want of matter by graces of composition; and courted the temporary applause of the ignorant instead of the lasting approbation of the discerning. |