THE ART OF SPEAKING. containing: I. An Essay; in which are Given Rules for Expressing Properly the Principal Passions and Humours, which occur in Reading, or Public Speaking; And II. Lessons taken from the Ancients and Moderns ... to which are added, a Table of the Lessons; and an Index of the various Passions and Humours in the Essay and Lessons

Newbury-port and Boston: John Mvcall for William Green, 1782. Fifth Edition. Hardcover. Endpapers lacking, generally grubby with some staining throughout, 3 leaves with tears at the outer margin resulting in the loss of just a few letters; binding intact. Good and an uncommon early American imprint. Small quarto (5" x 7-3/4") in contemporary sheep with a gilt-lettered morocco spine label; 352, [14], [2 - ads] pages. First published in 1762, and in America in 1775, Burgh's work helped shape the theories of speech delivery for over a century. Containing a 62-page essay on the art of speaking with the remainder of the book consisting of lessons and an index