PRACTICAL SYSTEM OF RHETORIC OR THE PRINCIPLES AND RULES OF STYLE, INFERRED FROM EXAMPLES OF WRITING: TO WHICH IS ADDED A HISTORICAL DISSERTATION ON ENGLISH STYLE BY SAMUEL P. NEWMAN, PROFESSOR OF RHETORIC IN BOWDOIN COLLEGR. SIXTIETH EDITION. NEW YORK: IVISON & PHINNEY, 321 BROADWAY. BUFFALO: PHINNEY & CO. CINCINNATI: MOORE, WILSTACH, KEYS & CO. 1856. AUBURN: SEYMOUR & CO. HARVARD COLLEGE APH 26 1933 Entered according to act of Congress in the year 18994, hy FLAGG, GOULD AND NEWMAN, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. INTRODUCTION The advantages proposed to be attained by the study of Rhetoric.*. propmety, prop mely elegance 1. Some acquaintance with the philosophy of rhetoric. 2. The cultivation of the taste, and in connexion, the exercise of the imagination. 3. Skill in the use of language. 4. Skill in literary criticism. 5. The formation of a good style. By the philosophy of rhetoric, I here refer to those principles in the science of the philosophy of mind, ana in the philosophy of language, on which are founded those conclusions and directions which are applicable to literary criticism, and to the formation of style. Obviously, then, it wil. be said, an acquaintance with the science of intellectual philosophy, and with the philosophy of language, should precede the study of rhetoric. Hence, no doubt, Milton and others assign to this branch of study the last place in a course of education. But it is known to all, that the prevalent opinion and practice are different from those recommended by Milton; so that our inquiry should be, what is the best practical method of acquainting the young with the philosophy of rhetoric those whose minds are not accustomed to philosophical investigations, and who are ignorant of those sciences on which the art is founded? I answer, that, while the attention should be directed to but few principles, and those most essential in a practical view, instruction should be imparted principally by familiar, * Extracted from a .ecture delivered in Boston before the American Institute August, 1830. |