30& ^ Recapitulation. 



Another circumstance, which has contributed to 

 characterise the eighteenth century as an age of 

 superficial learning, is the unprecedented circula- 

 tion of Magazines, literary Journals, Abridge- 

 ments, Epitomes, &c., with which the republic of 

 letters has been deluged, particularly within the 

 last forty years. These have distracted the attention 

 of the student, have seduced him fro-m sources 

 of more systematic and comprehensive instruction, 

 and have puffed up multitudes with false ideas of 

 their own acquirements. The mass of new, hastily 

 composed, and superficial works, has engrossed 

 the minds of b}'^ far the greater number of readers, 

 crowded out of view the stores of ancient learning, 

 and even many of the best works of the preceding 

 century, and taught too many to be satisfied with 

 the meagreness of modern comp'ends and compi- 

 lations. It may be safely pronounced, that the 

 eighteenth century, not only with regard to the 

 treasures of classic literature, but also with respect 

 to a knowledge of the best writers of all the pre- 

 ceding seventeen centuries, was retrograde rather 

 than progressive throughout the whole of it& 

 course. 



An additional cause, unfavourable to deep and, 

 sound erudttion, is the nature of those employ- 

 ments which in modern times solicit the atten- 

 tion of mankind. In every age, a great majority 

 of men are destined to a laborious and active life. 

 But in the eighteenth century, the wonderful ex- 

 tension of the commercial spirit, the unprecedented 

 multiplication of the objects and means of mer- 

 cantile speculation, and the numerous tempta- 

 tions to a life of action rather than of study, hare 



