PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 125 



the subject matter. If for instance, the person praised was distin- 

 guished as a statesman or a general, by a series of illustrious actions 

 well known to the hearers, it was needless to dwell on matter with 

 which they were well acquainted. In this case he selected the most 

 prominent virtues, whether civil or military, and adopted the logical 

 method. But if, on the other hand, the person praised was little 

 known or appreciated, the historical method, which embraces a large 

 portion of matter, was better suited to his purpose. 



Now when the historical method was more suited his purpose, 

 Cicero commenced the work of notation by considering his subject 

 in relation to past, present and future time. Past time included a 

 person's nation, city, parents, and ancestors present, his life, age, 

 virtues and character and future his funeral monument, inscriptions 

 and the opinion of posterity. In short under these different divisions 

 Cicero carefully noted his matter according as he derived his infor- 

 mation from personal knowledge or from other sources. 



This elementary process was no sooner completed than it required 

 but little exertion to remember whether his nation was ancient and 

 distinguished his city remarkable for local beauties or public 

 institutions and his parents or ancestors renowned for civil or 

 military exploits. Accordingly if such matter occurred to his mind 

 it was carefully noted under each head for rhetorical arrangement. 

 Under life, moreover, Cicero included all matter connected with 

 youth, manhood, and old age, as education and civil offices under 

 virtues justice, prudence, temperance, fortitude, &c. under charac- 

 ter, according as it was civil or military patriotism and public spirit, 

 or skill, valour, authority and good fortune. 



When the process of notation was finished the work of rhetorical 

 arrangement commenced, by reducing the whole to its proper com- 

 pass. In this process Cicero either took the division of life into 

 youth, manhood and old age ; and, observing the order of time, dis- 

 tributed the matter collected under each division, as it suited his 

 purpose ; or distinguishing the offices in which the person happened 

 to have served his country, extolled his virtues in each as taste or 

 genius directed. 



But when the logical method of treatment was more fitted to at- 

 tain his object, Cicero commenced the process of notation by dividing 

 virtue and virtuous actions into their corresponding species. Virtue 

 for instance is divided into prudence, justice, temperance, fortitude, 

 magnanimity, liberality, wisdom, &c. These heads were no sooner 

 arranged, than the orator observing the character of the person whom 

 he intended to praise, proceeded to note his prominent virtues. When 



