I791« XITERART INTELLIGENCER. I)! 



has been remarked, that clergymen, who have confined 

 their literary efforts to difcourfes delivered from th© 

 pulpit, are more apt to aflume that dictatorial air, and 

 dogmatic felf fufficiency of manner, than other clafTes 

 of literary men. Nor can any thing be more natural ; 

 Such pulpit difcourfes, from the reverence due to the 

 place where delivered, are never criticifed : The paflor 

 therefore, has no opportunity of being ever convinced 

 of the weaknefs or the futility of the reafoning. He of 

 courfe concludes that his arguments are flrong and un- 

 anfwerable ; and delivers them with the tone and man- 

 ner that fuch an idea will naturally infpire. It is per- 

 haps to this circumftance we may afcribe the afperity 

 of manner that fo long prevailed among mankind with 

 refpeft to theological controverfies and literary difputes 

 managed by divines. Fortunately it has happened that 

 periodical publications have now become fo common in 

 Britain, as to have afforded young divines more fre- 

 quent opportunities of trying their powers fairly, than 

 formerly. The confequence has been, that gentlenefs 

 of manner, and liberality of fentiment, in difputed fub- 

 jeds, begin to prevail even among men of this clafs. In 

 thofe foreign countries where fuch periodical perfor- 

 mances are rare, the fame rudenefs and illiberality is 

 it ill obferved to prevail in literary difputes ; and we 

 Ihall in general find tfiat the progrefs of nations in know- 

 ledge, but more efpecially their advancement in literary 

 politeiiefs of manner, wi-U keep pace with the number 

 of periodical publications allowed to circulate, and 

 the freedom of difcuffion that is tolerated in fuch pub- 

 lications, whirn under proper reftrictions. As I doubt 

 not. Sir, from the general character you bear, that your 

 work will be conducted on the moft liberal principles. I 

 moll fincerelj", from tliefe and other confiderations, wifti 

 you a continuance of health and fpirits to complete 

 yonr plan, and that Ihare of public fupport which may 

 enable you to go forward in your entcrprife with vi- 

 gour and alaprity. Medicus. 



y 2. 



