410. Formerly, Logic, or the art of reasoning, was almost the sole business of a university education; but it is now in some degree superseded, by the practice of reasoning in the study of mathematics, by the various branches of philosophy, and by the perusal of the classic authors.

Obs-The great master of philosophy, Artstorte, divided all science into THEOREMS formed of SYLLOGISMS, which Syllogisms were composed of Propositions, which Propositious were formed of TERMS; which Terms were WORDS or Stans of our IDEAS of THINGS, He then considered-all TuINGs with reference to their TEN CATEGORIES, or Predicaments ; as Substance, Quality, Quantity, Relation, Action, Passiveness, When, Where, Position, and Habit.

XVIII. Rhetoric.

420. Rhetoric teaches us to affect the pas sions by suitable illustrations and imagery; and to arrange our arguments to the best advantage, so as to make the deepest impression on the feelings and judgment of those whom we address. 421. The following are the chief figures of speech.

a. Simile or Comparison, is that figure by which we compare one thing with another for the sake of illustration

b. Metaphor, is a comparison expressed without the signs of comparison; as, when we say of a minister, that he is the pillar of the state, we speak in metaphor; and when we say, that Charles the Twelfth was the lion of the north, we speak metaphorically.

c. Allegory, is a continuation of several metaphors, so connected as to form a kind of pa

rable or fable; as, in describing the people of Israel under the image of a vine.

d. Irony, is a figure in which we urge one thing, and mean the contrary, in order to give effect to our meaning; as, in describing a notorious cheat, we say, ironically, A mighty honest man, truly!

e. Hyperbole, gives us the highest idea of ant object, and magnifies it beyond its natural dimensions; as, Achilles was swifter than a stag,

f. Antithesis, is the contrast or opposition of two objects in a sentence; as, If you seck to make a man rich, study not so much to increase his stoves, as to diminish his desires.

g. Climax, or gradation, is a figure by which we rise from one circumstance to another, till our idea is raised to the highest.

h. Personification, is a figure by which we attribute life and the use of reason to inanimate objects and irrational creatures.

i. Apostrophe, is a figure by which we address. absent persons, or inanimate objects which we personify.

k. Interrogation, is a figure which, by asking a question, gives ardour and energy to our dis

course.

1. Exclamation, is a figure that expresses some strong emotion of the mind, and is generally followed by a note of admiration.

422. Rhetorical disposition or arrangement is the placing of the arguments, or the parts of a discourse, oration, or composition, in the most suitable and impressive order.

The parts of a discourse are sometimes five, and sometimes six; viz. the Exordium, the Nar ration, the Proposition, the Confirmation, the Refutation, and the Peroration.

a. In the Exordium, or beginning of a discourse, the writer or speaker gives some intimation of his subject, and solicits favour and attention.

b. The Narration is a brief recital of the facts connected with the case from the beginning to the end.

e. In the Proposition, is given the true state of the question; specifying the points maintained, and those in which the writer or speaker differs from the adversary.

d. The Confirmation assembles all the proofs and arguments which can be adduced.

e. In the Refutation, the writer or speaker answers the arguments and objections of his opponent.

f. In the Peroration, he sums up the strong and principal arguments, and endeavours to excite the passions in his favour,

423. A distinct and audible delivery is essential to a good orator,

The first rule is, to open the mouth sufficiently, and not to mumble or mutter the words. The second is, to pronounce distinctly every letter and syllable without hurry.

And the third is, to fill the room with the voice, so that the most distant part of the auditory may hear.

424. In regard to gesture, that which is na tural is the best, provided it is not awkward and offensive,

The head should be held up, and the speaker should look those whom he is addressing in the face.

His action should be easy, and should keep pace with his voice and the nature of his dis

course.

He should also avoid contortions and vulgar grimaces; ease in delivery being the chief grace of oratory.

XIX. Of Vegetable Nature.

425. Every substance known to man is divisible into three kingdoms, the Mineral, Vegetable, and Animal. Linnæus thus distinguishes these kingdoms: "Stones grow-vegetables grow and live ;----and animals grow, live, and feel,” Obs.--For the Mineral Kingdom see chapter XXI.

426. The existence of all vegetables may be regarded as mechanical, or as similar to that of an animal when `asleep, during which time his functions proceed without consciousness. The mechanism of plants is, however, most wonderful; and bespeaks the contrivance of an all-wise and all-powerful Creator.

427. A seed, which is thrown into the earth by the husbandman, is similar in its construction to the egg of an animal, The earth acts upon it, by means as inexplicable to man, as that by which the sitting of a hen on an egg converts it into a chicken.

428. In a few days, the two ends of the seed open; and from one of them issues a green plant, and from the other a number of fibrous threads,

Whatever was the position of the seed, the green sprout struggles through the soil upward into the air; and the fibrous shoots strike downward into the ground; and there imbibe, transmit, or pump up, the moisture, as nourishment to the plant.

429. Nothing is more wonderful than the means of nature for the preservation of seeds; and the contrivances by which they are distri buted.

Some seeds are provided with downy wings, as the dandelion; others are swallowed by animals, and voided again in distant places; and all are blown about by the winds, and preserved by their coverings, till excited into germination, by the heat of the sun's rays in the following spring.

480. Botanists have divided all plants into 24 classes, and 121 orders; and they have discovered 2,000 genera, 30,000 species, and varieties of the species without number.

Each has its peculiar habitation; and each adapts the nutriment derived from the same earth, so differently, that, by an unknown agency, it produces all the degrees of flavour, odour, poison, and nutriment, which we find in various plants.

Each tree, each plant, from all its branching roots, Amid the globe small hollow fibres shoots