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PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 

 PROCEEDINGS IN THE ATHENAEUM. 



JANUARY 16TH. The Rev. B. ST. JOHN'S Second Lecture on 

 Rhetoric. 



THE lecturer began by observing that in a former lecture he had 

 shown that persuasives are derived from one or other of three sources, 

 viz. the moral character of the speaker, the excitement of the passions, 

 and the argument : after which he proceeded to make some obser- 

 vations on the kind of subjects which belong to Rhetoric, how many 

 kinds of oration there are, and the business and end of the orator. 

 In treating of rhetorical subjects he observed that men in their pub- 

 lic avocations are not called upon to reason on subjects demonstra- 

 tively certain or morally impossible, but only on such as are contingent. 

 But contingent subjects are of two kinds either absolutely such or 

 relatively ; the former including all subjects, the issue of which is 

 beyond human controul ; the latter all subjects partly depending 

 on human will and exertions, and partly on an unforseen combina- 

 tion of circumstances. The latter kinds of subjects are alone dis- 

 cussed in rhetoric. 



After having briefly explained ;md illustrated the nature of rheto- 

 rical subjects, and deduced three kinds of speeches, viz. the Judicial, 

 the Deliberative, and the Demonstrative, from three kinds of hearers 

 or judges, he proceeded to the second section of his lecture, which 

 treated of Persuasives, peculiar to demonstrative speeches. 



He first shewed that a demonstrative speech (if strictly defined) 

 is that which sets forth the virtues, vices, virtuous or vicious actions 

 of men ; which led him to observe that a speaker, desirous of suc- 

 ceeding in a speech of this kind, should consider Istly, The nature 

 of his subject matter; 2ndly, The best method of arrangement ; and 

 3rdly, The argument, by which he intends to prove his proposition. 

 Here the lecturer explained, in a highly interesting manner, the plan 

 which he considered Cicero adopted in the composition of his 

 speeches. With the following extract from this part of the 

 lecture, our readers will no doubt bo highly gratified. 



When Cicero commenced the composition of a speech, he seems 

 (as far as we can judge by comparing his speeches with his rhetorical 

 works) to have considered Istly, The nature and extent of his subject 

 matter. This enquiry no doubt embraced the whole life of a person, 

 from infancy to manhood, and perhaps from manhood to old age. 

 Having attentively roiMdevrd his subject, Cicero determined 2ndly, 

 The method of treatment, whether lustoriral or logical. The method, 

 there is reason to think, was determined by the nature and extent of 



