324 DR DONALDSON, ON THE ORIGIN AND 



•.Hence, as Maddy says {Astronomy, Art. 266, p. 172), "the angle at the sun's center between 

 the radius vector of the planet in its orbit, and the ascending node, is called the Argument of 

 Latitude. The argument of latitude together with the longitude of the ascending node is 

 called the Longitude of the Planet in its Orbit.'''' In this use of the terra argument, to denote 

 an angle regarded as the means of determining something else, we have a very distinct refer- 

 ence to the classical meaning of the word as nearly synonymous with indicium, and as implying 

 the outward and visible sign from which something is inferred. Not only in this technical 

 sense, but generally, an angle suggests itself as such an indicium of measurement, and Sir 

 Thomas Browne cannot find, in the resources of his quaint vocabulary, a stronger expression 

 for littleness than the smallest conceivable angle included between diameters which grow shorter 

 and shorter. He says {Hydriotaphia ad fin. Vol. iii. p. 496, ed. Wilkins) : " the most magna- 

 nimous resolution rests in the Christian religion, which trampleth on pride, and sits on the neck 

 of ambition, humbly pursuing that infallible perpetuity, unto which all others must diminish 

 their diameters, and be poorly seen in angles of contingency." Such an angle is an argument 

 of insignificance, if there is any meaning in language. 



In its popular acceptation, the word argument is employed, like all popular terms, with great 

 vagueness and laxity. When the word is used most legitimately, its meanings may perhaps be 

 reduced to three: (1) a proof or means of proving ; (2) a process of reasoning or controversy 

 made up of such proofs ; (3) the subject-matter of any discourse or writing, or even of a picture. 

 After what has been said, it is perhaps needless to remark that only the first and third of these 

 meanings are supported by the classical significations of argumentum, the second being repre- 

 sented by argumentatio. And yet our logical writers, who ought to be most accurate, formally 

 adopt the second. The following examples from the classical English poets will be sufficient 

 to illustrate the three ordinary uses of the term: (1) argument is a proof or means of proving. 

 Shaksp. Henry VI. 1st pt. Act v. sc. 2 : 



In argument and proof of which contract 

 Bear her this jewel, pledge of my affection. 

 Cf. Twelfth Night, in. 2 : 



This was a great argument of love in her toward you*. 

 (2) Argument is reasoning. Butler, Hudibras, i. l, v. 72: 

 He'd undertake to prove by force 

 Of argument, a man 's a horse. 

 So Dryden {Hind and Panther) : 



Bare lies with bare assertions they can face, 

 But dint of argument is out of place. 

 (3) Argument is subject-matter. Shaksp. Loves Labour''s Lost, Act v. sc. 1 : 



He draweth out the thread of his verbosity finer than the staple of his argument. 

 By a slight change from the first of these meanings, an argument may denote that which 

 furnishes the test or proof, as when Timon says (Act 11. sc. 2) : 



• In this sense too we have 3 Hen. VI. Act ii. Scene 2: "inferring arguments of weighty force." 

 and again Act iii. Scene 1 : " inferreth arguments of mighty strength." 



