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THOUGHTS on LYRIC POETRY. 

 By WILLIAM PRESTON, M.R.I.A. 



I 



.T is with fome diffidence that I venture to exprefs my difTent Read De- 

 from the opinion of a writer, whofe fuccefs as a poet muft add "."35" "' 

 weight and influence to his fentiments as a critic, I mean Mr. 

 Mafon ; but falfe criticifms falhng from men of high charader 

 have a moft pernicious efFed, particularly with readers who fel- 

 dom venture to think for themfelves. Affertions may be ha- 

 zarded raflaly on the fpur of the occafion, even by the moft judi- 

 cious ; and when we meet with any thing paradoxical, we fhould 

 not be deterred from examining it, by the terrors of a great 

 name, left we fhould miftake unfounded alTumptions, for good 

 arguments, and chimerical fpeculations, for firft principles. 



In the following paper I propofe to offer fome remarks, on an 

 opinion of Mr. Mafon's refpeding lyric poetry, which he has 



[H] publifhed 



