DIGRESSIONS on CRITICISM, &c. 439 



We do not remember ever to have read more 

 than one good criticifm of this kind, which is 

 that made by the French academy on the Cid of 

 Corneille, and which for truth and difcernmcnt, 

 for that method and politenefs which is every 

 where obfcrrved, and thole intcreftmg and in- 

 flrudive reflections with which it abounds, may 

 juttly ferve as a model to all others. This is 

 the manner in which thofe critics, who are defi- 

 rous to cenfure, fhould proceed. But fuch fort 

 of men have feldom any capacity for juft criti- 

 cifm. The occafions are, moreover, very rare, 

 wherein it is allowable to fearch out, and expofe 

 to the public view, the faults of a truly valuable 

 work , and neve r fhould critics be permitted to 

 nd their cemiires to the peribn of -an author, 

 for this is not making inftruftive criticifms, but 

 rancorous fatircs, and deteftable libels. 



III. Let us return to the former rank of ia- 

 gacious critics. All books are confidered as 

 old or new : by the former are meant fuch works 

 as have appeared before our time ; and by the 

 latter thofe of the prefent day. A knowledge of 

 the firft fort is to be attained from the criticifms 

 that the literati, hiftorians, profeflbrs of arts 

 ;md uicnccs, have made, and are (till making, 

 on them , or from bibliotheques. It is by the- 

 ory journals that we arc to acquire a know- 

 of Inch works as are daily appearing in 

 ;hc republic of letters. 



IV. Moft 



