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ture brutalized and difgraced ; at once, an objed of fcorn, averfion, 

 and terror. Such views of life, at once inftrudtive and amiable, 

 are not to be found in the German* produdions. I cannot fay, that 

 they abound in tender enervating fentiments, and voluptuous 

 defcriptions of fenfual indulgence, fuch as prevail in the Mile/tan 

 Fables ; but what is yet more dangerous, particularly to young 

 perfons, of a fanguine temperament, and ferious difpofition, they 

 are filled with a fort of amorous myfticifm, which perverts the de- 

 votional language and enthufiafm, and applies them to the com- 

 merce of the fexes. They deal out extravagant and romantic 

 flights of fentiment, a licentious and declamatory parade of ungo- 

 verned and ungovernable pallion ; and utter, with a fort of oracu- 

 lar confidence, maxims of felf-devotion, of frenzy, and excefs, cal- 

 culated, to heat the fancy, bewilder the head, and debauch the 

 heart ; to people the flews, the prifon, and the mad-houfe, with a 

 numerous and miferable tenantry. 



A WRITER cannot communicate what he does not poffefs. 

 There are various caufes, which render an extenfive knowledge of 

 men and manners lefs acceflible, to German writers, than to others, 

 and render the views of fociety, and the famples of human charac- 

 ter and condud, which they are able to obferve and colled in the 

 courfe of their experience, lefs proper to be laid before the world, 



for its inftrudion and imitation. 



In 



• I muft always be underftood to fpeak of the more modern German fchool. 



In the preceding writers of the native language, fuch as Gefner, Klopftock, and 

 Wieland, &c. &c. correftnefs, fublimity, truth, nature, a pure morality, and the 

 moft amiable and affeding graces abound. Omnia fi fic ! 



