INTRODUCTION CONTENTS. Page CHAP. I. Elegance in the largest acceptation defined, its more general forms exhibited, with their different Objects, Ends, and Characters CHAP. III. The Doctrine of the preceding Chapter defended Part IV. The superiority of Scientific Evidence re-examined CHAP. VI. Of the Nature and Use of the scholastic Art of Syllogizing CHAP. VII. Of the Consideration which the Speaker ought to have of the 75 77 86 Part VI. Relation to the Persons concerned Part VII. Interest in the Consequences SECT. VI. Other Passions, as well as Moral Sentiments, useful aux- SECT. VII. How an Unfavourable Passion must be calmed CHAP. VIII. Of the consideration which the Speaker ought to have of the CHAP. X. The different kinds of public speaking in use among the moderns, compared, with a view to their different advantages in respect of CHAP. XI. Of the cause of that pleasure which we receive from objects or representations that excite pity and other painful feelings SECT. I. The different solutions hitherto given by philosophers examined SECT. III. The Unintelligible Part I. From Confusion of Thought Part II. From Affectation of Excellence Part III. From Want of Meaning 226 ib. CHAP. VII. What is the Cause that Nonsense so often escapes being detected, both by the Writer and by the Reader SECT. I. The nature and power of Signs, both in Speaking and in Thinking SECT. II. The application of the preceding Principles CHAP. VIII. The extensive Usefulness of Perspicuity SECT. I. When is Obscurity apposite, if ever it be apposite, and what kind? Part I. Preliminary Observations concerning Tropes Part II. The different sorts of Tropes conducive to Vivacity 1. The Less for the more General 2. The most Interesting Circumstance distinguished CHAP. II. Of Vivacity as depending on the number of the Words SECT. I. This Quality explained and exemplified CHAP. III. Of Vivacity as depending on the arrangement of the Words SECT. I. Of the nature of Arrangement, and the principal Division of Sen- Part I. Subdivision of these into Periods and Loose Sentences Part II. Observations on Periods, and on the Use of Antithesis in the INTRODUCTION. ALL art is founded in science, and the science is of little value which does not serve as a foundation to some beneficial art. On the most sublime of all sciences, theology and ethics, is built the most important of all arts, the art of living. The abstract mathematical sciences serve as a ground-work to the arts of the land-measurer and the accountant; and in conjunction with natural philosophy, including geography and astronomy, to those of the architect, the navigator, the dialist, and many others. Of what consequence anatomy is to surgery, and that part of physiology which teaches the laws of gravitation and of motion is to the artificer, is a matter too obvious to need illustration. The general remark might, if necessary, be exemplified throughout the whole circle of arts, both useful and elegant. Valuable knowledge, therefore, always leads to some practical skill, and is perfected in it. On the other hand, the practical skill loses much of its beauty and extensive utility, which does not originate in knowledge. There is by consequence a natural relation between the sciences and the arts, like that which subsists between the parent and the offspring. I acknowledge indeed that these are sometimes unnaturally separated; and that by the mere influence of example on the one hand, and imitation on the other, some progress may be made in an art, without the knowledge of the principles from which it sprung. By the help of a few rules, which men are taught to use mechanically, a good practical arithmetician may be formed, who neither knows the reasons on which the rules he works by were first established, nor ever thinks it of any moment to inquire into them. In like manner, we frequently meet with expert artisans, who are ignorant of the six mechanical powers, which, though in the exercise of their profession they daily employ, they do not understand the principles whereby, in any instance, the result of their application is ascertained. The propagation of the arts may therefore be compared more justly to that variety which takes place in the vegetable kingdom, than to the uniformity which obtains universally in the animal world; for, as to the anomalous race of zoophytes, I do not comprehend them in the number. It is |