SB 



head." Aristotle, who was the best critic, was also one of the 

 best logicians that ever appeared in the world." Though fully 

 conscious of the advantages resulting from the study of logic,- 

 I should have hesitated to mention it as useful for the acqui- 

 sition of a just and delicate taste, were I not thus sheltered 

 by the authority of the most elegant of critics. At the pre- 

 sent day, the prejudice against that art runs so high that the 

 very mention of it, when treating of polite literature, is in 

 danger of being accounted. absurd and pedantic ;.and to enter 

 into a formal vindication of it, and a detailed exposition of 

 the benefits accruing from its cultivation, would (beside that 

 it would extend this little essay much beyond the intended 

 limits) be only transcribing the eulogiums of several, distin* 

 guished not only for their scientific knowledge, but more 

 elegant and refined literature. It will, however, perhaps not 

 be superfluous to mention one instance, where logic seems of 

 the utmost importance to the poet and the critic. The chief 

 requisites for a truly noble and sublime style, are energy of 

 thought and justness of sentiment, such as when clad in the 

 plainest garb, will display sufficient internal marks of an in* 

 hercnt and unalienable dignity. For this purpose Longinus 

 advises us to examine splendid passages of the poets and 

 orators, " lest they should possess only that semblance of 

 majesty, which is often produced by a profusion of figurative 

 expression and rhetorical ornament, when on the contrary,, 

 if more accurately inspected, they Avould be found empty 

 and superficial, and meriting the contempt rather than the 

 VOL. xn. p 



