86 Literary Journals. [Chap. XXI. 



years afterwards, periodical papers were continu- 

 ally announced, and pursued for a little while, 

 under different names, and upon various plans j 

 but they were generally feeble when compared 

 with the noble models which had gone before 

 them, and seldom commanded the public atten- 

 tion for any length of time. Among these might 

 be enumerated the Hiimoiirisf, the Observer^ and 

 a vast multitude of others that rose into view% 

 lived their day, and sank into forgetfulness. The 

 Free-Thinker, Cato's Letters, and the Craftsman, 

 were executed with greater ability, and were also 

 better received, being more devoted to political 

 discussion, than the papers which had gone before 

 them. In 1150 the Rambler appeared, and for 

 the first time presented a rival to the enchanting 

 productions of Addison and his contemporaries. 

 In this work Dr. Johnson, the principal writer, 

 carried the composition of moral essays and 

 instructive narrations, with respect to purity and 

 dignity of sentiment, acuteness of observation, 

 and vigour of style, to a higher degree of perfec- 

 tion than they had ever before reached. Next 

 followed the Idler, also by Dr. Johnson, but less; 

 laboured, and more light and superficial in its cha- 

 racter, than the Rambler. These were succeeded 

 by the Adventurer, the World, the Connoisseur, thq 

 Mirror, the Looker On, the Lounger, and the Ob- 

 server, which generally consist of papers of great 

 merit, and will long be read with pleasure. The 

 numerous unsuccessful attempts which have been 

 made, within a few years past, to revive this mode 

 of writing, seem to indicate that it is nearly ex- 

 hausted; and that to renew and carry it on re- 



