LIFE AT OXFOKD. 41 



It will be observed, from the extracts I have subjoined, that he 

 writes of the manner in which his work is to be arranged with con- 

 siderable confidence ; a tone observable in all he says, not the result 

 of mere youthful self-complacency, but of that consciousness of 

 power which accompanies genius, quickened by the freshness of 

 new studies, and an increasing capacity to discern and appreciate 

 the beauties and difficulties of the subjects laid before him. The 

 various compositions resulting from the above plan, which have 

 been preserved, give the same impression of easy power and well- 

 balanced judgment, combined with a sensitiveness keenly alive to 

 delicacy of thought, and a ready sympathy with those feelings which 

 are excited by natural causes. Unlike most juvenile essays, they 

 display no affected or maudlin sentiment ; there is no exaggeration 

 or " fine writing ;" the characteristic qualities, in fact, are clearness 

 and sagacity, the true foundations of good criticism ; forming, in 

 conjunction with wide knowledge and sympathies, the beau-ideal, 

 afterwards in him exemplified, of what a critic should be, whose 

 judgments will five as parts of literature, and not merely talk about 

 it. As an example of the qualities now indicated, I may mention 



writers tipon the different branches of hnman knowledge ; reflections upon law, history, philoso- 

 phy, theology, and poetry, will be classed under separate heads ; and if my information upon the 

 useful and interesting subject of political economy can be reduced to any short discussions upon 

 disputed or fundamental principles, or to a collection of maxims, such as form the groundwork of 

 wider inquiries, observations upon the different theories of economists will form part of my pro- 

 jected plan. In following out this general view, it will frequently happen that I shall have occa- 

 sion to enter fully into the discussion of questions that have been merely suggested to me by the 

 allusion of authors; and, accordingly, essays of some length will constitute a considerable part of 

 my plan. 



" With regard to the department of poetry, original verses of my own composition will be fre- 

 quently introduced, sometimes with the view to illustrate a principle, and often with no other end 

 than self-gratification. 



"If, in the course, of my epistolary correspondence, any interesting subjects of literature should 

 be discussed, thoughts thus communicated to me will be inserted in the words of the writer, under 

 the head to which they may belong, and accompanied by my own remarks upon them. 



"Should any reflections upon men and manners occur to my mind, even with regard to the 

 general characters of mankind, or the particular dispositions of acquaintances and friends, they 

 shall be written down as they occur, without any embellishment. 



"In short, this commonplace-book, or whatever else it may be called, will contain, as far as it 

 goes, a faithful representation of the state of my mind, both in its moments of study and retire- 

 ment. I will endeavor to concentrate the different radii of information upon literary topics, im- 

 pressions with regard to human life, and feelings of my own heart, in cases when that can be done 

 with good effect. In referring to these pictures of my mind at different periods, I shall be able to 

 estimate the progress I have made in intellectual acquirements, and the various changes that have 

 taken place in my modes of thinking and feeling. 



"I shall learn to know myself. In future times it will be pleasing to behold what I once was 

 and what I once thought; and if I contemplate the acquirements of my youth with any thing like 

 contempt, it will, I trust, proceed from a conviction of real superiority and virtue. 



"Magdalen College, June S, 1803." 



