4 BENEFITOF 



demy, i am obliged upon undertaking this 

 province to fay fomething before fo illuftrious 

 a circle of fathers and citizens •, i confefs that 

 all thofe circumflances, each of which is apt 

 to ftrike terror into the mind of man, offer 

 themfelves together in a croud before my eyes 

 on this occafion. For whether i confider the 

 amplenefs of the place, or the dignity of the 

 audience, or the multitude of chofen people, 

 or laftly my little talents in the arts of fpeech; 

 all thefe circumflances, i ingenuoufly confefs, 

 throw me into no fmall confufion. 



For if the moft eloquent men, when they 

 come to fpeak in public, have been known to 

 tremble, and become incapable of uttering a 

 fino-le word ; what muft i feel who have none 

 of the common advantages, either from art or 

 nature, in the readinefs and elegance of fpeech ? 



However, fmce i am under a necefTity of fay- 

 ing -fomething, i muft fiy for refuge to that fa- 

 vor, and humanity, which you never refufe to 

 thofe who fpeak on thefe occafions ; and thus 

 i doubt not but that, however deficient i may 

 be from want of talents, or want of exercife, 

 i fliall not wholly fail of the end i aim at. I 

 fhall therefore, moft honorable auditors, under- 

 take to treat on a fubjed neither unfuitable to 



the 



