Chap. XVIIL] Biography. 367 



to the character, may be safely pronounced to be 

 a plan of biography which, though highly interest- 

 ing, is neither useful nor wise *. 



The manner of M. Bayle has been imitated by 

 many subsequent writers. Of these the most re- 

 markable compiler of individual Lives, in the Eng- 

 lish language, is Mr. Harris, whose biographical 

 works on James I, Charles I, Oliver Cromwell, and 

 Charles II, are generally known, and have been 

 much applauded. 



Many single Lives of eminent men, on different 

 plans, and of various degrees of merit, appeared 

 on the continent of Europe, in the course of the 

 last age. Of these the Life of Fetrarchy by the 

 abb6 de la Sade ; and the Life of Erasmus, by 

 M. Burigni, deserve particular notice. They are 

 both biographical works of great merit, and pro- 

 bably have few^ superiors of their kind in any lan- 

 guage. Perhaps it might be added that the plan 



* There are two extremes into which biographers are apt to 

 fall. The one is adopting a continued strain of eulogy, and en- 

 deavouring either wholly to keep out of view, or ingeniously to 

 varnish over the errours and weaknesses of those whose hves they 

 record. To this fault in biographical writing Mr. Hay ley disco- 

 vers, perhaps, too strong a tendency. If I do not greatly mistake, 

 bis Life of Milton and his Life of Cowper may both be justly im- 

 peached on this ground. The otiier, and a more mischievous, ex- 

 treme is, recording against departed worth, with studied ampli- 

 tude, and disgusting minuteness, the momentary mistakes of for- 

 getfulness, the occasional vagaries of levity, and the false opinions, 

 expressed not as the result of sober reflection, but thrown out 

 either in a mirthful hour or in the heat of disputation. Of the 

 latter fault Mr. Bosv/ell's Life of Johnson furnishes perhaps tlie 

 most singular example. The proper course is between these ex- 

 tremes; and of this course it ia to be lamented tliat we have S(J 

 few models. 



