duced; and what contributed, in no small degree, to render it such, is this, that with the acutest discernment and penetration of mind, he united the most patient and persevering assiduity; the effect was, as we might expect, that whatever he took for the subject of his studies, he examined and searched into with all the accuracy of a man who was resolved to attain as perfect a knowledge of it as he was capable of. In the spirit of this determination he went deep into the grounds of human science. Nor is the extent and comprehension of his intellect less astonishing than its strength; for philosophy, both natural and moral; logic, rhetoric, and even poetry, were all, by turns, the objects of its attention; so that Aristotle excelled Plato in the diversity of his knowledge, if not in any more respects. Add to this, that whatever came under his hand was improved by him. Philosophy he enlarged by further discoveries, and methodized; of logic, or the art of reasoning, he was the inventor; and how much rhetoric and poetry are indebted to him, his treatises on each amply testify."-After quoting high testimonies respecting him from Plato, Cicero, Quintilian, &c. he observes, "nor has any very long period elapsed since Aristotle was the idol of the moderns; the attachment to him indeed must be allowed to have been excessive, and carried to very blame

able lengths; inasmuch as it went to the exclusion of other useful books, and also led men obstinately to defend, as sacred, all the positions he has laid down. You know to whom I am alluding, the school-men, who had a very considerable acuteness, but they unhappily refined upon Aristotle and abused his mode of reasoning, by extending it to very nice and subtle distinctions, and a most perplexing and tedious train of innumerable subdivisions. Their injudicious use of him, and the disgust occasioned by it has, I think, in some degree, affected his reputation; unjust as it may seem, the fault of his admirers has been transferred to him. On no other

ground can I account for the

neglect of his

Certainly this

works that at present obtains. is the other extreme, and no less to be blamed than that above mentioned. But there seems to be a fashion in the studies of men, as well as in other things, which governs just as whim or caprice may dictate; at least, many alterations of taste and pursuits take place in the literary world without any obvious causes for them."

From the character of the author, Mr. Lloyd passes on to the character of his writings in general, and the comparative merit of the different Editors of his works; and concludes this able Prolegomena, by calling the attention of his

"which con

scholars to the work before them, tains, (he observes), in a narrow compass, a most complete Treatise on the whole art of Rhetoric. The invention, the copiousness of the matter, the exactness of the method, and the style in which it is written, all shew it, beyond a doubt, to be Aristotle's, &c. The style is rather difficult, from the elliptic conciseness, from the nature of the work itself, which seems little more than a collection of hints, or a Syllabus for Lectures; and lastly, from the mutilated and corrupt state of the text,-for the asserting of which we have Strabo's authority: all these circumstances, together with the references which he often makes to other parts of his works, and the abstruseness of his matter, must be expected to occasion some difficulties that we may not be able to remove. This, however, will have a good effect, if it tends to lessen that excessive and very unjustifiable confidence in our own understandings, which is apt to attach to young men of any ability. Aristotle's general plan and purpose in the following work, is this: he considers rhetoric, firstly, in the elementary principles, as it were, which go to constitute it; secondly, in its external dress or form; and lastly, in the just collocation of its different members or parts. In the first part then (which comprises the first two books) we are taught

what we should say on every subject, and from what quarters we may draw it. In the second, how we should speak, and in what way we may possess ourselves of the graces and ornaments of language. In the third, we are taught so to dispose and arrange our matter, as to give it the utmost effect it will admit of. The directions, indeed, which are laid down have a peculiar reference to the structure of an oration: they will suit, however, except perhaps in a few particulars, every kind of serious composition, which, in order to be perfect, must have some. thing corresponding to a Promium, a Narration, and a Conclusion, or Peroration. It is unnecessary for me to go further into the consideration of Aristotle's design, or to give you a Conspectus of the order in which the different parts of this Treatise follow one another. The utility to be reaped from an accurate investigation of the book need not be pointed out; if it instructs us how to attain, and where to look for those arguments, that on every subject have a tendency to gain the credit of the hearer, who must not acknowledge its aid in qualifying for the bar? If it further instructs us to class our arguments in the best manner, and to convey them in the most graceful and becoming language, the advantages to be derived from it to writers and preachers also must be obvious. In

short, in every point of view, the study of the work before us must conduce exceedingly to regulate and improve our understandings, to add substance and solidity to our knowledge, and to keep us, in our literary progress, from taking up hasty and ill-digested opinions, which are commonly erroneous; for when men are much in the habit of considering things thoroughly, and of looking at them in every possible point of view, they are certainly less liable to be deceived. I might add much more, but I leave you to supply, by your own thoughts, what is wanting on my part. It remains only for me to recommend to you the perusal of Tully's rhetorical works, which are formed upon this of Aristotle, and will therefore serve as an excellent comment upon him. I wish to observe, likewise, the manner in which I intend to read with you,—which is this: I shall expect of you an account of what has been construed in the preceding Lecture, before we proceed to the next. This will be peculiarly suitable and proper in a work so argumentative as this before us, and therefore I beg it may be looked upon by you, as by no means the least important part of our business. I have now offered all the remarks that I deem at present expedient, and hope that you will consider rather the substance of them, than the inaccuracies of any