INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 20, 



book I mention, merely becaufe the perufal of 

 it confirmed me in an old opinion, namely, of 

 the incompetency of illiterate men, whatever 

 may have been the extent of their practice, to 

 judge in cafes of philofophy or phyfics. 

 Science refides in the records of the practice 

 and experience of many men, during many 

 ages ; and can only be obtained by reading 

 and fludy. 



The juftly celebrated Dr. Bracken, whofe 

 name is familiar to the ear of every fportfman, 

 (lands next in order of time. As a writer, he 

 is perhaps as fmgular a character as ever ap- 

 pealed to the judgment of the public. Highly 

 refpeclable for his erudition, of a judgment 

 molt profound on all fubjecls which he under- 

 takes to difcufs, poffeffing a mod penetrating 

 power of mind to detect. fophiRry and difcover 

 truth (the characleriftic of fterling ability) 

 he yet failed in decorum of character as an 

 author, and in the art of delivering himfelf 

 with propriety in compofition ; although ever 

 perfpicuous, his fly le is generally mean, and 

 his arrangement and manner loofe, defultory, 

 and incoherent ; occafionally, his vulgarity, 

 and even infipidity, exceed all bounds. Who 

 would fuppofe, after this, that he could poflibly 

 have had a relifh for the beauties of com- 

 pofition? and yet that indubitably appears to 

 have been the cafe, from the obvious warmth 



of 



