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acflual and limited truth. The enquiries which are thus lafeful 

 to affift a reader's comprehenfion may be in a much higher 

 degree ufeful to an author. To make the detedlion of vice in 

 literary characflers more eafy would in all probability have 

 eiFedl on the morals of authors, and through them on the 

 world. The critic would perhaps learn to overcome his rcfent- 

 ments did he know that it was impoffible to conceal them 

 from the public ; and the traveller would learn to venerate 

 .truth, when he found that the vanity which prompted him 

 to exaggerate muft betray itfelf In his writings, and bring 

 univerfal difcredit on his teflimony. 



The general modes In which fuch enquiries are to be con- 

 duffied, and the exadl degrees of probable evidence which will 

 fupport particular conclulions, it is not eafy on this firft view 

 of the fubjedl to determine. Something of a nature analogous 

 to this has in particular inftances been done, where from proofs 

 furniflied by the works themfelves the precife time at which 

 they were written is dete(5led, and the author, his age, his rank 

 or his country afcertained. Some valuable treatlfes of literary 

 controverfy proving certain fuppofed ancient writings genuine 

 or otherwife, fome judicious obfervations of modern hiftorians 

 and critics feparating what in very remote periods is fabulous 

 from what was fadl, and all that occurs any where relating 

 to internal evidence of the truth of narratives and the credi- 

 bility of witnefles, will be found to throw light on this fub- 

 jeifL The remaining part of this eflay will contain fome 

 fpecimens of this theory apphed to difcover the Indications of 



habits. 



