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could only have been written by an author whofe habits had 

 cherifhed a fondnefs for philofophic fpeculation, and whofe fitu- 

 ation had given him opportunities of becoming acquainted with 

 its modern experimental progrefs : the former might naturally be 

 expeded from the friend of Sir Jofhua Reynolds and his afTociate 

 in an edition of Du Frefnoy. 



This remark, however, muft be received with fome limitation. 

 An author writes on many and various fubjeds. His choice is 

 not always left free to the influence of his charaderil^ic difpofi- 

 tions. On feveral occafions thefe are made facrifices to his conve- 

 nience, his neceffities or his ambition. He often writes on fub- 

 jeds occafionally recommended, on the ftory that is popular, on 

 the event that is recent, at the fuggeflions of his own vanity or 

 the command of his patron. Profefled authors ai-e not more dif- 

 interefled than other men : and a name in the literary world is of 

 fuch value that a bookfeller often pays an high price for prefix- 

 ing it to a work, which not being fuitable to the author's 

 difpofition only derogates from his reputation. Almoft all occa- 

 fional writings, profe as well as poetry, pamphlets and odes, 

 contain within themfelves the elements of fpeedy diffolution. 

 We fhould fay then that it is only the choice of a fubjed in 

 which the author has excelled, which may be coniidered as giving 

 fome intimation as to his habits and difpofitions. 



The nature of the fubjed feleded in a great meafure afcerr, 

 tains the fpecies of compofition in which it is to be treated. 

 Where this is left a matter of doubt the habits aiid mind of the 

 author muft decide. Whether the fame cataftrophe fhall be the 

 fubjed of an elegy or of a tragedy depends wholly on the writer's 

 , Vol. V. ( H ) fondnefs 



