314 On the Nature and Utility of Eloquence. 



" Eloquence is the power of fpeaking with 

 fluency and elegance." Dr. Johnfon's Dic- 

 tionary. 



" Eloquence is the art of fpeaking or writing 

 well, fo as to move and perfuade. "Chambers's 

 Cyclopaedia. Dr. Rees's Edit. 



This is but a fmall fample of the various modes 

 of fpeaking concerning the fubjeft ; but no 

 more need be produced, and to me all thefe 

 appear either falfe or imperfeft. Perhaps the 

 moft fenfible, moft fubftantial, and moft ufeful 

 idea of eloquence, is that exprefled by Dr. 

 Campbell, in the firfl: fentence of his philosophy 

 OF RHETORIC. '* Eloquencc is that art or talent 

 by which a difcourfe is adapted to its end." 

 The fame fentiment is intimated by Quintilian, 

 ■when he fays, ^0 qui/que plus t&.c\x. dicendoy hoc 

 magis fecundum naturam eloquentia dicit*. " What- 

 ** ever compofition j-," fays Mr. Wilkes, in one 

 of his fpeeches, " produces the efFeft which is 

 •* intended, in the moft forcible manner, is, in 

 " my opinion, the beft, and moft to be appro- 

 " ved. That mode fhould always be purfued : 

 *' it has the moft merit, as well as the moft fuc- 



• Lib. XII. cap. 10. 



f Inllead of " whatever compofition produces the efFeft, " 

 he fhould have faid, whatever compofition is ie^ calculated 

 to produce the effeft. The paffage would then be incontro- 

 vertible. 



" cefs. 



