INDEX.

SCIENTIFIC.

ELOQUENCE, objections against considered

observations on American
Oratory, of
Writing, simplicity in

: :

PAGER

13
29
27
35

DESCRIPTIVE.

Walls, singular natural ones on the banks of the Missouri
Cascade, description of one on the river Missouri
Shoshonee Indians, manners and customs of
Missouri river, description of
Canoes, description of those used by the Indians on the Columbia

river
Chili, singular customs of the inhabitants of
Tortoises, description of those found on the islands of the Pacific
Niagara, falls of
Cave, description of one near Carlisle, Pa.
Water Gap,

Lehigh, description of
Nooaheeva, Island of, description of a place of religious ceremony

in
Mounds, remarkable, near Cahokia
Warlike weapons, description of those used by the natives of the

island of Nooaheeva

ocean

NARRATIVE.

63

65

Alligators, extraorélinary ferocity of
Ratilesnake, generous disposition of
Brandywine, battle of
Shoshonee Indians, ravenous appetites of
Lewis Capt. providential escape of
Osage Indians, curious traditionary account of
Irish sailor, account of an
Allegheny, prophet of the
Hospitality, Indian

84
85
87
89
91

U. States troops, sufferings of a party of
Montgomery Ĝen. death of
Cornwallis Lord, Surrender of
French massacres of, by the Indians
Indians massacre by, and retaliation by the whites
American troops, distressing situation of a party of, in the campaign

of 1775
American officer, ingenious stratagem of an
Welsh nation, proof of one existing in America
Henry Patrick, account of his first speech

93
94
95
96

POPULAR.

101:
105
115

Independence, declaration of
Washington George, the illustrious, eulogy on
Marshall Mr. speech of, on the death of General Washington
Oration, extract from an, delivered at Worcester, Mass. July 4,

1796
Washington General, farewell address of
Rutledge Governor, extract from a speech of
Ames Mr. speech of, on the British Treaty
Noland Mr. speech on the bill to suppress duelling
Franklin Dr. final speech of, in the federal convention
Henry Patrick, speech of

116
119
123
125
127
130
132

BIOGRAPHICAL.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Petit Maitres, a mirror for the
Money, way to make it plenty
Olive Obediah, complaint of
Affectation, beauty destroyed by
Gossipping, a dialogue from life
Wit, false
Conscience, power of

195
198
199
202
204
207
208

MISCELLANEOUS POETRY.

Heroes American
Laughing, eulogy on
Congress, first American
Trenck Baron, to the memory of
Cato, tragedy of, epilogue to the
Prospects gloomy, of 1776
Nature, the force of
Star light, an elegy
Paper a poem
Music, power of
Music Sacred, at midnight
Maniac the
Understanding human, powers of the
Distrest Orator, lines on a
Fable-The Eagle and the Cat
Beauty, true
Caraccas, destruction of by an Earthquake
Theatre Richmond, burning of the
Year, the grave of the
Night, ode

to
Sea Nymph, the
Infant, on the death of an
Banner, the star spangled
Misery vs. Glory
Chrystalina A fairy tale
Lines addressed to a deaf and dumb girl
Wilderness the
Winter
Field of Raisin-night view of the
Congaree Creek, a sand hill scene at the head of the
Village Greatness
New Year-Ode for the--1817
Death of a lady, on the
Reflection a
Thy will be done

211
212
214
216
218
220
221
222
223
225
226
227
228
230
231
232
233
234
236
238
239
241
ibid
242
243
245
246
247
248
251
257
258
261
262
263

OBJECTIONS

AGAINST ELOQUENCE

CONSIDERED.

THESE objections are three. First, that rhetoric is a pedantic science, overcharged with scholastic subtleties, and innumerable divisions and subdivisions, burdensome to the meinory, oppressive to genius, and never applicable to any valuable purpose in the business of the world. Second, that it is a frivolous science, substituting childish declamation instead of manly sense, and adapted rather to the pageantry of a public festival, than to the sober concerns of real life. And third, that it is a pernicious science; the purpose of which is to mislearl the judgment by fascinating the imagination. That its tendencies are to subject the reason of men to the control of their passions; to pervert private justice, and to destroy public liberty. These are formidable objections, and unless a sound and satisfactory answer can be given to them all, both your time and mine, my friends, is at this moment very ill employed, and the call I am obliged to make upon your attention, is a trespass upon something more than your patience.

Let me first remark, that the last of these difficulties is not barely at variance with, but in direct hostility to the other two. If rhetoric be a pedantic science, consisting of nothing but a tedious and affected enumeration of the figures of speech, or if it be a frivolous science, teaching only the process of beating up a frothy declamation into secming consistency, at least it cannot

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