ries. To that future investigation then it may now suffice to refer you; and in my next lecture I hope, by treating of the conclusion of a discourse, to bring our disquisitions upon this second department of rhetoric to a conclusion.

LECTURE XXIV.

CONCLUSION.

THE peroration or conclusion of a discourse is one of those distinct parts, recognised under every system of rhetoric, Greek or Roman, ancient or modern. But in observing upon its proper character and the objects, which it is intended to embrace, we cannot forbear to remark an important difference, not only between the rhetorical writers of Greece and Rome, but between the general character and political institutions of their respective nations. The Areopagus at Athens was a judicial court, the functions of which were regulated by principles of such refinement and delicacy, that they deserve the highest admiration even of our age; and would be worthy of the

Not only a

most exemplary christian morality. profound knowledge of the laws, but a heart open to all the tender sympathies of our nature was held an incumbent duty upon the judges. But in the argument of causes before them, no appeal to their passions was ever allowed. A member of their body was once expelled from office, for strangling a bird, that had sought a refuge in his bosom. And yet every lawyer, who presumed in speaking before them to attempt an exordium or a peroration, a digression or an amplification, was immediately stopped by a ministerial officer of the court, and reminded, that his discourse must consist only of his proposition and his proof.

How different and how much more imperfect were the principles of the Roman courts of justice! Even Cicero himself, in the early and comparatively virtuous ages of their judicial institutions, represents the highest triumph of oratory, as consisting in the power of subduing the feelings of the judges. And the artifices, which are related by Quinctilian as having been practised within his own observa. tion for the purpose of moving compassion, can be paralleled in modern times only by those impostures of beggary, which in the streets and on the bridges of populous cities in modern Europe levy

contributions upon the credulity and folly of the public.

To judge of the excessive absurdities, into which these theatrical exhibitions of misery necessarily led, let us only consider what an effect some of their pathetic scenes produced, where they were acted. I shall refer you only to those, which Quinctilian mentions as of his personal knowledge.

A large estate was claimed in behalf of a young girl, who pretended to be the sister of the man in actual possession. He contested her consanguinity with him; and that fact was the only point in issue of the cause. Her advocate brought her into court; and at the stage of the cause when he expected to be most profoundly pathetic, he directed her to go over to the benches, where the adverse party were seated, to fall upon the neck of her supposed brother, and, as if overpowered by the impulse of sisterly affection, embrace him in full view of the whole auditory. But the counsel of the other party, one of whom was Quinctilian himself, anticipated what was coming; and, just before the girl came over, gave their client a hint to withdraw. This simple step so utterly disconcerted the girl's lawyer, that, although a man of celebrat