22.-RHETORICAL COMPOSITION.

RHETORIC and oratory have the same meaning they signify the art of speaking well upon a subjec in order to persuade. Rhetoric is an art comprised in certain rules, which are adapted to render speaking successful in accomplishing its purposes.

The first thing to be observed by an orator is to speak with truth and propriety; the second is to adopt due method in the arrangement of his arguments; the third is the embellishment of his subject with the beauties of language; and the fourth is the degree of copiousness which shall fully express what is best suited to his purpose.

Oratory is comprised in four divisions, viz.: Invention, Disposition, Elocution, and Pronunciation. Invention is the discovery of such arguments as are adapted to prove or illustrate the subject; to conciliate the favor and engage the passions of an audience.

An argument is that which presents reasons to convince the mind, and induce belief of what was before doubted or disbelieved. Thus, if the purpose of a speaker is to prove temperance to be beneficial to men, the proper mode is to show its good effects on health and economy; for if it promotes these it is a personal benefit, as all men will admit that health and economy are beneficial. Or, we may prove the same point by contrasting the effects of temperance with those of intemperance, and show.

ing that intemperance impairs health and wastes property, which are evil effects. In all cases of reasoning, we are to proceed on known facts, or on principles which are admitted or undeniable, such as the laws of nature; mathematical principles; or on events which are known; or we are to proceed on probabilities, in which case the strength of arguments and their tendency to convince, will depend on the strength of the evidence; or, we are to proceed on testimony, which is the declaration of witnesses. In the latter case, we are to consider the number and character of the witnesses, the nature of their testimony, and the various circumstances which may increase or lessen their credibility.

In reasoning on the established laws of nature, as in mathematics, if the process is correct the result is certain. But in reasoning on probabilities or human testimony we may be deceived or misled, and by this means we may arrive at a wrong conclusion. Hence it sometimes happens that men addicted to mathematical reasoning, are apt to be led to false conclusions, when they reason on the interest, motives and passions of men, or on the ordinary occurrences of life.

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In all our reasonings it is important to have clear ideas of the subject, and to use words of defi cite signification. All ambiguous words, which admit of two or more senses, should be carefully avoided. In every step of reasoning, the statements should be clear and precise, and every point fully established.

Disposition.-Disposition is the manner of ar

ranging the materials of a discourse. This should be so methodical that every part should succeed that on which it depends for support; or, it should be the order in which arguments follow each other in a train of reasoning. Young clergymen and pleaders at the bar, and indeed all persons whose pursuits call for a thorough knowledge of the ar of oratory, will find the following arrangement of the parts of a discourse to be both lucid and effective. In politics, this arrangement counts among its followers such men as Sheridan, Pitt, Fox Brougham, Patrick Henry, Alexander Hamilton, Daniel Webster, John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, Charles Sumner; in law, Francis North, Lord Bacon, Wm. C. Preston, Lewis Cass, Wm. H. Seward, Rufus Choate, Millard Fillmore, Levi Woodbury; in divinity, John Knox, Hugh Blair, Thomas Chalmers, Jonathan Edwards, John M. Mason, Stephen Olin, John Summerfield, Henry Ward Beecher, Stephen H. Tyng, Gardiner Spring. It is termed the Ciceronian arrangement, and is comprised of six parts, which are as follows: 1. Introduction; 2. Narration; 3. Proposition; 4. Confirmation; 5. Confutation; 6. Conclusion.

The introduction is designed to prepare the minds of hearers for a suitable reception of the parts which are to follow, It should also give some general account of the subject of the discourse. A general view of the subject proposed, and of its design, enables the hearer the better to connect and understand the several parts as they succeed each other Narration is the recital of something done, in the

order and manner in which it was done; such as the cause, manner, time, place, and consequences of an action or event, with the character and circumstances of the persons concerned. This part of a discourse is often necessary, to render it more intelligible to the hearers. The narration should be as brief as the questions contained in the discourse will admit; whatever is necessary to eluci date the subject should be stated; but all matter foreign to the subject should be omitted. All the statements should be perspicuous, probable, and as entertaining as the subject will admit.

The proposition of a regular discourse is a clear, distinct statement of the subject, and the main points to be proved. In this part of an oration or discourse, it is often necessary to divide the subject into distinct heads; each of which is to be separately considered. This division often assists the hearer to understand and recollect the several points stated, and the arguments applicable to each.

Confirmation.-Confirmation is that part of a discourse which furnishes proof, authority, and support to a cause. This includes the arguments, the evidence, and the reasoning, which are intended to sustain the cause. In this part, the reasoning may often be conducted by syllogisms. Thus, to demonstrate that the world is under the direction of a wise governor, we may reason thus: Things which are directed by wisdom are better governed than those which are not.. Nothing can be better governed than the Solar system. Hence we infer

that the Solar system is under the direction of a wise governor." This is the synthetic mode of reasoning.

The analytic method of reasoning is different. In this, the speaker proceeds step by step till he brings his hearers to the intended conclusion. Thus, for example, to prove the being of a God, or Intelligent Author of all things, he may reason thus: "Every. thing we see in the world had a beginning; whatever had a beginning must have had a prior cause, for it is clear that no effect exists without a cause; hence we infer that the world and all that we see of creation, must have had a supreme cause. From the order and harmony of the universe, we further infer that the Supreme Cause is an intelligent and wise Being, as order cannot proceed from accident or ignorance."

Instead of a complete syllogism, orators often use an enthymeme, which is an imperfect syllogism, consisting of two parts, one of the premises of a complete syllogism, and the conclusion. For example: "Our duty requires that we should love what is most excellent. Therefore, duty requires that we should love God." Here the second or minor proposition is omitted, as being too obviou to need recital. It would read thus: "God is most excellent. Therefore it is our duty to love Him."

Confutation is the disproving of the reasoning of an opposite party. This is done by arguments and reasoning, as in the other cases, or by contradiction Contradiction, however, cannot avail, unless when facts are too obvious to be denied. Sometimes an ad