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bition, and thirfl of applaufe, joined with thirft of gain, to en- 

 courage an inordinate fertility, and precipitate on the world a 

 fwarming hoft of writings, not lefs numerous than the armies 

 which the peopled north— — 



Poured from her frozen loins to pafs 

 Rhene, or the Daiiaiu. 



Avarice, avarice, if I miftake not, has the greateft (hare, in 

 recruiting for this amazing literary population. It is obfervable of 

 German writers, that they have carried the avarice and venality, 

 as well as vendibility, of literature, and the craft or myf^ery of 

 authorflhip, to an higher pitch than any other fet of people. A 

 Fair, or open market, for the fale of books, is a phenomenon pecu- 

 liar to Germafiy ; and has, no doubt, contributed largely to diffufe 

 a venal fpirit among her writers, and encreafe the unworthy arts 

 of book-making. This mercenary fpirit is the difgrace of talent, 

 and the bane of the true interefts of literature. It produces a 

 deflexion from the walk, which his genius points out to every 

 man, who confults it ; while writers are more anxious, to produce 

 the fruits, which the prefent call of the market requires, than 

 thofe, which are the free and natural growth of their talents. It 

 occafions a difgraceful catching at unworthy and improper fubjeds, 

 merely becaufe they are the topics of fafhionable tattle, and popu- 

 lar rumour ; and it produces a greater folicitude, to fwell the 

 quantity, than to improve the quality of literary produdions. 

 The inordinate defire of gain, thus proftituting talents to the pur- 



pofes 



