Dr. Barm on Poetry. 65 
muft become meafured, and exad. Hence, the 
early formation of verje, which, when once adopt¬ 
ed, would, for the reafons before mentioned, be 
immediately employed, to convey their laws, and 
hiftories, to future ages. It differed but little 
from the common ftile of their orations. Ac 
lead, the difference was not to be compared with 
that, which is found in the more advanced pe¬ 
riods of fociety, and of language. 
We have already obferved, that, in the early 
ages of mankind, when their lives were filled 
with toils and dangers, and when new and in- 
terefting events were continually opening upon 
them, their paffions would correfpond to their 
fituation, and would be various, vehement, and 
adive. Civilization and fcience have, as it vvere, 
minced into finer portions, the feelings of the 
heart. By this means, we enjoy a far greater number 
of plea.urable feruations, and, upon the whole, 
I doubt not, a much larger Jurn of happinefs. 
The life of an Indian confiffs, either of glare, or 
of darknefs. He is either tranfported with paflion, 
or funk into ffupor. Thefe larger maffes have 
been broken, by the hand of culture, intofmaller 
pieces, which are in perpetual currency, and 
which maintain, among us, a more equal and 
conflant enjoyment. 
But, from hence it will follow, that the Jlrong 
poetic char after may be expeded to decline, as 
taste improves. We may, perhaps, hope to excel. 
