duction of every thing great or excellent, as some plants are destroyed by too open expofure to that sun which gives lise and beauty to the vegetable world.

Perhaps no class of the human species requires more to be cautioned against this anticipation of happiness, than thofe that aspire to the name of authors. A man of lively sancy no sooner finds a hint moving in his mind, than he makes momentaneous excursions to the press, and to the world, and, with a little encouragement from flattery, pushes forward into future ages, and prognosticates the honours to be paid him, when envy is extinct, and saction forgotten, and thofe, whom partiality now sufsers to obscure him, shall have given way to the triflers of as short duration as themselves.

Thofe, who have proceeded so sar as to appeal to the tribunal of succeeding times, are not likely to be cured of their insatuation; but all endeavours ought to be used for the prevention of a disease, for which, when it has attained its height, perhaps no remedy will be found in the gardens of philosophy, however she may boast her physick of the mind, her catharticks of vice, or lenitives of passion.

I shall, therefore, while I am yet but lightly touched with the symptoms of the writer's malady, endeavour to fortisy myself against the insection, not without some weak hope, that my preservatives may extend their virtue to others, whose employment exposes them to the same danger:

Laudis amort /tunes? Sunt ctrta piacula, ju* le
Ter fure leflo ptttrunt recreare libello.

Is fame your paflion? Wisdom's powerful charm,

If thrice read over, (hall its force disarm. Fr A a c i s.

It

It is the sage advice of Epictetus, that a man should accustom himself often to think of what is most mocking and terrible, that by such reflections he may be preserved from too ardent wishes for seeming good, and from too much dejection in real evil.

There is nothing more dreadsul to an author than neglect, compared with which reproach, hatred, and oppofition, are names of happiness; yet this worst, this meanest sate, every one who dares to write has reason to sear.

I nunc, et versus tecum meditare canoros.

Go now, and meditate thy tunesul lays. Elphinston.

It may not be unfit for him who makes a new entrance into the lettered world, sb sar to suspect his own powers, as to believe that he possibly may deserve neglect; that nature may not have qualified him much to enlarge or embellish knowledge, nor sent him forth intitled by indisputable superiority to regulate the conduct of the rest of mankind; that, though the world must be granted to be vet in i,moranee, he is not destined to dispel the cloud, nor to shine out as one of the luminaries of lise. For tnis suspicion, every catalogue of a library will surnish sufficient reason; as he will find it crowded with names of men, who, though now forgotten, were once no less enterprising or confident than himself, equally pleased with their own productions, equally caressed by their patrons, and flattered by their friends.

But though it should happen that an author is capable of excelling, yet his merit may pass without notice, huddled in the variety of things, and thrown

into

into the general miscellany of lise. He that endeavours aster fame by writing, solicits the regard of a multitude fluctuating in measures, or immersed in business, without time for intellectual amusements; he appeals to judges prepossessed by passions, or corrupted by prejudices, which preclude their approbation of any new persormance. Some are too indolent to read any thing, till its reputation is esta'bliflied; others too envious to promote that fame which gives them pain by its increase. What is new is oppofed, because most are unwilling to be taught; and what is known is rejected, because it is not sufficiently considered, that men more frequently require to be reminded than insormed. The learned are asraid to declare their opinion early, lest they should put their reputation in hazard; the ignorant always imagine themselves giving some proof of delicacy, when they resuse to be pleased: and he that finds his way to reputation through all these obstructions, must acknowledge that he is indebted to other causes besides his industry, his learning, or his wit. . -;

Numb. 3. Tuesday, March 27, 1753.

Virtus, rtpuls,e nefciafordidtt,
Intaminatu fulget honoribus,
Kec fumit aut ponitsecures

Arbitrio popular it aura. IloiU

Undisappointed in designs,

With native honours virtue (Lines;

Nor takes up pow'r, nor lays it down,

As giddy rabbles smile or frown. Elphinstoh.

THE task of an author is, either to teach what is not known, or to recommend known truths by his manner of adorning them; either to let new light in upon the mind, and open new scenes to the prospect, or to vary the dress and situation of common objects, so as to give them fresh grace and more powersul attractions, to spread such flowers over the regions through which the intellect has already made its progress, as may tempt it to return, and take a second view of things hastily passed over or negligently regarded.

Either of these labours is very difficult, because that they may not be fruitless, men must not only be persuaded of their errors, but reconciled to their guide; they must not only consess their ignorance, but, what is still less pleasing, must allow that he srom whom they are to learn is more knowing than themselves.

It might be imagined that such an employment was in itself sufficiently irksome and hazardous;

that that none would be found so malevolent as wantonly to add weight to the stone of Sisyphus; and that sew endeavours would be used to obstruct thofe advances to reputation, which must be made at such an expence of time and thought, with so great hazard in the miscarriage, and with so little advantage from the success.

Yet there is a certain race of men, that either imagine it their duty, or make it their amusement, to hinder the reception of every work of learning or genius, who stand as centinels in the avenues of fame, and value themselves upon giving Ignorance and Envy the first notice of a prey.

To these men, who distinguish themselves by the appellation of Criticks, it is necessary for a new author to find some means of recommendation. It is probable, that the most malignant of these persecutors might be somewhat softened, and prevailed on, for a short time, to remit their sury. Having for this purpofe considered many expedients, I find in the records of ancient times, that Argus was lulled by musick, and Cerberus quieted with a fop; and am, theresore, inclined to believe that modern criticks, who, is they have not the eyes, have the watchsulness of Argus, and can bark as loud as Cerberus, though, perhaps, they cannot bite with equal force, might be subdued by methods of the fame kind. I have heard how some have been pacified with claret and a supper, and others laid afleep with the soft notes of flattery.

Though the nature of my undertaking gives me susficient reason to dread the united attacks of this

virulent