MEMOIRS OP 



candor to others, in maintaining that it 

 can only be from native littlenefs or ac- 

 quired warp of mind, where the greatnefs 

 and energy of Dr. Darwin's genius and 

 knowledge are denied. Yet let it be re- 

 membered, that it is poetic eminence, not 

 pre-eminence, which has here been de- 

 manded for his mufe. Superlative epi- 

 thets have found no place in his eulogium 

 on thefe pages ; for their author remem- 

 bers and reveres the exalted claims of his 

 poetic predeceffors and contemporaries of 

 the eighteenth century. Incomparable, 

 unrivalled, matchlefs, are terms of applaufe 

 which can only be, with truth, applied to 

 three men of genius in times paft or pre- 

 fent ; to Shakeipear as a dramatic poet ; 

 to Newton as a philosopher ; to Handel as 

 a mufician ; not to Homer, not to Milton, 

 fince they ftand abreaft with each other, 

 and divide the epic palm. Perhaps, with- 

 out trefpafs on literacy truth, Gray might 



alfo 



