A 
1825.] 
as attentive to propriety as we are to 
ornament ? as solicitous of the har- 
mony. of thought, as of the euphony 
of diction? Does not the perfect 
union and communion. of these inter- 
nal and external graces—these essences 
and forms, without which a correct 
taste and sound understanding never 
can be fully satisfied, require somewhat 
more of deliberation—of remote and 
cool revision, than is consistent with 
the very nature, and, I might say, the 
very duties of periodical literature ? 
unless, indeed, the remuneration could 
be sufficient for, at least, as many wri- 
ters as there are departments—ngy, 
essays dnd articles in each respective 
publication. 
But as this is scarcely possible, and 
as periodical publications, after all, are 
the most operative instruments for the 
wide diffusion of intellectual improve- 
ment and information, we must be con- 
tent to take them as they are, or can 
be; and, satisfied with the balance in 
our favour, take the good and the evil 
as we find them inevitably mingled. 
But in this, as in every thing else, if we 
would turn what is presented to us to 
the best account, we must receive and 
estimate it as what it is, and not look 
in it for what it is not possible that it 
should be. The miscellaneous essays 
_of a periodical publication are, or ought 
to be, the effusions of informed, cul- 
tivated, and ingenious minds; but it is 
impossible, from the very nature of 
things, that, generally speaking, they 
should be examples of such chastised 
purity and correctness of composition 
as to be regarded as models by which 
genius should form itself, or the taste 
and talent of the age be regulated or 
adjudged. 
~ Influenced, however, by them that 
taste and that talent inevitably will be. 
They are at once indications and causes 
of the literary (and, I might add, the 
intellectual and moral) character of the 
age;-and although, from the circum- 
stances I have mentioned, the writers 
for such miscellanies are scarcely to be 
considered as fair objects of rigid criti- 
cism, it is, nevertheless, from this ope- 
rative influence, the more necessary 
that they should be criticized: so far, 
at least, as may tend to warn them, 
and their readers also, of the kind of 
errors into which, from the very cir- 
cumstances under which they write, 
they are perpetually liable to fall. 
_ In the present instance, I shall con- 
fine myself, however, to that part of 
Advantages and Disadvantages of Periodical Writing. 
523 
the subject which relates to style—the 
more ‘particularly as, to a reflecting 
mind, it will be apparent that much 
of what T have to say upon the subject 
will be found applicable, by analogy, to 
the more important requisites of lite- 
rary composition, 
There can be no doubt that the great 
charm and excellence of. a polished 
style of writing consist in picturesque- 
ness and harmony. Nor, provided that 
more essential requisites are not sacri- 
ficed for their sake, can these be too 
diligently cultivated: for nothing wins 
,upon the ear, or allures attention so 
rouch as rhythmus and euphony, which, 
together with the sensitive adaptation 
of the sound to the sense, constitute 
all that can be understood by the har- 
mony of language; and dulness and 
pedantry alone can doubt whether any 
thing rouses theattention so promptly, or 
clings so tenaciously to the memory, as 
that which is impressed through the 
medium of the imagination. If I-am 
told, that there is at least one excep- 
tion to this broad and general asser- 
tion, namely, the language which. ex- 
cites the passions, I am not driven for 
my answer to the necessity of observ- 
ing, either that the excitements of pas- 
sion are applicable only to a small por- 
tion of that range of subjects upon 
which literary talent should be em- 
ployed ; or that the excitements of the 
passions are frequently as transient in 
their impressions as they are vivid’in 
their first emotions, and are, therefore, 
little calculated, either to advance: in- 
struction, or assist the memory: I may 
reply at once, that even in excitement 
of the passions, the imagination is not 
ineffective. ,The most impassioned pas- 
sages in Shakspeare are also the most 
imaginative—Need I appeal to that fine 
speech of Othello— 
** O now for ever: 
Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell con- 
tent ! 
Farewell the plumed troop, and the big wars, 
That make ambition virtue! O farewell! 
Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill 
-trump, , 
The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing 
fife, 
The royal banner ; and all quality, 
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious 
war ! 
And O you mortal engines, whose rude 
throats 
The immortal Jove’s dread clamours coun- 
terfeit, , : 
Farewell ! ” 
3X 2 Or 
