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we read in the Life of Savage the following leutence, " As 

 " he always fpoke with refped of his mafter, it is probable the 

 " mean rank in which he then appeared did not hinder his 

 " genius from being diftinguilhed or his induftry from being 

 " rewarded ; and if in fo low a flate he obtained diftindions 

 " and rewards, it is not likely they were gained but by genius and 

 " induftry." In this inftance the pcrfpicurty of the reafoning feenis 

 to have been preferved through fuch a chain of propofitions, merely 

 by the artifice of returning the fame words a fecond time to the 

 reader's obfervation. But the unreftrained ufe of this art is per- 

 haps one of the greatefl; faults an author can adopt. A fault, 

 which burlefques grave fubjeds by communicating impreffions of 

 levity, and on occafions lefs ferious, inftead of being fprightly 

 degenerates into quaintnefs : which for difquifition and reafoning 

 gives us nothing but point and epigram ; by a conftralned con- 

 cifenefs often betrays to obfcurity, and where moft fuccefsful, 

 leads but to trite retorts and verbal oppofitions, which the rea- 

 der has already anticipated, and perhaps already rejeded. 



Were Johnfon however to be charged with negligence, it 

 might be mofl fairly on the fubjed of harmony. There are 

 many paffages in his works where founds almoft fimilar are 

 fuffered to approach too near each other ; and though fome of 

 thefe are too palpable to be paffed over unnoticed by the author, 

 yet I can never think any ear fo Incorred as to adopt fame- 

 nefs and monotony for harmony. Either way however Johnfon 

 is culpable, and his alternative is either a faulty principle, or a 

 negligence In his pradice. 



Yet 



