2. As a combination of sentences makes a period, so a combination of periods constitutes what is termed a literary composition; which is the fourth and last formation that completes the noble production of the human mind.

3. The subject of a composition "is the theme on which a person writes or speaks," which is also called a topic.

4. The subjects of composition are of two classes, generic and specific.

5. A generic subject is that which comprises under it, one or more classes of subjects of the same kind; such are narrations, which comprise under that name Historical, Oratorical and Poetical narrations.

6. A specific subject, is that which is comprised under a generic one.

7. All particular or individual subjects of composition, are also specific. Such is the nar

(2.) What does constitute a literary composition? What is the number of the last formation?

(3.) What is the subject of a composition?

(4.) Into how many classes may the subjects of composition be chiefly divided?

(5.) What is a generic subject?

Give an example.

(6.) What is a specific subject?

ration of a certain event; for instance, "The Battle of Gettysburg."

8. Here we shall treat only of the generic subjects of composition; First, because the specific subjects are almost innumerable; there being scarcely anything in the material and immaterial world, which may not furnish a theme for composition. Second, because the rules which we shall lay down for the generic subjects, will apply to the specific also.

9. Since the generic subjects are distinguished from each other by their nature, as well as by the object of the writer or speaker, each of them constitutes a different species of composition, having a special appellation, as the following division will clearly show.

10. The generic subjects of composition can be divided into classes, according to the object of the writer or speaker, which may be fourfold, namely: First, to inform; second, to please; third, to persuade; fourth, both to inform, please and persuade.

(7.) What subjects are specific also ?

Give an example.

(9.) What does each generic subject of composition constitute?

(10.) Can the generic subjects of composition be divided

into classes ?-and how?

What may the objects of a writer or speaker be?

11.

When the main object is to inform, the subject of information either refers to animate or inanimate objects; and again the animate objects are either rational or irrational. If the subject of information be inanimate objects, the species of composition is called a Description. If the subject of information be animate objects, whether rational or irrational, and either certain or probable, the composition is called a Narration. When the subject relates to animate objects, and is either improbable or very doubtful, the species of composition is termed a Fable.

12.

When the main object is to please, the species of composition is generally either a Poem or Novel, Romance, Drama, or a Graphic Description; all which are comprised under the species of either narrations or descriptions.

13. When the principal object is to persuade,

(11.) When the object of a writer is to inform, to what may the subject of composition refer?

If the subject of information refer to inanimate objects, how is the species of composition called?

If the subject of information refer to animate objects, how is it named?

When is the species of composition termed a fable?

(12.) What are the species of composition, when the object of a writer is to please?

(13.) What is the kind of composition when the object is to persuade ?

the species of composition is generally styled an Oration or Dissertation.

14. When the object is complex—that is, when it comprises information, persuasion or pleasure, the species of composition generally is a Letter, or an Essay.

15. To resume; the species of composition may be reduced chiefly to six, namely: Fables, Narrations, Descriptions, Letters, Essays and Orations.

16. In this book we shall treat of five species of composition only, viz: Fables, Narrations, Descriptions, Letters and Essays, including some of their subordinate branches in modern use, ast History, Journalism, Biography, Novel, Romance and Drama. The study of all these constitutes the department of Belles-Lettres, or polite literature, called also Humanities.

17. The fifth species of composition, viz: Orations, on account of its amplitude, constitutes

(14.) What, when the object comprises information, persuasion or pleasure?

(15.) Recapitulate briefly the principal species of composition.

(16.) What constitutes the study of Belles-Lettres ?

(17.) What department of study do orations constitute?-and

why?

a separate department of study called Oratory,

or Rhetoric.

the third book.

Hence, we have set that apart in

18. Each species of composition may belong to a triple order, high, middle and low, according to the nature of the subject of which it treats.

19. Before entering into the exposition of the principal species of composition, and considering their nature and requisites, it is necessary to speak of composition in general—of its synthesis, analysis, and general praxis, also, it is necessary to treat of style, in order that, its different kinds being known, it may be suitably adapted to each species and subject of composition. We shall, therefore, divide the whole subject of Belles-Lettres into seven parts. In the first, we shall treat of the Synthesis, Analysis and General Praxis of composition. In the second, we shall treat of Style; in the third, of the Fable; in the fourth, of Narrations; in the fifth, of Descriptions; in the sixth, of Letters; and in the seventh, of Essays.

(18.) To what order may a species of composition belong?