"Thus I have heard (if what I have heard "in this cafe may deserve credit) that the "cafes in which dwarfs are kept, not only

prevent the future growth of those who are "inclofed in them, but diminish what bulk

they already have, by too close constriction "of their parts. So flavery, be it never fo "eafy, yet is flavery ftill, and may deservedly "be called, the prifon of the foul, and the public dungeon.' Here I interrupted.

"Such complaints, as yours against the present times, are generally heard, and easily made. But are you fure, "that this corruption of genius is not owing to "the profound peace, which reigns through

out the world? or rather, does it not flow "from the war within us, and the fad effects "of our own turbulent paffions? Thofe paf"fions plunge us into the worst of flaveries, "and tyrannically drag us wherever they

cr

pleafe. Avarice (that disease, of which the "whole world is fick beyond a cure) aided

ડ

by voluptuousness, holds us faft in chains "of thraldom, or rather, if I may so exprefs "it, overwhelms life itself, as well as all that "live, in the depths of mifery. For love of money is the difeafe, which renders us "most abject; and love of pleasure is that,

"which

" which renders us most corrupt. I have in "deed thought much upon it, but after all

judge it impoffible for the purfuers, or, to "speak more truly, the adorers and wor

shippers of immenfe riches, to preserve their "fouls from the infection of thofe vices, which

are firmly allied to them. For profufe"ness will be, wherever there is affluence.

They are firmly link'd together, and constant "attendants upon one another. Wealth un"bars the gates of cities, and opens the doors "of houfes: Profufenefs gets in at the fame "time, and there they jointly fix their refi"dence. After fome continuance in their new establishment, they build their nests (in "the language of philofophy) and propagate

their fpecies. There they hatch arrogance, "pride, and luxury, no fpurious brood, but "their genuine offspring. If these children of "wealth be fostered and suffered to reach ma"turity, they quickly engender the moft in"exorable tyrants, and make the foul groan "under the oppreffions of infolence, injustice, "and the most fear'd and harden'd impudence. "When men are thus fallen, what I have " mentioned must needs refult from their de

pravity. They can no longer endure a fight "of any thing above their grov'ling felves; and

When

as for reputation, they regard it not. "once fuch corruption infects an age, it

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dually fpreads, and becomes univerfal. The "faculties of the foul will then

grow ftupid, "their spirit will be loft, and good sense and "genius must lie in ruins, when the care and

study of man is engaged about the mortal "the worthless part of himself, and he has " ceased to cultivate virtue, and polish his no66 bler part, the foul.

"A corrupt and dishoneft judge is incapable "of making unbiaffed and folid decifions by "the rules of equity and honour. His habit "of corruption unavoidably prevents what is

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right and juft, from appearing right and just "to him. Since then, the whole tenor of "life is guided only by the rule of intereft, to promote which, we even defire the death of "others, to enjoy their fortuues, after having, by bafe and difingenuous practices,

crept into their wills; and fince, we fre"quently hazard our lives for a little pelf, the "miserable flaves of our own avarice; can we expect, in fuch a general corruption, fo contagious a depravity, to find one generous " and

(2) We come now to the Paffions, &c.-] The learned world ought certainly to be condoled with, on the great lofs they have fuftained, in Longinus's Treatife on the Paffions. The cxcel

"and impartial foul, above the fordid views. "of avarice, and clear of every felfish μία

fion, that may distinguish what is truly great, what works are fit to live for ever? "Is it not better, for persons in our situation, "to fubmit to the yoke of government, rather "than continue mafters of themselves, fince "fuch headstrong paffions, when fet at liberty, "would rage like madmen, who have burst "their prisons, and inflame the whole world " with endless diforders? In a word, an "infenfibility to whatever is truly great has "been the bane of every rifing genius of the "prefent age. Hence life in general (for the

exceptions are exceeding few) is thrown away in indolence and floth. In this deadly lethargy, or even any brighter intervals " of the disease, our faint endeavours aim at nothing but pleasure and empty oftenta"tion, too weak and languid for thofe high acquifitions, which take their rife from noble "emulation, and end in real advantage and "substantial glory."

Here perhaps it may be proper to drop this subject, and pursue our business. (2) We come

now

excellence of this on the Sublime, makes us regret the more the lofs of the other, and infpires us with deep refentments of the irreparable depredations committed on learning and

the

now to the Paffions, an account of which I have promised before in a distinct treatise, fince they not only conftitute the ornaments and beauties of difcourfe, but (if I am not mistaken) have a great share in the SUBLIME.

the valuable productions of antiquity, by Goths, and monks, and time. There, in all probability, we should have beheld the fecret springs and movements of the foul disclosed to view. There we should have been taught, if rule and observation in this case can teach, to elevate an audience into joy, or melt them into tears. There we fhould have learned, if ever, to work upon every paffion, to put every heart, every pulse in emotion. At present we muft fit down contented under the lofs, and be fatisfied with this invaluable Piece on the Sublime, which with much hazard has escaped a wreck, and gained a port, tho' not undamaged. Great indeed are the commendations, which the judicious bestow upon it, but not in the leaft difproportioned to its merit. For in it are treasured up the laws and precepts of fine writing, and a fine taste. Here are the rules, which polish the writer's invention, and refine the critic's judgment. Here is an object propofed at once for our admiration and imitation.

Dr. Pearce's advice will be a seasonable conclufion, "Read "over very frequently this golden treatife (which deferves

not only to be read but imitated) that you may hence understand, not only how the beft authors have written, "but learn yourself to become an author of the first rank. "Read it therefore and digeft it, then take up your pen in "the words of Virgil's Nifus ;

Aliquid jamdudum invadere magnum

Mens agitat mihi, nec placidâ contenta quiete est.

FINI S.