Sfxt. I.] Efiglish Language, 501 



Roman taste. AVliile the writings of sir Josluui 

 Reynolds * and bisliop Watson, more clia^^te and 

 correct, and scarcely interior in force and other 

 beauties, will loni>; be read as admirable models of 

 English composition. 



To the above names miglit be added those of 

 Dr. Beattie, Dr. Blair, and several others, both in 

 North and South Britain, either still living or late- 

 ly deceased, who have.contributed to form and ex- 

 tend a taste for elegant writing. But to these it 

 would be impossible to do justice without engag- 

 ing in a discussion too minute for the limits ot the 

 present sketch. 



In English historical style Hume and Robert- 

 son are, unquestionably, the best models. The 

 former excels in ease, spirit, and interest ; the lat- 

 ter in purity, dignity, strength, and elegance. The 

 great improvement which they have effected in this 

 kind of composition^^ since the lime of Clarendon 

 and of Rapin, must be obvious to the most care^ 

 less reader. Mr. Gibbon has attempted to carry 

 the ornaments of this kind of style much higher 

 than his predecessors had ventured. But it seems 

 to be the opinion of most impartial judges, that 

 many of his favourite ornaments are meretricious; 

 that his loftiness is often nothing more than bombast 

 and affectation ; that what he imagined to be beau- 

 tiful splendour of diction is frequently disgust- 

 ing glare; that aiming at a dignity tar above the 



* In this remrtrk, the charge against the memory of sir J. 

 Reynolds, as having been assisted by Mr. Burke in the composi- 

 tion of those noble discourses which he delivered before the Royal 

 Academy, is taken for granted to be false, or, at least, not true to 

 the extent which has been stated. 



