On Genius. A138 
navigator, statesman, or general: but that, 
inheriting from nature an enthusiastic ardour 
and exquisite sensibility of soul, arising, as 
we conceive, from the original susceptibility 
of his temperament, he is directed by acci- 
dent to the pursuit of some particular object 
in literature, science, art, or active life; 
and that, in consequence of this determin- 
ation of his attention to some single depart- 
ment, his faculties acquire a force and a 
promptitade, and a fertility of invention if 
that particular sphere, which are easily mis- 
taken for the results of a constitutional apti- 
and adorning his fayourite subject. We have evidence that his immor- 
tal poem had been, for many years, before he sat down to execute it, 
the idol of his thoughts, and the theme of his fervent meditations. 
Grotius and Jones (names which cannot be pronounced without the 
profoundest reverence by every lover of virtue and freedom) were rather 
scholars than inventors ; they extracted truth and wisdom from mines, 
which had already been worked by others, rather than opened a vein of 
their own ; nor am I aware, that they have added any discoveries to the 
stores of philosophy, or, in any wise, enlarged the boundaries of sci- 
ence. Had the energies of their mighty minds been more concentrated, 
it is not improbable their writings might have discovered more of those 
original and striking views, which are peculiarly characteristic of 
Genjus. Voltaire was unquestionably a genius ; yet he himself thought 
he had no title to the rank of an universal. genius. He wasof opinion, 
that his fame with posterity would rest on his dramatic works,—Some 
perhaps would be disposed to add the name of Priestley to this list; yet, 
I apprehend, he can claim originality and inventiou only in the depart- 
ment of physical science. In fine, the observation of Cornelius Nepos 
(Fragm. de laude Ciceronis) is eminently just and philosophical : 
“locuples ac divina natura, quo majorem sui pareret admirationem, 
ponderatioraque sua essent beneficia, neque uni omnia dare, nec rursus 
cuiquam omnia voluit negare,”” 
