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Gentlemen, I am to lay it down as a rule, through the whole courſe of my ſubſequent Orations, to speak reverently of things and perſons ſacred; to be cautious of offending even the moſt delicate modeſty or giving perſonal affronts.
I purpoſe to entertain my audience with ſubjects both improving and interresting and in diſcourſing of theſe, I am not to put on the affected gloom of ſome Orators, as I hold it very unſuitable to my preſent undertaking; But on the contrary, if I find my ſpirits a key or ſo too low, I will in preſence adminiſter an exhilerating draught, which will tone Claudero like an organ; by cauſing the animal ſpirits mount and flow through my cranium, in the ſame way as heat does the fluid in a Thermometer.
In place of coughs, or hums or haws,
With porter make a proper pauſe.
In ſhort gentlemen, I muſt beg leave to differ in almoſt every circumſtance from the common and uſual mode of Orators, and by introducing my own natural method, perhaps entirely new, ſet up for myſelf, not on the ruins of my learned brethren (from whom I have copied nothing but this antique gown and voluminous tie-wig.) But alenerly on a fund of experience, entirely my own: Nor ſhall it be in any malignant critics power, to accuse me of palgirariſm, as I have no library or collection of books, other than John Bunyan my Theologiſt and Robiſon Crusoe my Hiſtorian, from which I can have the least aſſiſtance; and if I were to have recourſe to thoſe, every old woman would have it in her power to detect Claudero.
May wit and humour aid my themes,
God ſenſe, good natur'd eloquence;
Let private Satire banish'd be,
From ev'ry Preacher and from me:
Ye gen'rous youths this ſcheme applaud,
And liſten to the words of Claud.
