THE CONTAINING A VARIETY OF ORIGINAL AND SELECTED PIECES; TOGETHER WITH RULE S; CALCULATED TO IMPROVE YOUTH AND OTHERS IN THE ORNAMENTAL AND USEFUL ART OF ELOQUENCE. BY CALEB BINGHAM, A. M. Author of The American Preceptor, Young Lady's Accidence, &e, "CATO cultivated ELOQUENCE, as a necessary mean for ROLLIN. Published according to Act of Congress. FIRST HARTFORD, FROM THE EIGHTH BOSTON EDITION. HARTFORD: RINTED AND SOLD BY LINCOLN AND GLEASON. PREFACE. NOTWITHSTANDI ITHSTANDING the multiplicity of SchoolBooks now in use, it has been often suggested, that a Selection, calculated particularly for Dialogue and Declamation, would be of extensive utility in our seminaries. The art of Oratory needs no encomium. To cultivate its rudiments, and diffuse its spirit among the Youth of America, is the design of this Book. Of the many pieces which this volume contains, three only are to be found in any publication of the kind. A large proportion is entirely original. To those, who have assisted him in this part, the author returns his warmest acknowledgments. The COLUMBIAN ORATOR is designed for a Second Part to the AMERICAN PRECEPTOR; for this reason, no pieces are inserted from that book. As no advantage could arise from a methodical arrangement, the Author has preferred variety to system. In his choice of materials, it has been his object to select such as should inspire the pupil with the ardour of eloquence, and the love of virtue. He has spared no pains to render the Work, in every respect, worthy of the generous patronage, which a liberal public have bestowed on his former publications. Boston, May 17, 1797. |