The  best  ornaments  out  of  place  are  not  only  unbc
coming,  but  offensive.  Nor  can  anything  be  farther
from  his  thoughts  than  to  pretend  to  an  exemption  from
such  positive  faults  in  expression,  as,  on  the  article  of
elocution,  he  hath  so  freely  criticised  in  the  best  Eng-
lish authors.  He  is  entirely  sensible  that  an  impropri-
ety or  other  negligence  in  style  will  escape  the  notice
of  the  writer,  which  hardly  escapes  that  of  anybody
3lse.  Next  to  the  purpose  of  illustrating  the  principles
and  canons  which  he  here  submits  to  the  judgment  of
the  public,  the  two  following  motives  weighed  most
with  the  author  in  inducing  him  to  use  so  much  free-
dom in  regard  to  the  writings  of  those  for  whom  he
has  the  highest  veneration.  One  is,  to  show  that  we
ought  in  writing,  as  in  other  things,  carefully  to  beware
of  implicit  attachment  and  servile  imitation,  even  when
\hey  seem  to  be  claimed  by  the  most  celebrated  names.
