Recapitulation. 429 



obscure beginnings, and trace its influence in the 

 remotest consequences ; but for books of less tre- 

 mendous bulk, which exhibit the subject in its 

 most material points, preserving general outlines, 

 and principal features. " J 



To the causes above mentioned may be added 

 one other, derived from the more frequent inter- 

 course of men in advanced civilization. " In this 

 intercourse, a taste for learned and ingenious con- 

 versation has arisen, and the natural desire of su- 

 periority impels men to excel in it. But in col- 

 lecting means for acquiring this excellence, the spe- 

 cious rather than the useful are sought. Facts are 

 stored, not for the exercise of rational criticism, 

 nor for the deduction of important truth, but that 

 they may be again distributed."^ Hence the temp- 

 tation to study many subjects superficially, but to 

 gain the complete mastery of none. Hence those 

 scraps and shreds of knowledge which are daily 

 served up in periodical publications, and scattered 

 through all grades of society, excepting the very 

 lowest, in popular manuals, form a large part of 

 that learning which is daily sported in the social 

 circle, and in the conflicts of disputation. 



10. From the details which have been given in 

 the foregoing chapters, it appears that the last cen- 

 tury may, with peculiar propriety, be styled, the 



AGE OF TASTE AND REFINEMENT. In the produc- 

 tions of bold and original genius, though greatly 

 fruitful, it has, perhaps, been exceeded by some 

 former ages $ but in the general prevalence of taste 

 and refinement, it may be confidently asserted that 

 no age ever equalled the last. This remark might 

 be illustrated at great length, by recurring to the 



/ Monthly fieviaa, vol. xxix. p. 302, N. S. 

 g Ibid. 



h " Much has been written in this age," says Voltaire, " but genius 

 belonged to the last." 



