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There are, indeed, many conveniences almoft peculiar to this method of publication, which may naturally flatter the author, whether he be confident or timorous. The man to whom the extent of his knowledge, or the fprightlinefs of his imagination, has in his own opinion already fecured the praises of the world, willingly takes that way of difplaying his abilities which will fooneft give him an opportunity of hearing the voice of fame; it heightens his alacrity to think in how many places he fhall hear what he is now writing, read with extafies tomorrow. He will often pleafe himself with reflecting, that the author of a large treatife must proceed with anxiety, left, before the completion of his work, the attention of the publick may have changed it's object; but that he who is confined to no fingle topick may follow the national tafte through all it's variations, and catch the aura popularis-the gale of favour, from what point foever it fhall blow.

Nor is the profpect lefs likely to eafe the doubts of the cautious, and the terrors of the fearful; for to fuch the fhortness of every fingle paper is a powerful encouragement. He that questions

his abilities to arrange the diffimilar parts
or fears to be loft
of an extenfive plan,
in a complicated fyftem, may yet hope
to adjust a few pages without perplexity;
and if, when he turns over the repofito-
ries of his memory, he finds his collec-
tion too fmall for a volume, he may yet
have enough to furnish out an efiay. He
that would fear to lay out too much
time upon an experiment of which he
knows not the event, perfuades himself
that a few days will fhew him what he
is to expect from his learning and his
genius. If he thinks his own judgment
not fufficiently enlightened, he may, by
attending the remarks which every paper
will produce, rectify his opinions. If
he should with too little premeditation
encumber himself by an unwieldy fub-
ject, he can quit it without confefling
his ignorance, and pafs to other topicks
lefs dangerous, or more tractable. And
if he finds, with all his induftry, and all
his artifices, that he cannot deserve re-
gard, or cannot attain it, he may let the
defign fall at once; and, without injury
to others or himself, retire to amufe-
ments of greater pleafure, or to ftudies
of better prospect.

No II. SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1750.

STARE LOCO NESCIT, PEREUNT VESTIGIA MILLE

ANTE FUGAM, ABSENTEMQUE FERIT GRAVIS UNGULA CAMPUM.

STATIUS.

TH

TH' IMPATIENT COURSER PANTS IN EVERY WEIN;
AND, PAWING, SEEMS TO BEAT THE DISTANT PLAIN:
HILLS, VALES, AND FLOODS, APPEAR ALREADY CROST;
AND, ERE HE STARTS, A THOUSAND STEPS ARE LOST.

HAT the mind of man is never satisfied with the objects immediately before it, but is always breaking away from the prefent moment, and lofing itself in schemes of future felicity; and that we forget the proper ufe of the time now in our power, to provide for the enjoyment of that which, perhaps, may never be granted us; has been frequently remarked: and as this practice is a commodious fubject of raillery to the gay, and of declamation to the ferious, it has been ridiculed with all the pleafantry of wit, and exaggerated with all the amplifications of rhetorick. Every inftance, by which it's abfurdity might appear moff flagrant, has been ftudioully collected, it has been marked with every epithet of contempt, and all the tropes and figures have been called forth against it.

POPE.

Cenfure is willingly indulged, becaufe it always implies fome fuperiority; men please themfelves with imagining that they have made a deeper fearch, or wider furvey, than others, and dotected faults and follies which efcape vulgar obfervation. And the pleature of wantoning in common topicks is fo tempting to a writer, that he cannot eafily refign it; a train of fentiments generally received enables him to fhine without labour, and to conquer without a conteft. It is fo eafy to laugh at the folly of him who lives only in idea, refufes immediate cafe for diftant pleafures, and, inftead of enjoying the bleffings of life, lets life glide away in preparations to enjoy them; it affords fuch opportunities of triumphant exultation, to exemplify the uncertainty of the human ftate, to roufe mortals from

their

their dream, and inform them of the filent celerity of time; that we may believe authors willing rather to tranfmit than examine fo advantageous a principle, and more inclined to purfue a track fo fmooth and fo flowery, than attentively to confider whether it leads to truth.

This quality of looking forward into futurity feems the unavoidable condition of a being whofe motions are gradual, and whofe life is progreffive: as his powers are limited, he muft ufe means for the attainment of his ends, and intend firit what he performs laft; as by continual advances from his firft ftage of exiftence, he is perpetually varying the horizon of his profpects, he muft always difcover new motives of action, new excitements of fear, and allurements of defire.

The end, therefore, which at prefent calls forth our efforts, will be found, when it is once gained, to be only one of the means to fome remoter end. The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope.

He that directs his fteps to a certain point, must frequently turn his eyes to that place which he strives to reach; he that undergoes the fatigue of labour, muft folace his weariness with the contemplation of it's reward. In agriculture, one of the moft fimple and neceffary employments, no man turns up the ground but because he thinks of the harveft; that harvest which blights may intercept, which inundations may fweep away, or which death or calamity may hinder him from reaping.

Yet as few maxims are widely received, or long retained, but for fome conformity with truth and nature, it must be confeffed, that this caution against keeping our view too intent upon remote advantages is not without it's propriety or ufefulness, though it may have been recited with too much levity, or enforced with too little diftinction: for, not to fpeak of that vehemence of defire which preffes through right and wrong to it's gratification, or that anxions inquietude which is justly chargeable with diftruft of Heaven, fubjects too folemn for my prefent purpofe; it frequently happens that, by indulging early the raptures of fuccefs, we forget the measures neceflary to fecure it, and fuffer the imagination to riot in the fruition of fome poffible good, till the time of obtaining it has flipped away.

There would, however, be few enter→ prifes of great labour or hazard undertaken, if we had not the power of magnifying the advantages which we perfuade ourselves to expect from them. When the Knight of La Mancha gravely recounts to his companion the adventures by which he is to signalize himself in fuch a manner that he fhall be fummoned to the fupport of empires, folicited to accept the heiress of the crown which he has preferved, have honours and riches to scatter about him, and an island to bestow on his worthy fquire; very few readers, amidst their mirth or pity, can deny that they have admitted vifions of the fame kind; though they have not,' perhaps, expected events equally strange, or by means equally inadequate. When we pity him, we reflect on our own difappointments; and when we laugh, our hearts inform us that he is not more ridiculous than ourselves, except that he tells what we have only thought.

The understanding of a man naturally fanguine, may, indeed, be easily vitiated by the luxurious indulgence of hope, however neceffary to the production of every thing great or excellent; as fome plants are deftroyed by too open expofure to that fun which gives life and beauty to the vegetable world.

Perhaps no clafs of the human species requires more to be cautioned against this anticipation of happinefs, than those that afpire to the name of authors. A man of

lively fancy no fooner finds a hint moving in his mind, than he makes momentaneous excurfions to the press, and to the world; and, with a little encouragement from flattery, pushes forward into future ages, and prognofticates the honours to be paid him, when envy is extinct and faction forgotten, and those whom partiality now fuffers to obfcure him fhall have given way to the triflers of as fhort duration as themselves.

Thofe who have proceeded fo far as to appeal to the tribunal of fucceeding times, are not likely to be cured of their infatuation; but all endeavours ought to be used for the prevention of a difeafe, for which, when it has attained it's height, perhaps no remedy will be found in the gardens of Philofophy, however the may boaft her phyfick of the mind, her catharticks of vice, or lenitives of paffion.

I fhall, therefore, while I am yet but lightly touched with the symptoms of the writer's malady, endeavour to fortify

myfelf

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It is the fage advice of Epictetus, that a man fhould accuftom himself often to think of what is most fhocking and terrible, that by such reflections he may be preferved from too ardent wifhes for feeming good, and from too much dejection in real evil.

There is nothing more dreadful to an author than neglect; compared with which, reproach, hatred, and oppofition, are names of happiness: yet this worst, this meaneft fate, every one who dares to write has reason to fear.

I nunc, et verfus tecum meditare canoros.
Go now, and meditate thy tuneful lays.

ELPHINSTON.

It may not be unfit for him who makes a new entrance into the lettered world, fo far to fufpect his own powers, as to believe that he poffibly may deserve negle&t; that nature may not have qualified him much to enlarge or embellish knowledge, nor fent him forth entitled by indifputable fuperiority to regulate the conduct of the rest of mankind; that, though the world must be granted to be yet in ignorance, he is not deftined to difpel the cloud, nor to fhine cut as

one of the luminaries of life. For this fufpicion, every catalogue of a library will furnish fufficient reafon; as he will find it crouded with names of men who, though now forgotten, were once no lefs enterprizing or confident than himfelf, equally pleased with their own productions, equally careffed by their patrons, and flattered by their friends.

But though it should happen that an author is capable of excelling, yet his merit may pafs without notice, huddled in the variety of things, and thrown into the general mifcellany of life. He that endeavours after fame by writing, folicits the regard of a multitude fluctuating in meafures, or immersed in business, without time for intellectual amufements; he appeals to judges prepoffeffed by paffions, or corrupted by prejudices, which preclude their approbation of any new performance. Some are too indolent to read any thing, till it's reputation is established; others too envious to promote that fame which gives them pain by it's increafe. What is new is oppofed, becaufe moft are unwilling to be taught; and what is known is rejected, because it is not fufficiently confidered, that men more frequently require to be reminded than informed. The learned are afraid to declare their opinion early, left they should put their reputation in hazard; the ignorant always imagine themfelves giving fome proof of delicacy, when they refuse to be pleafed; and he that finds his way to reputation through all thefe obftructions, must acknowledge that he is indebted to other caufes befides his industry, his learning, or his wit.

N° III. TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1750.

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fpect that they have prefumed upon a forg

tractions; to fpread fuch flowers over the regions through which the intellected commiffion, stiled themselves the mihas already made it's progrefs, as may nifters of Criticifm, without any authentempt it to return, and take a fecond view tick evidence of delegation, and uttered of things haftily paffed over or negli- their own determinations as the decrees of gently regarded. a higher judicature.

Either of thefe labours is very difficult; becaule, that they may not be fruitlefs, men must not only be perfuaded of their errors, but reconciled to their guide; they must not only confefs their ignorance, but, what is ftill lefs pleafing, must allow that he from whom they are to learn is more knowing than themfelves.

It might be imagined that fuch an employment was in itself fufficiently irkfome and hazardous; that none would be found fo malevolent as wantonly to add weight to the ftone of Sifyphus; and that few endeavours would be used to obftruct those advances to reputation, which must be made at fuch an expence of time and thought, with fo great hazard in the mifcarriage, and with fo little advantage from the fuccefs.

Yet there is a certain race of men, that either imagine it their duty, or make it their amulement, to hinder the reception of every work of learning or genius, who ftand as centinels in the avenues of fame, and value themselves upon giving Ignorance and Envy the firft notice of a prey. To thefe men, who diftinguish themfelves by the appellation of Criticks, it is necefiary for a new author to find fome means of recommendation. It is probable, that the moft malignant of thefe perfecutors might be fomewhat foftene 1, and prevailed on, for a fhort time, to remit their fury. Having for this purpofe confidered many expedients, I find in the records of ancient times, that Argus was fulled by mufick, and Cerberus quieted with a fop; and am, therefore, inclined to believe that modern criticks, who, if they have not the eyes, have the watchfulness of Argus, and can bark as loud as Cerberus, though perhaps they cannot bite with equal force, might be fubdued by methods of the fame kind. I have heard how fome have been pacified with claret and a fupper, and others laid afleep with the foft notes of flattery.

Though the nature of my undertaking gives me fufficient reafon to dread the united attacks of this virulent generation, yet I have not hitherto perfuaded myself to take any measures for flight or treaty. For I am in doubt whether they can act against me by lawful authority, and fu

Criticifm, from whom they derive their claim to decide the fate of writers, was the eldest daughter of Labour and of Truth: fhe was, at her birth, committed to the care of Juftice, and brought up by her in the palace of Wisdom. Being foon diftinguished by the celestials for her uncommon qualities, fhe was appointed the governefs of Fancy, and empowered to beat time to the chorus of the Muses, when they fung before the throne of Jupiter.

When the Mufes condefcended to vifit this lower world, they came accompanied by Criticifm, to whom, upon her descent from her native regions, Juftice gave a fceptre, to be carried aloft in her righthand; one end of which was tinctured with ambrofia, and enwreathed with a golden foliage of amaranths and bays; the other end was encircled with cypress and poppies, and dipped in the waters of Oblivion. In her left-hand the bore an unextinguishable torch, manufactured by Labour, and lighted by Truth, of which it was the particular quality immediately to thew every thing in it's true form, however it might be disguised to common eyes. Whatever Art could complicate, or Folly could confound, was, upon the firft gleam of the torch of Truth, exhibited in it's diftinct parts and original fimplicity; it darted through the labyrinths of fophiftry, and fhewed at once all the abfurdities to which they served for refuge; it pierced through the robes, which Rhetorick often fold to Falfhood, and detected the disproportion of parts, which artificial veils had been contrived

to cover.

Thus furnished for the execution of her office, Criticifin came down to furvey the performances of thofe who profefled themselves the votaries of the Mufes. Whatever was brought before her, the beheld by the fteady light of the torch of Truth; and when her examination had convinced her that the laws of just writing had been obferved, fhe touched it with the amaranthine end of the fceptre, and configned it over to immortality.

But it more frequently happened, that in the works which required her infpection, there was fome impofture attempt

ed;

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ed; that falfe colours were laboriously
laid; that fome fecret inequality was
found between the words and sentiments,
or fome diffimilitude of the ideas and the
original objects; that incongruities were
linked together, or that fome parts were
of no ufe but to enlarge the appearance
of the whole, without contributing to it's
beauty, folidity, or usefulness.

Wherever fuch difcoveries were made,
and they were made whenever thefe faults
were committed, Criticism refused the
touch which conferred the fanction of
immortality; and, when the errors were
frequent and grofs, reverfed the fceptre,
and let drops of Lethe diftil from the pop-
pies and cyprefs, a fatal mildew, which
inmediately began to waste the work
away, till it was at last totally destroyed.
There were fome compofitions brought
to the teft, in which, when the ftrongest
light was thrown upon them, their beau-
ties and faults appeared fo equally min-
gled, that Criticifm flood with her fceptre
poifed in her hand, in doubt whether to
fhed Lethe or ambrofia upon them. These
at laft increased to fo great a number,
that the was weary of attending fuch
doubtful claims; and, for fear of using
improperly the fceptre of Justice, referred
the caufe to be confidered by Time.

The proceedings of Time, though very dilatory, were, fome few caprices excepted, conformable to juftice: and many who thought themselves fecure by a fhort forbearance, have funk under his scythe, as they were pofting down with their volumes in triumph to futurity. It was obferv

T

able that fome were destroyed by little
and little, and others crushed for ever by
a fingle blow.

Criticism, having long kept her eye fixed fteadily upon Time, was at laft fo well fatisfied with his conduct, that she withdrew from the earth with her patronefs Aftrea, and left Prejudice and Falfe Tafte to ravage at large as the affociates of Fraud and Mischief; contexting herfelf thenceforth to fhed her influence from afar upon some select minds, fitted for it's reception by learning and by virtue..

Before her departure the broke her fceptre; of which the shivers that formed the ambrofial end were caught up by Flattery, and those that had been infected with the waters of Lethe were, with equal hafte, feized by Malevolence. The followers of Flattery, to whom the diftribut ed her part of the fceptre, neither had nor defired light, but touched indifcriminately whatever Power or Intereft happened to exhibit. The companions of Malevolence were fupplied by the Furies with a torch, which had this quality peculiar to infernal luftre, that it's light fell only upon faults.

No light, but rather darkness vifible,
Serv'd only to discover fights of woe.

With these fragments of authority, the flaves of Flattery and Malevolence marched out, at the command of their mistresses, to confer immortality, or condemn to oblivion. But the fceptre had now loft it's power; and Time paffes his fentence at leifure, without any regard to their de terminations.

No IV. SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1750.

SIMUL ET JUCUNDA ET IDONEA DICERE VITE.
AND JOIN BOTH PROFIT AND DELIGHT IN ONE.

HE works of fiction, with which the prefent generation feems more particularly delighted, are fuch as exhibit life in it's true ftate, diverfified only by accidents that daily happen in the world, and influenced by paffions and qualities which are really to be found in converfing with mankind.

This kind of writing may be termed not improperly the comedy of romance, and is to be conducted nearly by the rules of comick poetry. It's province is to bring about natural events by eafy means, and to keep up curiofity with

HOR.

CREECH.

out the help of wonder: it is therefore precluded from the machines and expedients of the heroick romance, and can neither employ giants to fnatch away a lady from the nuptial rites, nor knights to bring her back from captivity; it can neither bewilder it's perfonages in defarts, nor lodge them in imaginary caftles.

I remember a remark made by Scaliger upon Pontanus-that all his writings are filled with the fame images; and that if you take from him his lilies and his rofes, his Satyrs and his Dryads, he poetry. will have nothing left that can be called

B

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