Comments on Sterne. i 
never given to rugged materials. But there can be 
no doubt refpecting Sterne’s obligations to another 
Author, once the favourite of the learned and witty, 
though now unaccountably neglected. I have often 
wondered at the pains beftowed by Sterne, in ° 
ridiculing opinions not fafhionable in his day, and 
have thought it fingular, that he fhould produce 
the portrait of his Sophift, Mr. Shandy, with all 
the ftains and mouldinefs of the laft century about 
him. For the love of fcarce and whimfical books, 
was no vice of the time when Triftram Shandy 
appeared. But I am now, convinced, that all the 
fingularities of that character were drawn from the 
perufal of Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy ; not without 
reference,* however, to the peculiarities of Burton's 
life, who is alledged to have fallen a victim to his 
aftrological ftudies. We are told, accordingly, that 
Mr. Shandy had faith in aftrology. 
The Anatomy of Melancholy, though written on a 
regular plan, is fo crouded with quotations, that the 
reader is apt to miftake it for a book of common- 
places. ‘The opinions of a multitude of Authors are 
collected, under every divifion, without arrange- 
ment, and without much nicety of felection, to 
undergo a general fentence; for the bulk of the 
; materials 
* Even the name of Democritus junior, affe@ted by 
Burton, may have led to Sterne’s affumption of the title of 
Yerick, Burton too was a Clergyman, 
+ Vol, iii, Chap, 23, Vol, v, Chap, 28, 
