ONE OF THE MINISTERS OF THE HIGH CHURCH, AND PROFESSOR
OF RHETORIC AND BELLES LETTRES IN THE

UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

A NEW EDITION.

TO WHICH IS PREFIXED,

A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.

LIBRARY

OF TY

UNIVERSITY

EDINBURGH:

PRINTED FOR BELL & BRADFUTE, PETER HILL, AND DOIG & STIRLING,
EDINBURGH; LACKINGTON, ALLEN, & Co.; SUTTABY, EVANCE,
& FOX; T. HAMILTON, AND GEORGE COWIE & Co.

PREFACE.

B6

1813 v.l

THE

HE following LECTURES were read in the University of Edinburgh, for twentyfour years. The publication of them at present, was not altogether a matter of choice. Imperfect copies of them in manuscript, from notes taken by students who heard them read, were first privately handed about; and afterwards frequently exposed to public sale. When the author saw them circulate so currently, as even to be quoted in print*, and found himself often threatened with surreptitious publications of them, he judged it to be high time that they should proceed from his own hand, rather than come into public view under some very defective and erroneous form.

THEY were originally designed for the initiation of youth into the study of Belles

* Biographia Britannica. Article ADDISON.

L

Lettres, and of composition.

With the

same intention they are now published;
and, therefore, the form of Lectures, in
which they were at first composed, is still
retained. The author gives them to the
world, neither as a work wholly original,
nor as a compilation from the writings of
others.
On every subject contained in
them, he has thought for himself. He con-
sulted his own ideas and reflections: and
a great part of what will be found in these
Lectures is entirely his own.
At the same
time, he availed himself of the ideas and
reflections of others, as far as he thought
them proper to be adopted. To proceed
in this manner was his duty as a public
professor. It was incumbent on him, to
convey to his pupils all the knowledge that
could improve them to deliver not merely
what was new, but what might be useful,
from whatever quarter it came.] He hopes,
that to such as are studying to cultivate
their taste, to form their style, or to pre-
pare themselves for public speaking or
composition, his Lectures will afford a
more comprehensive view of what relates
to these subjects, than, as far as he knows,

is to be received from any one book in our language.

IN order to render his work of greater service, he has generally referred to the books which he consulted, as far as he remembers them; that the readers might be directed to any farther illustration which they afford. But, as such a length of time has elapsed since the first composition of his Lectures, he may, perhaps, have adopted the sentiments of some author into whose writings he had then looked, without now remembering whence he derived them.

IN the opinions which he has delivered concerning such a variety of authors, and of literary matters, as come under his consideration, he cannot expect that all his readers will concur with him. The subjects are of such a nature, as allow room for much diversity of taste and sentiment: and the author will respectfully submit to the judgment of the public.