IV. An ESSAY -upon the PRINCIPLES of HISTORICAL 

 COMPOSITION, with an Application of thofe Principles 

 to the Writings of TACITUS. By JOHN HILL, M. A. 

 F. R. S. ;EDIN. and ProfeJJor of Humanity in the Univerftty of 

 EDINBURGH. 



PART I. 



\Read by the Author, April 19. 1784.] 



literary exertions put the author's abilities to a feverer 

 teft than the competition of hiftory. The poet may create 

 a fubjecl for himfelf, or he may adopt one that is bxit imper- 

 fectly known. In the competition of an epic poem, he indrafts 

 and pleafes by exhibiting fuch a train of actions as might have 

 taken place, and, unlefs he violates probability, his invention 

 may bid defiance to reftraint. If his work be imperfect, he has 

 himfelf to blame, as thofe very powers which give the form to 

 his fubjedl, gave it firft its exigence. 



THE orator, again, is more clofely circumfcribed. Not only 

 is his fubjecl: known to have exifted, but its circumftances, if 

 not witnefled by his hearers, may, for certain, become matters 

 of proof. In fpite of every prejudice upon the part of his au- 

 dience, he profefTedly takes a fide. He is allowed to fuppofe, 

 that his opponents either are ignorant of certain facts, or are 

 viewing them in a falfe light. He applies the addrefs of elo- 

 quence to their fancy, and the force of argument to their rea- 

 foa ; and reckons every ftratagem fair by which he can correct 

 the errors that are involuntary, and confute thofe that are 

 feen. 



THE 



