Chap. XIIL] Cte.svc Literature, 9'Jl 



study nuiitiplied, a less degree of leisure was left 

 for any partieular pursuit. The splendour of seve- 

 ral new brandies of i)hilosopliy, as they sueees- 

 sively rose into view, attraeted the studious, and 

 gave a new turn to fasliion. Jlenee those who 

 employed themselves in the illustration of the elas- 

 sies, in the settlement of various readings, or in 

 making themselves masters of those venerable re- 

 mains of antiquity, soon sunk in j)opular esteem. 

 It became fashionable to represent them as persons 

 void of taste ; as *' word catcliers, that lived on 

 syllables;" as far l)elow the votaries of scienee in 

 dignity. This ridicule sensibly diminislied the 

 public respect for classic literature, and still con- 

 tinues to operate with undiminished force. 



Another cause which has, doubtless, contributed 

 to produce the effect iu question, is the incon- 

 ceivable enlargement of the sphere of enterprise 

 and activity which the past age exhibited. New 

 objects of profit and pleasure have arisen, and en- 

 gaged the public mind ; new fields of labour and 

 adventure have been thrown open ; and, of course, 

 in calculatino- an education for active life, the re- 

 linements of ancient literature began to receive a 

 smaller share of regard. To which may be added, 

 that the increased intercourse of mankind on the 

 one hand, by bringing several living languages 

 more into use, necessarily diverted a share o^ at- 

 tcntion from the ancient; and, on the other, by 

 rendering the study of various modern tongues 

 more easy and useful, took away one important 

 argument in favour of a learned language as a 

 medium of general intercourse. 



It must be admitted that this manifest decline 

 of classic literature has been attended with some 



