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. 1763. Excerpt: ... are, there is a certain reverence from one's audience, which fires the imagination and excites a more vigorous application; and that I have by this means an opportunity of settling any doubts I may have concerning my performance, by observing the general sentiments of my hearers. In a word, I have the advantage of receiving difserent hints from different persons: and tho' they should not declare their sentiments in express terms, yet the air of a countenance, the turn of a head or eye, the motion of a hand, a whisper, or even silence itself, will easily distinguish their realjudgment from the language of civility: so that if any one of my audience should have the curiosity to peruse the same performance which he heard me read, he may find several things altered or omitted, and perhaps too upon i- judgment, tho' he did not fay a single word to me. But I am desending my conduct in this particular as if I had actually recited my works in public, and not in my own house before my friends; a numerous appearance of whom, has upon many occasions been held an honor, but never surely a reproach. Farewel. LETTER W. To Valeriavus. THE fact which I am going to mention, tho' in itself of no great importance, may be attended with very considerable consequences, Sollers; a person of Praetorian rank, petitioned the senate for leave to hold a fair upon his estate. He was opposed in this by the deputies from the Vicentini, who employed Tuscillinus Nominatus as their counsel. The cause was adjourned; and at the next meeting the deputies appeared unattended with their counsel, complaining that they had been grojly deceived: an expression, which whether it dropped from them in the warmth of resentment, or that they really thought so, I will not determine, Nepos the ..