I don't think it is meant as a compliment.
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=vVP8_1d0M9oC&pg=PA132&lpg=PA132&dq=phraseology+is+the+ornament+of+the+mind&source=bl&ots=FFMJKh5TuU&sig=5Kn1tUILPDdLqU7WFdiCCYhdTkQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=MzSTT7nGJIPe8QOD8r3NDA&sqi=2&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=phraseology%20is%20the%20ornament%20of%20the%20mind&f=false
