I79I. LITERARY INTELLIGENCER. 169 



niifcellaneous effays coUefted from all quarters, and 

 eommunicated to the people at large. By this means, 

 a fingle detached thought that occurs to any one indivi- 

 dual, however unconne£l:ed he may be with others, 

 may be rendered, without trouble or effort to him, a 

 raatter of general inveltigation, if it conveys ay nice 

 idea that gives rife to additional obfervations, which, 

 b;-t for this circumftance, would never have had an ex- 

 iftence. Thefe obfervations, when nearly examined, 

 give rife to doubts, which excite a fpirit of inveltigation 

 and refearch. In profecuting thefe inquiries, new fads 

 arc difcovered, which lead to conclufiuns, fometimes of 

 the higheft: importance. Knowledge is thus drawn 

 from a thoufand fources, which, but for this encou- 

 ragement, would have been for ever unobferved. A 

 new- creation may be faid to be made ; for mental ob- 

 jects are thus called into exillence, that but for this cir- 

 cumftance would never have been brought to light ; and 

 it often happens that a man thus difcovers, to his great 

 furprife, that he himfelf pofleffes powers which he 

 never fo much as once fufpefted, fo as to be compelled 

 to cry out in extary, with the celebrated Corregio, 

 " ed io anche fon pittore ;" and I alfo am a painter. 



Nor arc the beneficial effects of fuch performances 

 confined to the writers of fuch elTays alone. The read- 

 ers of fuch performances, by following the train of 

 thoughts that occur in the elTays, acquire in their turn 

 a habit of attention, and a difpofition to obferve, that 

 they never without it would have poireffed. By being 

 accuftomed to perceive arguments refuted, which ap- 

 peared to them at firit entirely conclufive, they imper- 

 ceptibly acquire a habit of fufpending their judgment, 

 till the matter fhall be fully inveftigated ; they doubt, 

 compare, and weigh arguments with care ; and thus 

 gradually acquire that nicety of obfervation, and 

 caution in forming conclufions, which conltitutes the 

 elfence of found judgment. 



Vol. I. Y 



