error which young beginners usually commit, who studying either too much copiousness or an affectation of style, are liable to fall into obscurity: as they are apt to think beauty and dignity of style consist in the selection of fine words and expressions, which are seldom used. But dignity itself, as we have already seen, depends not so much on the words as on the idea; as, what words can be more familiar and simple, and at the same time more sublime and dignified than these: God said, let there be light, and there was light.

In naming the principal sources of perspicuity, we may mention causes, or arguments, examples, testimonies and comparisons; and as a Theme, which is given and intended as a model or specimen not merely of perspicuity and elegant style, but of close and accurate reasoning, is generally distributed into these several parts or divisions, it may not be improper to lay down a few rules, which may render its composition more easy to the scholar: and indeed it must have often been observed that boys may have acquired a great readiness in writing good Latin, and may possess a kind of mechanical facility in versification, who will at the same time entertain an almost invincible dread of Themes, and who will not be able to venture alone on this unpleasant task without the constant aid and particular direction of the teacher.

It would seem almost unnecessary to observe, that when the Thesis, or subject, is given, the scholar must not sit down and commit to paper

the first thought that arises in his mind. He must not begin to write before he is fully acquainted with the whole scope, and the different bearings of his subject: before he has fully weighed, maturely considered, and carefully compared with each other, the arguments upon which the truth of his Thesis is to be established. But above all, he must attend to the connexion as well of the arguments as of each particular sentence. Not only before he sits down to writing ought he to consider this connexion well, as far as it regards the whole subject, but also when he has committed to paper one or two arguments, and adjusted together one part of his materials, he must read over and examine each sentence, to see whether the dependency and relation of the parts is regular, and properly maintained: and even after the whole is finished, it should be well reconsidered, since what appeared suitable and apparent at first, may not upon a second review, appear equally so.

OF THE STRUCTURE OF THEMES.

THEMES are nearly the same as what are called Orationes Umbratica, or Διδασκαλικον. Their business is to prove and to please. When the Thesis, or subject, is given, the first consideration will be to find out from what field of knowledge, and from what sources, the whole apparatus of proofs and arguments, is to be sought. Speaking, for instance, of liberty, the Histories of Greece and Rome would find an ample field

of knowledge, from which arguments might be. drawn.

Some writers have given us a number of circumstances as a kind of clue to direct us. They say, and not inaptly, that the whole invention may be derived from all, or most of these several points or circumstances: Who and What? Where? By what means and helps? Why? How? When?

Suppose the subject given is, Death ought not to be feared! It will at first sight appear that the whole apparatus of arguments is to be derived from the history and experience of mankind. The circumstance, Who? and What? will suggest the idea, that all men are subject to it; and here the question might be started,Why are all men subject to it? The answer is, On account of the structure of the human body. But in the arrangement of these arguments, there should be so intimate a connexion between them and the Thesis, that the illustration of each may visibly establish the truth of the subject, which is proved by the conclusion. Death is not to be feared. Why? Because all men are subject to it: which is confirmed by two reasons, daily experience and the structure of the body. Hence I conclude, if all men are subject to it, I ought not to fear it. How does that follow?-WHY should a wise man fear that which cannot be avoided? Another and a posterior cause may be given. It is the way to eternal happiness. Is this true? Yes. The Scriptures teach it. Then I conclude if death is the way to eter

nal happiness, why should I fear that, which leads me to a better place, than that in which I live?

Thus in writing upon any given subject, it will be very easy to carry in our memory this short clue of circumstances, and it will soon occur to us, what must answer to all or any one of them. When, therefore, the scholar has furnished himself with a sufficient apparatus of materials and arguments, the next business will be to arrange them in their proper order, and to distribute them into distinct parts or divisions.

The first part of which the Theme is composed, is the Proposition, or the Premises, from which the subject sets out, in which a general view of the question is given, by amplifying or explaining it more at large, or by the assertion of some other principle closely connected with, or easily referable to the main subject. The next is the RATIO PROBANS, or what is called by some the Etiologia, in which we prove the truth of the Theme, by some reason or argument. 'Thus the whole must assume the form of a just and close reasoning.

In aid of this, will be introduced as another division, the CONFIRMATIO, which is generally a common place or moral thought, which demonstrates the subject, or by inverting it, or showing the unreasonableness of a contrary opinion, tends more fully to prove the truth of the Thesis. Suppose the Thesis is, Horatius Cocles is to be praised: the Reason or Etiologia, because he is a great man; the Common Place, or Confirmation, every brave man is to be praised.

To this must be added illustrations of the subject drawn from SIMILES, COMPARISONS, EXAMPLES and TESTIMONIES.

For instance: the Thesis or Proposition is, It is for the advantage of the Commonwealth that there be many accusers, provided they do not calumniate.

The reason to prove this, or Etiologia, which will include a common place, or confirmation, may be thus:

Any one may be innocent, and yet not free from suspicion: and though it be a misfortune, yet the accuser may be forgiven, because the innocent, if accused, may be acquitted, but the guilty cannot be condemned without being accused. It is better that the innocent should be sometimes accused, than that the guilty should not be brought to judgment.

This will be illustrated by a SIMILE:

Dogs are kept in the capitol, to announce by their barking, the approach of thieves; and though they may bark in the day-time, and at the innocent, yet the error is on the right side. Thus it is with public accusers, who, though they may be allowed to bark at innocence unknowingly, yet should cast all their wholesome venom against the guilty.

This comparison is one of the chief sources of perspicuity, since we can neither define nor judge with sufficient accuracy of the magnitude, beauty or quality of any thing, without comparing it with something else, which is at least equally known and common. Thus, when I