MEMOIR OF PEINY. 
45 
splendid monument of astonishing industry, in a man 
whose time was so much occupied in the service of 
liis country. In order fully to appreciate its merits 
and importance, we shall direct the reader's attention, 
1st, To its style ; 2d, To its plan; 3d, To its facts. 
The best judges of Latinity have uniformly pass- 
ed the highest eulogium on Pliny as a classical 
writer; perhaps the most worthy of that epithet of 
any that flourished after the age of Augustus. It 
has been justly remarked, that had his writings perish- 
ed, it would have been impossible to restore the lan- 
guage of Virgil and Tacitus ; and this remark must 
be understood, not only with respect to words, but 
also their various acceptations and shades of mean- 
ing when combined into sentences. Every author 
is, more or less, the artisan of his own style ; and 
hence the variety that exists among writers of the 
same country, and on the same subject. The very 
circumstance of being obliged to amass that prodi- 
gious variety of terms and forms of expression, which 
the abundance of his materials rendered necessary, 
has made Pliny’s History one of the richest depots of 
the Roman tongue. It is observable also, that where- 
ever he can Indulge in general ideas or philosophic 
views, his language assumes a tone of energy and 
vivacity, and his thoughts soniew’hat of unexpect- 
ed boldness, which tends to relieve the dryness of 
scientific enumerations. At the same time, it can- 
not be denied that he is too fond of seeking for points 
and antitheses ; that he is occasionally harsh ; and that 
