Chap. XI IL] Classic Literature. 227 



But notwithslandincv the decliniii;^ state of clas- 

 .sic literature durini]^ the eighteenlli century, this 

 period was distinguished by a few events and cha- 

 racters wliicli attracted considerable attention, 

 and wliich are worthy of being noticed in the 

 present sketch. 



Though it is certain that tl>c great proficients 

 in classic literature were mucli fewer at the close 

 of the eighteenth century than at its commence- 

 inent, yet, in some respects, these few possessed ad- 

 vantages which none of their predecessors enjoyed 

 Their advantages over them in the following par- 

 ticulars are obvious. A spirit of philosophy has 

 been introduced, during this period, into histo- 

 rical investigations, which, united with unwearied 

 research, has greatly extended our knowledge 

 of ancient manners, and afforded new illustra- 

 tion to ancient writings. The niceties of conjee- 

 tural criticism have been carried, since the time 

 of Bentley, to a greater length than was ever 

 before known. The proper excellencies of st\)U 

 have become lately much better understood than 

 they were at earlier periods of the critical art ; 

 and the reign of just taste among classical com- 

 mentators more generally established. Many o-^^/w- 

 matical rules of the ancient languages, and espe- 

 cially of the Greek language, have been ascer- 

 tained and laid down with a degree of precision \o 

 which former critics were entire strangers. The 

 metres of the ancient poets have been much better 

 understood and illustrated by the commentators of 

 the last century than those of any preceding age. 

 And, finally, by the collation of old manuscripts, 

 nevy light has been thrown on many passages of 



Q 2 



