Of HISTORICAL COMPOSITION. 101 



predeceflors, both juftified and enforced. Hiftorians, from 

 imitating converfation, came to imitate public fpeaking, and 

 became oratorial. This change, however, was not merely an 

 extenfion, fo to fay, of the preceding method. It was produced 

 by other caufes. The earlieft ancient hiftorians were natives, 

 or recorded the deeds and revolutions, of independent republics. 

 In thefe flates, public fpeaking was very generally pradlifed, 

 and was often the caufe of important events. The war between 

 Athens and PHILIP, promoted by the oratorial powers of DE- 

 MOSTHENES; and the flight of CATILINE from Rome, occa- 

 fioned by the eloquence of CICERO, are illuftrious proofs. 

 But not only did fpeeches, delivered in legiflative or deliberative 

 afTemblies, in the fenate or in the forum, produce important ef- 

 fects ; other fpeeches, funeral orations and allocutions, were, 

 fbmetimes followed by very fignal confequences. Ancient hi- 

 ftorians, therefore, were obliged to give us an account of fuch 

 fpeeches ; and, having before them the example of poets and 

 very early hiftorians, they adopted their method. They had 

 alfo fome other inducements. In the progrefs of improvement, 

 the art of public fpeaking came to be highly cultivated. Rhe- 

 torical talents conferred great reputation, and the ftudy of ora- 

 tory became univerfal. It is not furprifing, therefore, that hi- 

 ftorians fhould embrace fuch obvious opportunities as their fub- 

 jedls afforded them, of difplaying their abilities in a fpecies of 

 compofition fo much efteemed. It has been remarked, that 

 fymptoms of this paflion for oratory, fo prevalent in. Greece 

 and Rome, may be difcovered, even in fbme of their poets* 

 Such was the origin, and fuch the different kinds of dramatic 

 or rhetorical hiftory. 



II. IT is obvious, that, fo far as amufement is concerned, 

 the method praclifed by LIVY, THUCYDIDES, and other ancient 

 hiftorians, has great advantages. It is a livelier method. It 

 brings us, as it were, to the very fcene of action. We are wit- 



nefles 



