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on great subjects, we want no jingle to entice us on our way. Who would wish to add rhyme to Shakespeare or Milton?

Reviewers.

Among the various species of this mode of criticizing authors, the most fair and the most useful seems the analytical. The writer who gives me the most clear and impartial view of any work, is he who "takes the work to pieces," and shews me the materials and their configuration. He who gives me, ex-parte, his opinion of the work, communicates no information to me of the nature or merits of the author whom he affects to estimate. He who sets aside the work altogether which he pretends to review, and writes anew the subject which he condemns sub silentio, presents me with a fresh work, and instead of instructing me in the matter I look for, he leaves my curiosity unsatified, and lays a fresh burthen on my pursuits of literature.

Travellers with different views and motives.

It has been observed by a French writer,* that the difference between the English persons who travel into foreign countries is as wide apart as the motives which induce them to undertake their

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voyages. A French nobleman leaves to his countrymen of inferior degree the honour and toil of travelling. The English lord or opulent squire thinks it a part of their superiority to boast of their having been in foreign parts. The active Frenchman, with all his wits about him, goes abroad to mend his fortunes; and the English aristocrat, to get rid of a good deal of his loose Cash. The Frenchman, in the vanity of his heart, is very willing to pay for his kind reception among foreigners, by perpetual attentions to his new friends, and by the display of his gallantry and accomplishments. The Englishman, in the pride of his heart, is ready to purchase those civilities and accommodations, and would think himself degraded by accepting them without a due "consideration."

Love of Tragic Representations.

That the humbler ranks of life are attached to tragedy more than to comedy, has been before admitted; and this observation is confirmed by a ludicrous passage in "Gil Blas," in which a country schoolmaster describes a dramatic piece which he means to produce. "I am of Aristotle's opinion, that the chief end of tragedy is to raise terror. Oh! if I had attached myself to the

drama, I would have introduced none but bloodyminded princes and heroic assassins on the scene, and would have bathed myself in gore; and in my tragedy, not only the principal persons, but even their guards, should have perished. I would have murdered them all to the very prompter."Gil Blas, vol. i. p. 207, 8vo.

Pride of Learning.

A man who is elevated in his opinion of himself because he has read many volumes which are called erudite, is not only a disagreeable but a foolish fellow. Men eminent for their studies have confessed that all they know is "nothing;" and what these presumptuous persons pretend to know is worse than nothing. These pedants, proud of the badges which some master authors have placed on their necks, exhibit their native passions of grovelling awe and servile imitation, and expose themselves to the ridicule of more intellectual minds. For only such judge of the extent and utility of well-concocted knowledge and vain professors' pretensions.

We, for their knowledge, men inspired adore,

Not for those truths they hide, but those they shew; And vulgar reason finds that none knows more

Than that which he can make another know.

Sir Wm. Davenant's Philosopher, &c.

Extravagance.

The best dehortation from this vice seems' the consideration, that it puts a man into a state of dependence, than which nothing can be more galling to that free and active spirit that regulates our best actions, and forms our real happiness. Men of letters in general are too fond of patronage, and subject themselves voluntarily to this galley-slavery. A female modern poetess has, however, spoken on the subject of dependency with true masculine indignation.

TO DEPENdence.

Dependence! heavy, heavy are thy chains,

And happier they who from the dangerous sea,
Or the dark mine, procure with endless pains
An hard-earned pittance, &c.

C. Smith, son. 57.

President Montesquieu.

This writer was a man of wit, and could shew the nimbleness of it even under the heavy burthen of politics. On the most intricate and profound subjects of state his style is gay, and his political observations are often so short and pointed, that he may be reckoned a writer of political epigrams in prose.

Praise.

Some weak persons affect an air of wisdom by pretending to hate all praise. This, as the logi

cians say, is proving too much, intimating that they are heedless of praiseworthy actions. When a man is conscious that he has done a noble or a generous action, he is no more to be encouraged in declining the acknowledgment of its merit, than he would be wise in refusing his rents when they become due. Flattery, which is false praise, is base coin, and its currency should always be checked.

Epitaphs.

These commemorations of the dead should be sincere in their eulogies. "De mortuis nil nisi verum" is a sound doctrine. A friend, talking on this subject with a levity not becoming so grave a matter, used to say that in general the only part of an epitaph which was true was contained in the two first words, "here lieth."

Laughter-Loving.

Pope translates the epithet given by Homer to Venus, by laughter-loving,* very improperly. Some handsome faces are much disfigured by laughter. The fit puts (to use a painter's phrase) all their features out of drawing. Many a sensible and dignified countenance degenerates, whilst itindulges in laughter; as this relaxation of the muscles does

* Instead of smiling, or smile-loving.

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