On the Nature and Utility of Eloquence. 325 



the examination of the fubjeft has not been ufe- 

 lefs. For it is plainly of material confequence, 

 to be right in the firfl: principles of a pracElical 

 queftion, fince real condud in life and bufinefs 

 cannot but be greatly affefted by their truth or 

 falfehood. He who thinks eloquence to be the 

 art of deceiving, with Mr. Locke, will, if he be 

 a good man, never ftudy to be eloquent. He 

 who thinks it is fpeaking ornamentally, will be 

 fpeaking ornamentally, when fpeaking plainly 

 would have been more efficacious. He will, 

 moft probably, be lavifh of his tropes and figures, 

 when thefe ambitious decorations fliould have 

 been fhunned, or employed with the moftfparing 

 caution. He who thinks it confifts in moving 

 the pafTions, will often be weeping unaccompa- 

 nied by the tears of his audience : and he who 

 thinks it is the art of perfuading, will not un- 

 frequently be urgent when he ought to be in- 

 ftruftive, or ufing vehement entreaties inftead of 

 powerful proofs. He, and he only, will not be 

 cramped in the exercife of his art by the narrow- 

 nefs of his principles, who thinks it is the art of 

 fpeaking and writing, in fuch a manner as is 

 moft likely to obtain the ends whicii he propofes 

 to himfelf in fpeaking or writing. Does he ad- 

 drefs the multitude ? He will aim at being per- 

 fpicuous, intelligible and impaflloned. Does he 

 fpeak before men of learning, and fuch as are 

 Y 3 eloquent 



