As our Number is confeffedly far fuperior to that of the enemy, there feems nothing wanting but Unanimity among ourselves. It is therefore humbly offered, that all and every individual of the Bathos do enter into a firm affociation, and incorporate into One regular Body, whereof every member, even the meanest, will fome way contribute to the fupport of the whole; in like manner, as the weakeft reeds, when joined in one bundle, become infrangible. To which end our Art ought to be put upon the fame foot with other Arts of this age. The vaft improvement of modern manufactures arifeth from their being divided into feveral branches, and parcelled out to feveral trades: For instance, in Clock-making one artift makes the balance, another the fpring, another the crown-wheels, a fourth the cafe, and the principal workman puts all together: To this oeconomy we owe the perfection of our modern watches, and doubtlefs we alfo might that of our modern Poetry and Rhetoric, were the feveral parts branched out in the like manner.

Nothing is more evident than that divers perfons, no other way remarkable, have each a ftrong difpofition to the formation of fome particular Trope or Figure. Ariftotle faith, that the Hyperbole is an ornament fit for young Men of Quality; accordingly we find in thofe Gentlemen a wonderful propensity towards it, which is marvellously improved by Travelling: Soldiers alfo and Seamen are very happy in the fame Figure. The Periphrafis or Circumlocution is the

peculiar talent of Country Farmers; the Proverb and Apologue of old Men at their clubs; the Ellipfis or Speech by half words, of Minifters and Politicians; the Apofiopefis of Courtiers; the Litotes or Diminution of Ladies, Whisperers, and Backbiters; and the Anadiplofis of common Cryers and Hawkers, who, by redoubling the fame words, perfuade people to buy their oysters, green haftings, or new ballads. Epithets may be found in great plenty at Billinfgate, Sarcafm and Irony learned upon the Water, and the Epiphonema or Exclamation frequently from the Bear-garden, and as frequently from the Hear bim of the Houfe of Commons.

Now each man applying his whole time and genius upon his particular Figure, would doubtlefs attain to perfection; and when each became incorporated and fworn into the Society (as hath been proposed) a Poet or Orator would have no more to do but to fend to the particular Traders in each Kind, to the Metaphorift for his Allegories, to the Simile-maker for his Comparisons, to the Ironift for his Sarcafms, to the Apothegmatist for his Sentences, etc. whereby a Dedication or Speech would be compofed in a moment, the fuperior artist having nothing to do but to put together all the Materials.

I therefore propose that there be contrived with all convenient difpatch, at the public expence, a Rhetorical Chest of Drawers, confifting of three Stories, the highest for the Deliberative, the middle for the Demonftrative, and the lowest for the Judicial. Thefe fhall be divided into

Loci, or Places, being repofitories for Matter and Argument in the feveral kinds of oration or writing; and every Drawer fhall again be fubdivided into Cells, resembling those of Cabinets for Rarities. The apartment for Peace or War, and that of the Liberty of the Press, may in a very few days be filled with feveral arguments perfectly new; and the Vituperative Partition will as eafily be replenished with a most choice. collection, entirely of the growth and manufacture of the present age. Every composer will foon be taught the use of this Cabinet, and how to manage all the Registers of it, which will be drawn out much in the manner of those in an Organ.

The Keys of it must be kept in honest hands, by fome Reverend Prelate, or Valiant Officer, of unqueftioned Loyalty and Affection to every prefent Establishment in Church and State; which will fufficiently guard against any mischief which might otherwise be apprehended from it.

And being lodged in fuch hands, it may be at difcretion let out by the Day, to several great Orators in both Houfes; from whence it is to be hoped much Profit and Gain will also accrue to our Society.

CHA P. XIV.

How to make Dedications, Panegyrics, or Satires, and of the Colours of Honourable and Dishonourable.

OW of what neceffity the foregoing Project may prove, will appear from this fingle confideration, that nothing is of equal confequence to the fuccefs of our Works, as Speed and Difpatch. Great pity it is, that folid brains are not like other folid bodies, conftantly endowed with a velocity in finking, proportioned to their heavinefs: For it is with the Flowers of the Bathos as with those of Nature, which if the careful gardener brings not haftily to market in the Morning, muft unprofitably perish and wither before Night. And of all our productions none is fo fhort-lived as the Dedication and Panegyric, which are often but the Praife of a Day, and become by the next, utterly useless, improper, indecent, and falfe. This is the more to be lamented, inasmuch as these two are the forts whereon in a manner depends that Profit, which must still be remembered to be the main end of our Writers and Speakers.

We fhall therefore employ this chapter in fhewing the quickest method of compofing them; after which we will teach a fhort Way to Epic Poetry. And thefe being confeffedly the works of most Importance and Difficulty, it is prefum

ed we may leave the reft to each author's own learning or practice.

First of Panegyric: Every man is honourable, who is fo by Law, Cuftom, or Title. The Publick are better judges of what is honourable than private Men. The Virtues of great Men, like thofe of Plants, are inherent in them whether they are exerted or not; and the more ftrongly inherent, the lefs they are exerted; as a Man is the more rich, the less he spends. All great Minifters, without either private or oeconomical Virtue, are virtuous by their Pofts; liberal and generous upon the Publick Money, provident upon Publick Supplies, juft by paying Publick Intereft, couragious and magnanimous by the Fleets and Armies, magnificent upon the Publick Expences, and prudent by Publick Success. They have by their Office, a right to a fhare of the Publick Stock of Virtues; befides they are by Prefcription immemorial invefted in all the celebrated virtues of their Predeceffors in the fame stations, especially thofe of their own Ancestors.

As to what are commonly called the Colours of Honourable and Dishonourable, they are various in different Countries: In this they are Blue, Green, and Red.

But forafmuch as the duty we owe to the Publick doth often require that we should put fome things in a strong light, and throw a fhade over others, I fhall explain the method of turning a vicious Man into a Hero.

The first and chief Rule is, the Golden Rule of Transformation, which confifts in converting