[ 4 ] . 



with his rival hiftorian. We are accuftomed, I know not how, 

 at an early age, from cotemporary ftudies, to unite the names 

 of cotemporary hiftorians, and from thence perhaps infenfibly 

 to infer a fimilarity of excellence. The authors pcrufed treat 

 of the fame fads, they are read at the fame time, and the 

 mind is yet too young for accurate difcrimination. May not 

 fuch affociations have had fome efi'e£l with refped to Suetonius 

 and Tacitus ? But the exercife of maturer judgment readily fepa- 

 rates fuch unions, and detects the apparent parallelifm of objeds, 

 which, fufficiently purfued, will be found in time infinitely to 

 diverge. This judgment, however, is in many cafes never exer- 

 cifed at all. 



A PREMATURE perufal of the claffics often prevents a fub- 

 fequent cool revifal of their beauties and their merits, impels 

 the man to confider the fubjedls of the ftudies of the boy as 

 trifling and difgufting, and indolently to acquiefce in firft im- 

 preflions, rather than retrace fteps which appeared unpleafant 

 becaufe involuntary. But he who at maturer years is led by 

 tafte or inclination to examine and compare the lights of antiquity, 

 will be aftonifhed at their numerous detedions of his errors 

 firft imbibed, and corredions of the implicit faith which he has 

 put in fome of its oracles ; and perhaps no where will he find 

 lefs reafon for confidence than in the fecrctary of Adrian (for 

 fuch was Suetonius), however high his poft or good his means of 

 information. 



The 



