are by the first efforts advanced to any confiderable perfection; for invention of every kind is a signal proof of Genius. The first inventor of a watch, an orrery, or even a common mill, however fimple it may now appear in its machinery and ftruc ture, was unquestionably a man of an extraordinary mechanical Genius. The improvement of these inventions is likewife a certain criterion of a Genius for them; the degree of which talent is always juftly rated in proportion to the improvements made by it, confidered in connection with the art in which they are made.

We fhall not here inquire into the comparative utility and importance of the feveral arts, whether liberal or mechanical, in order to determine the particular degrée of Genius requifite to an excellence in each of them. Let it fuffice to obferve in general, that as in the former imagination hath a wider range, fo a greater degree of Genius may be displayed in these than in the other. Hence we infer their fuperior dignity, though perhaps not their fuperior utility. In the latter indeed, imagination is very intenfely exercised; but it is more confined in its operation instead of rambling from one theme to another, it dwells on a fingle object, till it has contemplated it fully and at leifure; whereas in the others, it forms a lefs particular, but more comprehenfive view of the objects fubmitted to its cognifance it takes them in at one glance, though it does not mark their features fo minutely. A larger compass of imagination therefore is requifite to conftitute excellence in the one, and a greater compreffion of this faculty (if we may use the term) to produce eminence in the other.'

The first fection of the fecond book treats of that degree of genius which is properly denominated original. The author next confiders philofophic genius in that light, and mentions Plato, lord Bacon, Sir Ifaac Newton, Dr. Berkley, bishop of Cloyne, and Dr. Burnett, author of the Theory of the Earth, as examples of original philofophic genius. He proceeds in the third fection to original genius in poetry; and in characterizing the bards who fhone in this fublime sphere, he shews a very confiderable degree of critical knowledge in poetry. We by no means think the writer equally qualified for the subject of his fourth fection, we mean original genius in the other fine arts. His ideas of eloquence are confined, and fometimes miftaken; and his quotations from modern orators, either French or English, seldom, if ever, agree with the examples or the precepts laid down by the great mafters of that art. He is, likewife, very unhappy in his tranflations from Cicero; witnefs his tranflating that beautiful characteristical stroke of Cicero, when applied to Clodius, fubftructionum infanis molibus," thofe impious

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piles."

piles." His laft fection, which is the beft executed of any in the volume, is intended to fhew, That original poetic genius will in general be displayed in its utmost vigour in the early and uncultivated periods of fociety, which are peculiarly favourable to it; and that it will feldom appear in a very high degree in cultivated life.

To conclude: Though we cannot approve of all this author's opinions and inferences, yet we muft acknowlege, that his performance contains many useful and fpirited remarks upon compofitions of genius; and that it may be perufed with great improvement as well as amusement by thofe readers who want to acquire a knowledge of what is commonly called polite lite

rature.

VIII. Remarks on the Writings and Conduct of J. J. Rouffeau. 8vo. Price 2 s. 6d. Cadell.

HIS Remarker upon the writings and conduct of Rouffeau is one of thofe rare aves whom it is difficult to define ; of a character which it is hard to fix.

He is evidently a gentleman, a fcholar, a philofopher, a genius, and a man of wit; though, by fome of his readers, his pretenfions to either will be called in queftion; and by others, his character, in a fummary way, will be funk into that of a downright fceptic (perhaps atheift) and libertine.

For, fay the firft, will a gentleman labour to disturb the public tranquility a fcholar revile the fchools a philofopher damn all fects? a genius defpife all reftraint? and a man of wit blafpheme facred things Nevertheless he may be. ?

Here the candid and benevolent will paufe a while; and regret, that the gentleman in private life fhould affront the public in a body, whom as individuals he would be far from offending; that the fcholar fhould depart from his first principles, and become ungrateful to his teachers; that the philofopher fhould only wear a gown to cover his lewdnefs; that true genius fhould o'er fep the modefty of nature, and the decorum of ha bit; and that sparkling wit, not contented with fuch flesh as the market affords in the public ftews, fhould profanely with to wanton itself with the Word made fejk!- -Nevertheless, he may

be

What cry the zealots! Can he be lefs a wretch than he appears to be? Can fophiftry itself find any pretext in his behalf? Is he not a blafphemer of God, and a reviler of men? Order with him is chaos, and chaos order!-Heaven! church! bifhops feminaries! fciences! all fall before him !---Confu

fion on his head! away with him !--Pincers, fire, and faggot were made for fuch miscreants!

But we cannot give him up fo eafily to the tormentors, fince we profefs candor and moderation; and having balanced his beauties against his blemishes, we find that the former greatly preponderate.

A ftaunch advocate for Rouffeau muft needs be displeasing to many fober-minded people, who conform to prefent modes, and readily fubfcribe, without farther inquiry, to adopted fyftems: --but the merit of the Remarker does not confift in being a mere epitomizer of his author;--he has opinions of his own, fo fingular, fo novel, and, like a true critic, fo independent of his author, that we are forry to quote a verse of severe condemnation against him.

"How Van wants grace, who never wanted wit!" Pope, v. Vanbrugh. The Remarker has been faid to be a copy, in a great measure, of the inimitable Triftram; tho' we must own, that in one or two places excepted, we cannot find out the refemblance; but that he is a great admirer of Shakespeare, will be very evident to every critic in the works of that child of nature, whose phrase and language he introduces with a certain aptness, that we don't remember to have met with elsewhere.

Upon the whole, we recommend this little work to fuch only of our readers as are capable of feparating the metal from the drofs, and can difcern the true orient, notwithstanding the foul incruftations which fully and deform it.At the fame time we beg leave to recommend more decency and propriety to the accomplished author in his next effay, as he values the general favour and approbation of the public.

To this work is prefixed an ingenious, well-defigned, and fatyrical frontifpice, in which Voltaire is introduced, in a fine flowing peruke, with a pair of jack boots and fpurs, and a whip In his hand, beftriding a monster which he has bridled, saddled, and brought to the ground. Over his head, pendent by their necks upon a gibbet, are Juftice and Liberty, upon the beam of which is feen all that remains of the temple of Liberty. On the right fide of the piece, in front, upon a little eminence, ftands an arch fhrugging figure, reprefenting Rouffeau, in a furr'á gown and cap, pointing with his right hand to the beast and his burthen, and with the plummet of Truth in his left, founding, as we may fuppofe, the fincerity and real eftimation of the rider.

We own that we are much affected at the aukward fituation of our darling principles Juftice and Liberty; and are entirely

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ignorant

ignorant of what they have done to deserve to be gibbetted.

If the little gentleman in fur, by virtue of his plummet and line, has found out, as he feems to infinuate, that Voltaire has been their executioner, we are of opinion that he ought to be hanged up in their stead.

IX. Familiar Letters which passed between Abraham Hill, Efq; Fellow and Treasurer of the Royal Society, one of the Lords of Trade, and Comptroller to his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury; and feveral eminent and ingenious Perfons of the laft Century. Tranfcribed from the Original Letters. 8vo. Pr. 45. Johnston.

THE

HE character of this Mr. Hill mentioned in the title-page, feems to bear a strong resemblance to that of the Roman Atticus. He was the fon of a merchant and alderman of London, who was employed as treasurer for the parliamentary party from the fummer of the year 1642, the time the parliament began their war against king Charles I. until the year 1649. During that period, and afterwards, he was much courted and employed by the chief managers of the ftate, and in particular by the protector Cromwell himself, as appears from their many letters to him, now in the hands of the editor. The reader from these circumftances may easily conceive in what kind of principles Mr. Abraham Hill (who was born in the year 1633) was educated. He was early in life master of the Greek, Latin, French, Dutch, and Italian languages; a proficient in natural and moral philofophy; and when but twenty-two years of age, he was a favourite with the English literati. Upon his father's death, he became master of an ample fortune. His refidence was in Grefham College, where he converfed with learned men, ftudied hiftory and antiquity, and cultivated his favourite pursuit of natural philosophy. He was one of the first encouragers of the Royal Society, of which he was a fellow, and treasurer; and, though no author himself, nor affecting any rank in life or literature, he was loved and efteemed all over the polite parts of Europe. He was twice married, and in 1665 purchased the extenfive manor of St. John's in Sutton, at Hone, in the county of Kent, once the poffeffions and refidence of the Knights Hofpitallers of St. John of Jerufalem; an estate of no inconfiderable account, either for its fize, or the rank its antient poffeffors held in life. To this retreat he devoted himfelf, and lived a quiet subject during the reigns of Charles and James II. Upon the Revolution he was made one of the commiflioners of trade, where he contracted an acquaintance and friendship

4

friendship with fome of the highest as well as worthiest men in England, amongst whom was reckoned the celebrated Mr. Locke.

The Tory fyftem which prevailed at the beginning of queen Anne's reign drove him, when near feventy years of age, back to his beloved retirement, where he lived philofophically and focially till the fifth of February 1721, when he died.

As to the letters before us, they are highly worthy the attention of the public. The effufions of fenfible friends at a diftance from each other exhibit the best pictures of their perfonal characters; thofe of their literary and political are known from their actions and publications. For the entertainment of our readers we shall exhibit fpecimens of these letters. The first is letter 19th, from Dr. William Aglionby to Mr. Hill, by which we see that complaints of French travelling are of no very modern date.

'MY DEAR FRIEND,

Paris, Sept. 5, 1685.

I would have thanked you from Calais for your many civilities in London, but my fhort stay there would not permit, me to do it. We got hither-in five days by the coach. It was a moft tedious journey by a new road, viz. St. Omer's, Aire, and Amiens, and though hard beds, much, nastiness, and not above three hours fleep of a night, with a continual plague from cuftom-house officers, were great grievances to me, yet good air, and good bread and wine, with merry company, have altered my health much for the better. Now for news.-Yefterday the king went for Chambort-the day before arrived here the two young princes of Conti and La Roche. They have been prefented to the king by the prince of Conde, to whofe interceffion, and their brave behaviour fhewn at the battle of the Gran in Hungary, the king has granted the return of his favour, but has commanded the young prince of Turenne, who was in their company, to depart the kingdom immediately. I suppose by this time you have our two English princes; they paffed at Calais a little before we arrived there, and I am informed here, by a perfon I can confide in, that they came directly from the Jefuits college at la Fleche, where they have been bred all this while. My lord Preston went away yesterday; he has not been able to obtain leave for his Proteftant French fervants to go with him, except he would give fecurity for their, return into this kingdom in three months, which he has refused to do; nevertheless he has taken them with him to Dieppe, being refolved to put them to the trial of stopping them by force. There is a new edict published, by which all people are forbid

to