Searches, and be led infenfibly from, a fimple Defire of knowing fome one Point into an Acquaintance with, it may be a masterly Comprehenfion of the whole Science: For the Seeds of Curiosity are strong in every young Mind, however frequently kept dormant by the Love of Pleasure or Force of Fashion; but if stirred up by an apt Occafion, they become quickly full of Life and Motion, fhoot out, and foon produce fair and valuable Fruit; especially, when warmed by the animating Ray of Emulation, the Principle, which above all in human Nature contributes to the Growth and Flourishing of every useful Art.

ANOTHER Confideration of no fmall Moment is, That among very numerous Performances of this Kind fome there will be of a better Stamp and Frame than the reft, which fhall draw publick Notice and Applause, which fpreading beyond the narrow Sphere of academic Instruction, shall bring Honour to the Society abroad, it may be to the Country, and enrich with new Treasures the Commonwealth of Letters. Experience confirms this Hope; and it would be eafy to cite many celebrated Productions, which owe their Birth to Occaft-ons of this Sort.

THUS

THUS it seems to me, that the Objection mentioned in the Beginning hath been fully anfwered: And perhaps we may add fomewhat, and answer yet more fully; a Method perhaps may be found of improving the ufual Form, and of opening thereby new Benefits.

In this Manner of lecturing by perpetual Difcourse there is a manifeft Disadvantage, that the Stream of Words paffing away in a rapid Flow makes a flight Impreffion; they glide swiftly by with unbroken Current, and little remains in the Hearer's Mind.

UPON other Occafions of Inftruction there is a different Form employed; wherein the young Perfons are directed to ftudy with Exactness fome approved Book; a certain Portion of which they are to give an Account of in the Way of Examination. Here, the regular alternative of Question and Anfwer, the gradual Opening of the Understanding by the clearing up of Doubts, and rectifying of Mistakes, the Traces engraved in the Memory by frequent Repetition, by Conjectures, Meditation, past Errors, Endeavours of Recollection, muft beftow a diftinct and lafting Comprehenfion of what is learned. But this Manner is laborious,

is

is lefs pleafing than the other; neither doth it give Rife to any lafting Work, which may dif fuse its Influence and Luftre beyond the prefent Circle, illuminate the literary World, and poffibly may extend the Ray down to Posterity.

:

Now suppose these two Plans of Instruction combined, and properly united In this Cafe, we might reasonably hope for the Advantages of both, free from the Inconveniencies of either fingle; which Scheme feems to bid fair for Perfection.

NEITHR is this a vifionary Project. It actually subsisteth; and hath been in a great Measure executed in the Plan of the present ORATORY-LECTURE, under your Lordships Inspection.

HERE the Profeffor is enjoined, at certain Seafons, to pronounce, according to the firstmentioned Form, a perpetual Difcourfe. At all other Times, the young Perfons are inftructed in the latter Way: They are required to read aloud fome Paffage of an Historian or Orator, to the End that they may be exercised in the useful Art of juft, diftinct Pronunciation: To which, as they advance farther, is added

the

the Perufal of fome among the celebrated Treatifes concerning Oratory, remaining from Antiquity. Thus are they inftructed betimes in the Principles of juft Criticism, are taught to think, to cloath their Thoughts in apt Expreffion, and to utter these with Propriety and Gracefulness. Whilft at the fame Time Compofition is encouraged, the Curiosity of the Hearers is raised, their Emulation kindled: And it is hoped, that they may have proposed to them a fit Model of good Writing in the Performances of their Profeffor; fome of which may poffibly, in Length of Time, remain an Ornament to the Community that produced them, and, fpreading abroad their Fame, may contribute to the Honour or Advancement of Letters.

FARTHER Improvements, I doubt not, may be thought of: Some were not long ago propofed by a Person of publick Spirit and enlarged Views. One there is, which, if I might be allowed to hint at any fuch, I would mention, as following naturally from the Obfervations just now laid down.

"PROFESSORS fhould not only read at cer"tain Seasons, as they are now obliged to do, original Difcourfes; but they should be en

joined to publish a fixed Number of fuch, " within a limited Time."

THIS Neceffity would take away the Plea, real or pretended, of Modefty, and Delicacy about Reputation; would overcome that great Enemy even in the best Capacities to Excellence, the Love of Eafe; and would compel the Writers to exert their whole Force, to weigh with Caution, and polish with Labour, Works, which they know must go abroad, muft fuftain the Examination of fevere and penetrating Eyes. The Want of which useful Compulfion hath, I believe, been felt among us; and is the Caufe that the present (I fear unadvised) Undertaking is here, even at this Day, a new, and, as I think, yet unattempted Effay.

I AM not ignorant, that a Propofal of this Kind is likely to be treated with Contempt or Ridicule. "The World, it is faid, abounds "with bad or ordinary Books; why fhould

cr

we feek to augment the Number?" To which I think the Anfwer not difficult.

A GOOD Book, (and fometimes a good one may be hoped for) is well worthy of being purchased at the Price of enduring many bad

or