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and Humour we find Truth, and Wif dom shine throughout the Composure.

It was thought proper to fubjoyn to thefe Dialogues the Author's Letter to the French ACADEMY concerning Rhetorick, Poetry, and other Subjects; which has met with fo good Reception, that it cannot but be acceptable to every polite Reader. The Dialogues, tho' "but lately publifb't, were compos'd feveral Years ago in the Archbishop's younger Days. But the Letter was written in his more advanc'd Age, in anfwer to one that the Academy fent him by their Secretary; defiring bis Advice on the feveral Subjects he treats of and therefore it is penn'd with the utmost Elegance and Politeness. However both in the Dialogues, and the Letter, we find the fame juft Tafte, the fame noble Genius; the very fame Maxims; and the fame Defign in Writing; to reduce all Compofures to Truth, Nature, and Decency.

THE

§. III. Of improving a Language, 205

SI V. A Propofal for a new Treatife of RHETORICK,

213

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301

§. IX. An Objection anfwer'd,

S. X. A Comparison betwixt the Antients and Moderns,

302

DIALOGUES

DIALOGUES

CONCERNING

ELOQUENCE.

The FIRST DIALOGUE, between A. and B. and C.

A.

ELL, Sir, I fuppofe you have been hearing the Sermon to which you wou'd have carry'd me. I have but very little Curiofity that way, and am content with our Parish-Minifter.

B. I was charm'd with my Preacher. You had a great lofs, Sir, in not hearing him. I have hir'd a Pew, that I may not mifs one of his Lent-Sermons.

B

Ol he's

a won

a wonderful Man. If you did but once hear him, you cou'd never bear any other.

A. If it be fo, I'm refolv'd never to hear him. I wou'd not have any One Preacher give me a diftafte of all Others; on the contrary, I fhou'd chufe one that will give me fuch a Relish and Refpect for the Word of GOD, as may difpofe me the more to hear it preach'd every where. But fince I have loft fo much by not hearing this fine Difcourfe you are fo pleas'd with, you may make up part of that lofs, if you'll be fo kind as to communicate to us what you remember of it.

B. I fhou'd only mangle the Serinon, by endeavouring to repeat any part of it. There were an hundred Beauties in it that one cannot recollect, and which none but the Preacher himfelf cou'd display

A. Well; but let us at least know fomething of his Design, his Proofs, his Do&trine, and the chief Truths he enlarg'd on. Do you remember nothing? Was you unattentive?

B. Far from it: I never liften'd with more Attention and Pleasure.

C. What is the Matter then? Do you want to be intreated?

B. No but the Preachers Thoughts were fo refin'd, and depended fo much on the Turn and Delicacy of his Expreffions,

3

that

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