course would be as follows: "The object of this discourse is to prove the immutability of truth."

A rhetorical proposition is carefully to be distinguished from a logical proposition. The latter may be defined to be “the verbal statement of a judgment." A logical proposition, accordingly, may constitute the theme of a rhetorical proposition. If this theme be stated together with the use to be made of it in discourse, it will then become a rhetorical proposition.

§ 57. THE DISCUSSION is that part of a discourse in which the subject is unfolded and directly presented to the mind addressed for one of the purposes that have been named.

The discussion is accordingly the main thing in all discourse, and constitutes its body. The proposition sets forth the design of the speaker; and the other parts are merely preparatory and subsidiary to this main design which is directly pursued in the discussion.

§ 58. The general forms of the discussion are determined by the object of the discourse, and are four in number, corresponding to the four main objects that may be aimed at in discourse, § 48.

§ 59. The more specific forms of the discussion are determined by the particular processes in which explanation, confirmation, excitation, and persuasion are respectively carried on.

§ 60. The subsidiary parts of discourse are either preparatory or applicatory; and may in general terms be denominated THE INTRODUCTION and THE PERORA

TION.

§ 61. The design and use of THE INTRODUCTION is to prepare the way in the mind addressed for the more

ready and free reception of the proposition and the discussion.

§ 62. As it is obvious that the mind addressed may be favorably or unfavorably disposed for the reception of the proposition and the discussion, either by reason of the degree or kind of information it possesses, or its state of opinion, of feeling, or of purpose, the introduction must, in different cases, be prepared in reference to these diverse states of mind.

The two more generic kinds of introduction will be, accordingly, the Explanatory and the Conciliatory introduction.

In the former, the object of the introduction will be effected by informing more fully the minds of the hearers; in the latter, by removing prejudice or by enlisting directly a favorable interest.

It is obvious, moreover, that these states of mind may respectively regard different objects, as the speaker or the subject itself. Hence will be determined the still more specific forms of the introduction.

The consideration of the particular kinds of introduction and the laws of its use has, for obvious reasons, its appro priate place under the several general heads of Invention.

§ 63. As the Introduction is only a subsidiary and a preparatory part of a discourse, the topics which it must embrace and the form in which it should appear cannot be fully known until the nature and form of the proposition and of the discussion are well ascertained by the speaker. Hence, the proper time for the invention and the composition of the Introduction is after the subject has been thoroughly studied out, and the general form of the discussion well settled in the mind.

It would obviously be as absurd in a writer to construct au introduction before the plan of the discourse is determined upon, as it would be in an architect to put up a portico before he had determined what kind of a house to attach to it. That this absurdity is frequently committed in writing and in architecture, only shows the necessity of calling particular attention to it. There is no one feature of the introduction which may not receive its determinate character from the proposition and the discussion. The length, the matter, including both the thought and the feeling, and the style cannot be known till the plan of the discussion is fully determined upon.

By this it is not meant that the discussion should be written out or reduced to forms of language; but merely that the whole plan of the discussion be distinctly conceived in the mind before the introduction is composed.

The necessity of thus first studying out and accurately determining in the mind the plan of the discussion before the introduction is commenced, appears not only from the fact that unless this be the case it is all a matter of mere accident whether there be any correspondence between it and the body of the discourse, but also from the consideration that it is only thus that unity, in which lies all the life of invention as well as of discourse, can be secured. The very idea of a discourse, as a product of a rational mind that ever has an aim in its proper workings, involves the necessity of unity; and this unity appears in discourse mainly in the proposition and the discussion as the essential parts. The clear perception of what is needed to be effected in the mind addressed by way of preparation, in order that this aim of the discourse can be attained in it, is absolutely indispensable both to guide invention in constructing the introduction and to stimulate it so that its work shall be easy and successful.

§ 64. THE PERORATION, as that part of a discourse in which the theme is applied, will vary with the different specific objects aimed at in the application.

Sometimes the application will be in the form of explanation, either for the purpose of correcting erroneous views or for further instruction. This form of the peroration may be denominated the explanatory.

Sometimes the object of the peroration may be to correct a wrong opinion, or to confirm a particular truth involved in the general theme, in which case the peroration will be confirmatory.

Sometimes the object may be to address the subject more directly to the feelings, which will give rise to the excitatory or pathetic peroration.

Or, once more, some action may be proposed, in the peroration, to the mind addressed, and then the persuasive peroration will have place.

§ 65. THE RECAPITULATION is a form of peroration common to the various objects mentioned. The respective processes of explanation, conviction, excitation, or of persuasion pursued in the discourse are, in this form, concisely repeated for the purpose of a more full and complete effect.

PART I. EXPLANATION.

CHAPTER I.

GENERAL INTRODUCTORY VIEW.

§ 66. IN Explanation, the object of discourse is to inform or instruct; in other and more technical words, to lead to a new conception or notion, or to modify one already existing in the mind.

§ 67. The work of explanation is accomplished simply by bringing the object of the conception or notion intelligibly and favorably before the mind addressed.

§ 68. Although explanation, properly, is a purely intellectual process, since it aims merely to produce or modify a conception or notion which is a pure intellectual state, still as the understanding itself is influenced by the feelings and the state of the will, reference to these departments of mind is not wholly excluded from explanatory discourse. The passions are, however, to be employed only in strict subordination to the design of the discourse; that is, only for the purpose of facilitating the process of explanation. This is done chiefly or wholly by securing an undisturbed attention to the object presented.

Hence the necessity that the taste be consulted in all ex