it

or less distinct in their fignification, I familiarized the terms of philosophy, by applying them to popular ideas." But he forgot the observation of Dryden: If too many foreign words are poured in upon us, looks as if they were defigned, not to affift the natives, but to conquer them. There is, it must be admitted, a fwell of language, often out of all proportion to the sentiment; but there is, in general, a fulness of mind, and the thought seems to expand with the found of the words. Determined to difcard colloquial barbarifms and licentious idioms, he forgot the elegant fimplicity that distinguishes the writings of Addison. He had what Locke calls a round-about view of his fubject; and, though he was never tainted like many modern wits, with the ambition of shining in the paradox, he be fairly called an original thinker.

may

His

reading was extensive. He treasured in his mind whatever was worthy of notice; but

he added to it from his own meditation. He collected, quæ reconderet, actaque prome

ret.

er.

Addison was not fo profound a thinkHe was born to write, converse, and live with ease; and he found an early patron in Lord Somers. He depended, however, more upon a fine tafte, than the vigour of his mind. His Latin poetry shows, that he relished, with a juft felection, all the refined and delicate beauties of the Roman claffics; and when he cultivated his native language, no wonder that he formed that graceful style, which has been fo justly admired; fimple, yet elegant ; adorned, yet never over-wrought; rich in illufion, yet pure and perfpicuous; correct, without labour; and, though fometimes deficient in ftrength, yet always mufical. His effays, in general, are on the surface of life; if ever original, it was in pieces of humour. Sir Roger de Coverly, and the Tory Fox-hunter, need not be mentioned.

Johnfon had a fund of humour, but he did not know it; nor was he willing to defcend to the familiar idiom, and the variety of diction which that mode of compofition required. The letter, in the Rambler, No. 12. from a young girl that wants a place, will illuftrate this obfervation. Addifon poffeffed an unclouded imagination, alive to the firft objects of nature and of art. He reaches the fublime without any apparent effort. When he tells us, "if we confider the fixed ftars as fo many oceans of flame, that are each of them attended with a different fet of planets; if we still discover new firmaments and new lights, that are funk further in those unfathomable depths of æther, we are loft in a labyrinth of funs and worlds, and confounded with the magnificence and immenfity of nature;" he ease with which this paffage rifes to an unaffected grandeur, is the fecret charm that captivates the reader. Johnson is always

Lofty; he feems to ufe Dryden's phrafe, to be o'er inform'd with meaning, and his words do not appear to himself adequate to his conception. He moves in ftate, and his periods are always harmonious. His Oriental Tales are in the true ftyle of eastern magnificence, and yet none of them are fo much admired as the vifions of Mirza. In matters of criticism, Johnson is never the echo of preceding writers. He thinks and decides for himself. If we except the Effays on the pleasures of imagination, Addison cannot be called a philofophical cri-, tic. His moral Effays are beautiful; but in that province nothing can exceed the Rambler; though Johnson used to say, that the effay on the burdens of mankind (in the Spectator, No. 558) was the most exquifite he had ever read. Talking of himfelf, Johnson faid, Topham Beauclerk, has wit, and every thing comes from him

66

with ease; but when Ifay a good thing, Ifeem to labour." When we compare him with Addison, the contraft is ftill ftronger. Addison lends grace and ornament to truth; Johnson gives it force and energy. Addison makes virtue amiable; Johnson represents it as an awful duty. Addison infinuates himself with an air of modefty; Johnson commands like a dictator; but a dictator in his fplendid robes, not labouring at his plough. Addison is the Jupiter of Virgil, with placid ferenity talking to Venus:

"Vultu, quo cœlum tempeftatefque ferenat."

Johnfon is Jupiter tonans: he darts his lightning, and rolls his thunder, in the cause of virtue and piety. The language feems to fall fhort of his ideas; he pours along, familiarifing the terms of philofophy with bold inversions and fonorous periods; but we may apply to him what

T