179** LITERARY INTELLIGENCER. 365 



fcrs a copious comment : — But to Englifli readers this Weuld prove no- 

 things intcrefting, and claflical fcholars can find the original in the works 

 of Buchnnan. It would prove a more acceptable entertainment to a li- 

 terary fociety, than this mifcellany. It is a pity it (hould be loft, and 

 will be returned if dtfired. 



A rial friend, objefts with great ferioufnefs again (1 the eflay " on 

 the iniquity of prcfcribing oaths in certain cafes ;" and with much ear- 

 neflntfs, reprobates the do<Srines contained in that paper, for which we 

 do not fee a fufficicnt foundation. The chief weight of his argument 

 lies in the impropriety of reprefenting human nature in fuch a degrad- 

 ing hght. as to fiippofe that mankind Sure generally influenced by wot Idly* 

 XJOnfiderations. — Now, allowing the fullcft weight to this objedtion, it 

 can reach no farther thaa thi-, that gx'inimg fomc men fhould be found 

 who will, in no cafe, be influenced by worldly confiderations, it muft 

 be admitted, tliat there are many who have not the fortitude of mind to 

 leCft temptations. — 'We are even taught by the higheft authority, to pray 

 that we may be delivered from temptation. It is certainly, therefore, 

 ro be wiflied, that as few allurements as poffible fliould be held «ut to 

 invite weak creatures to deviate from the right path. And this, we' 

 think, is all the moral that can fairly be inferred from the paper repre- 

 hended. 



As to the circumftance of one perfon entertaining a higher idea thait 

 another cf the human powers, refpedling virtuous exertions, diiferent 

 jierfons have ever entertained different opinions, and will continue to dflf 

 fo till the end of time ; and it would be a vain attempt to try to recoa- 

 cile them in this refpeifl. If they can be brought to concur in attempt* 

 ing to render man better and wij'er than they have been, a great point 

 will be gained ; and this lliall be our aim. 



Cato, who alfo figns R. f«ys he was deputed by a fet rf merry fellows 

 to give a critique on tlie ftanzas intitled, " The feafon for remembering 

 the poor." From t)ie name he has given to the fociety of which he is 

 a mtmber, we prefume it wa- intended to be very dfoU ; — but that fpe- 

 cies of wit, called humour, is perhaps more difficult to acquire, where 

 nature has not planted the feeds of it, than any jother. — The critique iti 

 queftion is entirely devoid of it, and therefore could have afforded nr» 

 entertainment to our readers. 



Jrony is another fpecies of wit, which, when dexteroufly managed, is 

 exquifitely pleafing; but where it is not truly fine, it is of no value. 

 We are f.;rry to be obliged to decline the intended fatire by a prrttyfdlonv, 

 on account of the want of edge in the irony. — Swift has evidently been 

 the model ; — but Sterne and Swift, from the exquifite beauty of fome of 

 their produdticns, have mifled more young writers, in hopes of attain- 

 ing that kind ol excellence by imitating them, than perhaps any others in 

 the Englilh language. To admire their pieces, and to be able to imi- 

 tate them fufcefsfully, are very different things. We wilh to fee as few 

 imitations of any fort, as poffible. When the mind is ftrongly impreffed 

 with ideas, it cannot find leifiire to think of the manner of others, but 

 advances with a firm ftep, regardiefsof the frippiry of affeilation. If the 

 thoughts arc bold and juft,theexpreilions are ui'ually artlefs and energetic. 



