ties. Every Thing contain'd in them is hambly fubmitted to the Correction of advanc'd Scholars and Masters in the Claffics; who will find no greater Faults than I hope may be aton'd for, by the Diligence they will fee I have ufed in collecting proper Materials, and the Care I have taken to difpofe 'em in a clear and ufeful Method.

As to the First Part; I might poffibly have said more in Praife of my Authors, but believe I have faid enough to shew that it is a confiderable Difadvantage to any Scholar to neglect the Study of them.

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As to the Second Part, my Defign was to reform Rhetoric from the Rubbish and Barbarifm which it lies under in the common Books; and to reduce it to a liberal and rational Science. As we have it in thofe dry and trifling Systems of it in fome Schools, it is little better than a Heap of hard Words of ill Sound, of Definitions without Meaning, and Divifions without any Diftinction. I have thrown afide all little Alterations and Figures purely Grammatical, and ftruck out of the Lift of beautiful Schemes of Speech all Puns and

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Quibbles, all childish fingle of Sound, and vain Amusement of Words; and have only Selected the nobleft Tropes and Figures, which give real Strength and Grace to Language; which heighten and improve our Notions; and are of excellent Ufe to perfuade and pleafe. With respect to the Paffages I have quoted, and the Accounts and Characters I have any-where given of Authors, I have very rarely taken them upon Trust, but have inform'd myself from the Originals, leaving it as the peculiar Happiness of vast and very forward Wits to criticife

up,

upon Languages they don't underftand, and give formal Characters of Authors they never read. The Quotation of fome Latin and Greek Paffages will eafily be excus'd, because the judicious Reader will see the Neceffity of it. And when there is Occafion, 'tis as much Conceit and Pedantry Superftitiously to avoid citing Greek or Latin, as 'tis to be pompous and profufe in thofe Citations, when there is no Occafion. A Man may run into one Species of Superftition and Vanity, by injudiciously bunning

another.

In short, I hope I have in the Book come up pretty near to what the Title promifes; and therefore fball not plead. Want of Time, Helps, or Abilities: Since thofe must be forry Excufes for a Man's Writing but indifferently, which are ftrong Reasons why he should not have written at all. If my Reader be pleas'd and fatisfy'd, there needs no Apology; if he be not, 'tis certain none will be admitted.

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