frage of criticism, but by the fondnefs of friendfhip, or fervility of flattery. The

great and popular are very freely applauded, but all foon grow weary of echoing to each other a name which has no other claim to notice, but that many mouths are pronouncing it at once.

But

But many have loft the final reward of their labours, because they were too hafty to enjoy it. They have laid hold on recent occurrences, and eminent names, and delighted their readers with allufions and remarks, in which all were interested, and to which all therefore were attentive. the effect ceafed with its caufe; the time quickly came when new, events drove the former from memory, when the viciffitudes of the world brought new hopes and fears, transferred the love and hatred of the publick to other agents, and the writer, whofe works were no longer affifted by gratitude or refentment, was left to the cold regard of idle curiofity.

He that writes upon general principles, or delivers univerfal truths, may hope to be often read, because his work will be equally ufeful at all times and in every country; but he cannot expect it to be received with eagernefs, or to fpread with rapidity, because defire can have no particular ftimulation; that which is to be loved long must be loved with reafon rather than with paffion. that lays out his labours upon temporary fubjects, eafily finds readers, and quickly lofes them; for what should make the book valued when its subject is no more?

He

Thefe

Thefe obfervations will fhew the reason why the poem of Hudibras is almoft forgotten, however embellished with fentiments and diverfified with allufions, however bright with wit, and however folid with truth. The hypocrify which it detected, and the folly which it ridiculed, have long vanished from publick notice. Thofe who had felt the mifchief of difcord, and the tyranny of ufurpation, read it with rapture, for every line brought back to memory fomething known, and gratified refentment, by the juft cenfure of fomething hated. But the book which was once quoted by princes, and which fupplied conversation to all the affemblies of the gay and witty, is now feldom mentioned, and even by those that affect to mention it, is feldom read. So vainly is wit lavished upon fugitive topicks, fo little can architecture fecure duration when the ground is falfe.

NUMB. 60. SATURDAY, June 9, 1759.

CRI

RITICISM is a ftudy by which men grow important and formidable at very small expence. The power of invention has been conferred by nature upon few, and the labour of learning those sciences which may by mere labour be obtained is too great to be willingly endured; but every man can exert fuch judgment as he has upon the works of others; and he whom nature has made weak, and idlenefs keeps ignorant, may yet fupport his vanity by the name of a critick.

I hope it will give comfort to great numbers who are paffing through the world in obfcurity, when I inform them how easily distinction may be obtained. All the other powers of literature are coy and haughty, they must be long courted, and at last are not always gained, but criticism is a goddess easy of access and forward of advance, who will meet the flow, and encourage the timorous; the want of meaning fhe fupplies with words, and the want of spirit she recompenfes with malignity.

This profeffion has one recommendation peculiar to itself, that it gives vent to malignity without real mischief. No genius was ever blafted by the breath of criticks. The poifon which, if confined, would have burst the heart, fumes away in empty hiffes, and malice is fet at eafe with very little danger to merit. The critick is the only man whose

triumph

triumph is without another's pain, and whofe greatnefs does not rife upon another's ruin.

To a study at once fo eafy and fo reputable, fo malicious and fo harmless, it cannot be neceffary to invite my readers by a long or laboured exhortation; it is fufficient, fince all would be criticks if they could, to fhew by one eminent example that all can be criticks if they will.

Dick Minim, after the common courfe of puerile ftudies, in which he was no great proficient, was put apprentice to a brewer, with whom he had lived two years, when his uncle died in the city, and left him a large fortune in the ftocks. Dick had for fix months before ufed the company of the lower players, of whom he had learned to fcorn a trade, and being now at liberty to follow his genius, he refolved to be a man of wit and humour. That he might be properly initiated in his new character, he frequented the coffee-houfes near the theatres, where he listened very diligently, day after day, to those who talked of language and fentiments, and unities and catastrophes, till by flow degrees he began to think that he understood fomething of the stage, and hoped in time to talk himfelf.

But he did not truft fo much to natural fagacity, as wholly to neglect the help of books. When the theatres were fhut, he retired to Richmond with a few felect writers, whofe opinions he impreffed upon his memory by unwearied diligence; and, when he returned with other wits to the town, was able to tell, in very proper phrafes, that the chief business of art is to copy nature; that a perfect writer is not to be expected, becaufe genius de

cays

cays as judgment increases; that the great art is the art of blotting; and that, according to the rule of Horace, every piece fhould be kept nine years.

Of the great authors he now began to display the characters, laying down as an universal position, that all had beauties and defects. His opinion was, that Shakespear, committing himself wholly to the impulse of nature, wanted that correctnefs which learning would have given him; and that Jonfon, trufting to learning, did not fufficiently caft his eye on nature. He blamed the ftanza of Spenfer, and could not bear the hexameters of Sidney. Denham and Waller he held the first reformers of English numbers; and thought that if Waller could have obtained the ftrength of Denham, or Denham the sweetness of Waller, there had been nothing wanting to complete a poet. He often expreffed his commiferation of Dryden's poverty, and his indignation at the age which fuffered him to write for bread; he repeated with rapture the first lines of All for Love, but wondered at the corruption of tafte which could bear any thing fo unnatural as rhyming tragedies. In Otway he found uncommon powers of moving the paffions, but was difgufted by his general negligence, and blamed him for making a confpirator his hero; and never concluded his difquifition, without remarking how happily the found of the clock is made to alarm the audience. Southern would have been his favourite, but that he mixes comick with tragick fcenes, intercepts the natural courfe of the paffions, and fills the mind with a wild confufion of mirth and melancholy. The verfification of Rowe he thought too melodious for the ftage, and too little