500 Modern Languages. [Chap. XV. 



abounds in artificial embellishment, formal mono- 

 tonou5 structure, and elaborated figure; and which, 

 when employed on subjects less digniiied than 

 those of which he usually treated, is extremely 

 faulty. His manner, perverted and extravagantly 

 extended, has led many fashionable writers to sup- 

 pose that a continual glare of metaphor, an un- 

 ceasing effort to exhibit epigrammatic point, and an 

 tmdistinguishing stateliness of march, were among 

 the superior beauties of composition. These faults, 

 togetlier with the short sentences, so much affected 

 within a ^^\w years past by several popular writers, 

 are among the fantastic errours which a spirit of 

 niisguided imitation, or a perverted taste, have 

 brought too much into use. 



It would be unpardonable, in this sketch, not 

 to take notice of several other writers, who, to- 

 ward the close of the century in question, made a 

 distinguished figure in the annals of English style. 

 Among these perhaps the most worthy of our at- 

 tention are the author of the letters of Junius, 

 Mr. Burke, sir Joshua Reynolds, and bishop Wat- 

 son. The remarkable characteristics, and the 

 peculiar excellence of the style of Junius are well 

 known *. Mi-. Burke, though sometimes very in- 

 accurate, yet furnished many specimens of splen- 

 did and forcible eloquence, which would have 

 done honour to the brightest icra of Grecian or 



* The Lctitrs published under the signature of Junius form 

 one of the most curious items in the literary history of the last age. 

 The peculiarity of their style, the boldness of their invective, and 

 the impenetrable veil of secrecy under which their author has left 

 bis name, have excited a degree of attention and speculation rarely 

 bestowed on the ]>roductions of genius. 



