282 CALLOGRAPHY. 



abound in our lighter periodicals. Fables, or apologues, are also 

 fictitious compositions, usually very short, but illustrating some im- 

 portant truth. 



An Essay, is a literary composition, usually oflimited extent, and 

 confined to some particular topic ; though less restricted than an ora- 

 tion, in its construction and unity. A Disquisition, is similar to an 

 essay, but more formal, and supposed to be more thorough, in its 

 examination of the subject. A Letter, or Epistle, is the least 

 systematic kind of composition; being usually addressed by the 

 writer to some friend, or friends; and written in an easy, familiar 

 style, on topics often miscellaneous, or of a personal character. Some 

 few systematic works are written in the form of letters ; but these 

 may be more properly arranged under the branches or subjects of 

 which they treat. Discourses, are properly analyses or examina- 

 tions of particular subjects ; their name being derived from the Latin 

 discurro, I run through or over. An Oration, is a methodical dis- 

 course, designed to be spoken before a public assembly. Funeral 

 orations are often styled eulogies ; (p. 243) ; and political or miscel- 

 laneous discourses often take the name of speeches. An Address, 

 is an oration of less pretending character ; as the term was originally 

 applied to a communication made to a sovereign or other superior 

 party. Legal and Religious discourses, or pleas and sermons, belong, 

 we think, more properly to the departments of Nomology and The- 

 ology. Of the principles which should govern such compositions, 

 we have already spoken, under the branch of Rhetoric, (p. 74). 



Of minor kinds of composition, besides those mentioned under 

 Poetry, an Enigma, popularly called a Riddle, is a description, or a 

 question, purposely obscured or concealed, to make the answer more 

 difficult of discovery. A Rebus^ is an enigmatical representation of 

 some name or object, by means of pictures or emblems, instead of 

 words. A Charade, is a designation of some particular word, by 

 means of other words, which together will compose it ; and which 

 latter are enigmatically described, but not expressly mentioned. An 

 Anagram, is a transposition of the letters in a word or phrase, so as 

 to form some other word or phrase with the same letters. A Pun, 

 is an expression containing some word which has two different signi- 

 fications ; the contrast of which presents a witty or ludicrous idea : 

 a Conundrum, is a question involving a comparison, the answer 

 to which is a pun. A Proverb, or aphorism, is a brief expression 

 of some important truth ; and an Apothem, (Apophthegm), is a 

 brief precept, or instructive remark. The termination ana, is applied 

 to the names of distinguished persons, as a title to collections of their 

 remarkable sayings ; as Johnsoniana signifies the aphorisms and 

 apothems of Dr. Johnson. A Dialogue, or Colloquy, is a com- 

 position in which several persons are introduced as the immediate 

 speakers; the former term being more appropriate where there are 

 several, and the latter where there are only two. In such composi- 

 tions, a Soliloquy denotes a part spoken by one of the persons, sup- 

 posed to be alone. 



In the further examination of Callography, we shall pursue the 

 ethnographical order, adopted in the three preceding departments ; 



