1$6 LETTERS PROM 



it has done nothing yet, and we muft comfort ourfelves 

 with our hopes in futurity. Moreover, it is impoffible 

 for a place, where artifts in all the departments have 

 no Hated opportunities for dii poling of their works, 

 to produce great men in all the departments. Hi- 

 therto only fuch as have been employed about the pub- 

 lic erections have enjoyed this advantage; the encou- 

 ragement for' others has always been too accidental. 

 The king, for a long time pari, has bellowed no atten- 

 tion on it ; and the nobility are not rich enough to do 

 any thing effectually in its favour. If artifts are always 

 obliged to fend their performances abroad for fale, in- 

 deed great men may occasionally arife, but they will 

 not make any long Hay in that place, unlefs at thofe 

 times which may be called peculiarly favourable ; and 

 thofe times do not often arrive. 



I have hitherto fpoke only of artifls : it is but rea- 

 fonable that I fhould fay a word or two now of the 

 learned in this place. Do not, however, be afraid that 

 I lhall take up much of your time on this head ; as you 

 yourfelf are well acquainted with their works, and are 

 far better able to judge of them than I. I do it more 

 for my own juftifi cation, that I may be able to allure 

 you, that I have vilited all the moft famous of thefe 

 perfons, left otherwise you might be induced to fur- 

 mi fe, that I had not concerned myfelf at all about them. 

 With literature, indeed, the cafe is very different from 

 that of the art, though it is not to be denied, that, had 

 it not been for the prefent king, fo many clever heads 

 would not have been found together at once. When 

 Engel was called to the gyinnafium of the valley of 

 Jehoiakim, all the other profefToKS, who, according to 

 the rules of the foundation, are of the reformed religion, 



oppofed 



