364 Blographij. [Chap. XVHT. 



and MciiierSj of Germany ; and by Tenevelli and 

 Fabroniiis, of Italy, deserve honourable distinc- 

 tion. Of many others, perhaps equally worthy of 

 commendation, the author has too little knowledge 

 to enable him to speak, and especially to delineate 

 their character. 

 ^ But among all the Collections of Lives which 

 the eighteenth century produced, the greatest, if 

 not in bulk, yet in sterling merit, is the Lives of 

 the English Poets, by Dr. Samuel Johnson. It is 

 believed that this collection is without a parallel 

 in any language, and certainly unequalled in the 

 history of English literature. The author has been 

 charged, indeed, with discovering strong and even 

 bitter prejudices against some of the best charac- 

 ters which he undertook to review. But admitting 

 this to be true, and in some instances there is 

 perhaps too much foundation for the charge, it 

 may still be asked where the student of polite li- 

 terature will meet with another collection of bio- 

 graphical sketches at once so original, instruc- 

 tive, and entertaining ; with a body of criticism so 

 refined and discriminating ; with a work abound- 

 ing in so many beauties of style, so many just ob- 

 servations on human nature, so many curious and 

 striking remarks on various departments of know- 

 ledge and of life, so many comprehensive views, 

 and all so pure in their moral character, as the 

 Lives of the Poets display ? The stores of literature, 

 it may be confidently pronounced, will furnish 

 him M'ith no such work *. 



* While this warm and unreserved praise is bestowed on Dr. 



