A BRIEF LECTURE ON RHETORIC. RHETORIC teaches us to affect the passions by suitable illustrafons and imagery; and to arrange our arguments to the best advantage, so as to make the deepest impression on the feelings and judgment of those whom we address. The following are the chief figures of speech :-Simile or Comparison, Metaphor, Allegory, Irony, Hyperbole, Antithesis, Cli max or Gradation, Personification, Apostrophe, Interrogation, Exclamation. Simile or Comparison, is that figure by which we compare one thing with another, for the sake of illustration; as when it is said, "The actions of princes are like those great rivers, the course of which every one beholds, but their springs have been seen by few." Metaphor, is a comparison expressed without the signs of comparison; as, when we say of a minister, that "He is the pillar of the state," we speak in metaphor. "I will be unto her a wall of fire round about; and will be the glory in the midst of her." In this sentence we speak metaphorically. Allegory, is a continuation of several metaphors, so connected as to form a kind of parable or fable. Thus the Psalmist, in the 80th Psalm, presents us with a beautiful example of an allegory, where he represents the Israelites under the image of a vine. "Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt; thou hast cast out the heathen and planted it. Thou preparedst room before it; and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. Return, we beseech thee, O God of Hosts, look down from Heaven, and behold, and visit this vine." Irony, is a figure, in which we urge one thing, and mean the contrary, in order to give effect to our meaning. The subjects of irony are vices and follies of all kinds. We have a remarkable example of irony in the sacred writings. When the prophet Elijah challenged the priests of Baal to prove the truth of their deity, he mocked them, and said, "Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is on a journey; or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked." Hyperbole, gives us the highest idea of an object, and magnifies it beyond its natural dimensions; as, "I saw their chief, tall as a rock of ice; his spear, the blasted fir; his shield, the rising moon; he sat on the shore, like a cloud of mist on the hill." Antithesis, is the contrast or opposition of two objects in a sentence; as, "If Cato may be censured, severely indeed, but justly, for abandoning the cause of liberty, which he would not, however, survive; what shall we say of those, who embrace it faintly, pursue it irresolutely, grow tired of it when they have much to hope, and give it up when they have nothing to fear?" Climax, or Gradation, is a figure by which we rise from one circumstance to another, till our idea is raised to the highest. The following is an example of a beautiful climax, taken from the charge of a judge to the jury, in the case of a woman accused of murdering her own child: "Gentlemen, if one man had any how slain another; if an adversary had killed his opposer, or a woman occasioned the death of her enemy; even these criminals would have been capitally punished by the Cornelian law; but if this guiltless infant, that could make no enemy, had been murderred by its own nurse, what punishment would not then the mother have demanded? With what cries and exclamations would she have stunned your ears! What shall we say, then, when a woman, guilty of homicide, a mother, of the murder of her innocent child, hath comprised all those misdeeds in one single crime? a crime, in its own nature, detestable; in a woman, prodigious; in a mother, incredible; and perpetrated against one whose age called for compassion, whose near relation claimed affection, and whose innocence deserved the highest favour!" Personification, is a figure by which we attribute life and the use of reason to inanimate objects and irrational creatures; as, "The ground thirsts for rain." "The fields smile with plenty." Apostrophe, is a figure by which we address absent persons, or inanimate objects which we personify; as, "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory?" Interrogation, is a figure which, by asking a question, gives ardour and energy to our discourse; as, "How long will you, Cataline, abuse our patience? Do you not perceive your designs are discovered?" Exclamation, is a figure that expresses some strong emotion of the mind, and is generally followed by a note of admiration; as, *O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night, for the slain of the daughter of my people! O that I had in the wilderness a lodging-place of way. faring men!" Rhetorical disposition or arrangement, is the placing of the ar guments, or the parts of a discourse, oration, or composition, in the most suitable and impressive order. The parts of a discourse are sometimes five and sometimes six, viz. the Exordium, the Narration, the Proposition, the Confirmation, the Refutation, and the Peroration. In the Exordium, or beginning of a discourse, the writer or speaker gives some intimation of his subject, and solicits favour and attention. The Narration, is a brief recital of the facts connected with the case, from the beginning to the end. In the Proposition, is given the true state of the question; specifying the points maintained, and those in which the writer or speaker differs from his adversary. The Confirmation assembles all the proofs and arguments which can be adduced. In the Refutation, the writer or speaker answers the arguments and objections of his opponent. In the Peroration, he sums up the strong and principal arguments, and endeavours to excite the passions in his favour JOHNSON'S LETTER. Dr. Johnson's famous letter to Lord Chesterfield, on declining his offer of patronage, which young persons are requested to peruse, not only on account of the punctuation; but on several other accounts, which relate to Epistolary composition. As there is a correct and incorrect mode of doing every thing; 1st. Observe the exact position of the Author's place of residence; the month; day of the month; and year. 2d. Observe the exact position on the paper of the name of the noble Lord to whom he wrote.. 3d. Observe the exact position of the pronoun I, after the noun Lord; and the place of commencement for the next line. 4th. Observe the exact position of all those words, which follow the word exultation; including the writer's name. "TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF CHESTERFIELD. "MY LORD, London, February 7, 1755. I have been lately informed, by the proprietor of 'the World,' that two papers, in which my Dictionary is recommended to the publick, were written by your Lordship. To be so distinguished, is an honour, which, being very little accustomed to favours from the great, I know not well how to receive, or in what terms to acknowledge. "When, upon some slight encouragement, I first visited your Lordship, I was overpowered, like the rest of mankind, by the enchantment of your address, and could not forbear to wish that I might boast myself Le vainqueur du vainqueur de la terre ;that I might obtain that regard for which I saw the world contending; but I found my attendance so little encouraged, that neither pride nor modesty would suffer me to continue it. When I had once addressed your Lordship in publick, I had exhausted all the art of pleasing which a retired and uncourtly scholar can possess. I had done all that I could; and no man is well pleased to have his all neglected, be it ever so little. "Seven years, my Lord, have now past, since I waited in your outward rooms, or was repulsed from your door; during which time I have been pushing on my work. through difficulties, of which it is useless to complain, and have brought it, at last, to the verge of publication, without one act of assistance, one word of encouragement, or one smile of favour. Such treatment I did not expect, for I never had a Patron be fore. "The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a native of the rocks. "Is not a Patron, my Lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help? The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary, and cannot impart it; till I am known, and do not want it. I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received, or to be unwilling that the Publick should consider me as owing that to a Patron, which Providence has enabled me to do for myself. "Having carried on my work thus far with so little obligation to any favourer of learning, I shall not be disappointed though I should conclude it, if less be possible, with less; for I have been long wakened from that dream of hope, in which I once boasted myself with so much exultation, "My Lord, "Your Lordship's most humble, |