154 ON DR. Young's night thoughts June 8, 



monly titled by modern authors, " the refpeftable pub- 

 *• lie." There is a wonderful fimilarity in their talents» 

 in quaint exprefllon, wild conceit, and ftudied fetches of 

 metaphylical reverie. The poet is Young : The Profe- 

 quixote is Sterne. 



In my opinion, our celebrated enthufiaft of this coun- 

 try, the Reverend Mr. I'alph Erlliine, in his Riddles.^ 

 is lefs extravagant. I am fure, that he fbould at leaft 

 be more amufmg and tolerable, either to believers 

 or infidels, than Dr. Young in his horrid Night 

 Tl"). oughts. I know no rule of criticifm fo juft, fo ma- 

 terial, and fo general, as one laid down by old Ho- 

 ra';e, importing, that good fenfe is the only true prin- 

 ciple and fountain of good writing and tafte. 

 " Scribendi re<3e, sapere eft et principium et fons." 



I fhall examine the Night Thoughts bj' this rule, 

 after firft inferting a few fpecimens of Ralph's Riddles. 



" I'm here and there, and every where ! 

 " And yet I'm neither here nor there. 

 " I'm fehool'd, though never at a fchool y 

 " I'm wife, and yet a natural fool I 

 " I'm poor, and yet 1 nothing want ! 

 " Fm both a Dtvil and a Saint !" 



conceits, and extravagant flights in poetrj', which, to men of tafte, 

 who have vie^ved the works of nature with attention, are intolt- 

 rab'y difgufting. — Many readers, therefore, who, in their youth, have 

 ajmired the works of Dr. Young, come gradually to lofe a tclifh for his 

 manner of wiitiiig, as they advance in life, though it may fomcrimea 

 ha) pen, that on account of the refpe<S): they bear for the fubjeift on 

 which he writes, tfeey are difpofed to criticife with tcndernefs. Men 

 view matters of this fort, in very different lights : Some, who could free- 

 ly forgive extravagance of compofition on any other fubje<ft, have iheir 

 indignation excited, when they fee that extravagance employed on religious 

 fubjecils, while others think they feel the fervour cf their devotion ex- 

 cited by thofe incomprehenfible images, which the ardour of their ima- 

 gination makes them think they underftand. The critique that follows 

 feems to be diftated by the firft of thefe confiderations, and may there- 

 fore prove unpleafing to thofe of the fccond clafs, who, if they def:re not 

 to have their judgment inicrmed, will do well to pafs over this cffay. 



