I SECT. I. SHALL not begin this effay with a tedious enquiry into every particular article of grammar that forms what we call compofition. A dry differtation on the proper arrangement of nouns, verbs, and articles, is not here intended; the reader's amusement and instruction being equally my aim. If this sketch will enable him to form a general, but competent idea of the fubject, the pains which I have taken in compofing it will be fufficiently answered. A just taste for the beauties of compofition can only be formed by the frequent and attentive perufal of fuch books, as have been wrote on important fubjects with correctness and elegancy. The harmony of graceful periods delights the ear, and conveys noble fentiments with a powerful charm; but to afford fo exquifite an entertainment, great art and care is requifite. To reject common or low expreffions, and trite phrafes, to choofe accurately fuch words as are both fimple and pure, grand and expreffive, and to adorn them with a compofition, in the ftructure of which, both sweetness and Compofition confifts in the beautiful and harmonious ftructure of the periods in a discourse, which adds an unfpeakable dignity and grace to a work, whether in poetry or profe. But it is too oftent used to set off trite or mean thoughts; for a book may be very well wrote, and deficient in the thoughts. The style alone of fome writers difplays great genius, fuch as Homer and Virgil, Cicero and Livy; and we oftener meet with mediocrity of ftyle than moderate invention. As fome writers compose well, and think ill; fo others think well, but cannot exprefs themselves elegantly. I shall not hesitate a moment to pre fer the book, that is thought, to that which is wrote, well. Some fucceed in the choice of elegant and expreffive words, but they lofe all their beauty by not being constructed with harmony. Others B 2 Others are excellent in the ftructure of a period, but fpoil all by the ufe of low and fordid words. But every quality is joined in a perfect work; the fineft fentiments cloath'd with the ornament of beautiful language; the invention of the pureft and most elegant expreffions expanded into an harmonious compofition. There is fomething fo extremely pleafang in the harmony of modulated periods, that we are at first reading prejudiced in favour of a book in which we find it. But how often do thofe writers who want invention, have recourse to the beauties of compofition, to hide their poverty of thought? I have already obferved, that the matter is by far the most important part; and the graces of compofition, in an inferior degree, are mechanic beauties, which a man may gain |