Essays on Various Subjects of Belles Lettres; To Which Are Added Two Dissertations Written During the Late War Against France

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1824. Excerpt: ... VXMPOSITION, .as restricted to literature, is the art of putting our thoughts together, so that when uttered in words, they may be readily understood by those who read or hear them. In order to compose well, certain qualities of mind must be supposed. One of these is a capacity of receiving strong impressions from outward objects, or inward reflections. We mustconceive distinctly and forcibly, if we would communicate these impressions to others. If we be destitute of this talent, we may give them a vague idea of what we mean to express, but the work will not be remarkable for luminous order, or sprightly narrative. The treatment may be spun out and tedious, but it will not be convincing and striking. Another quality to be supposed is great power of invention, or that faculty by which we call up conceptions of things, and by which we are enabled to illustrate whatever we undertake. If we have no powers of this kind, we will never be able to say any thing to the purpose. We may borrow sentences from one, and paragraphs from another, by which an odd mixture of ill-assorted words and thoughts will be served up, but natural, elegant, and appropriate composition will be altogether wanting. To these qualities may be added a third, sound judgment, or what has often been called, good sense. Certainly, if an author has sensibility and imagination, but. no judgment, he will run into extravagance and rant. He will never know when to stop, or be able to conjecture when he has said enough. In endeavouring to be great, he will produce unnatural figures, turgid expressions, and endless amplifications. All these deformities are avoided by the man of correct taste. Any work which he composes we read with pleasure. He always says what is required and no more. He pours out th..