188 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
ali is fomewhat extraordinary that a 
performance like the Pursuits of 
LITERATURE, compofed of verles with- 
out poetry, and a farrago of Greek and 
Latin notes, without erudition, fhould 
have produced fo much emotion in the 
minds of men of real abilities. 
It is equally aftonifhing that fo much 
trouble fhould be taken for the detection 
of an author or authors, who, when held 
up to public view, could only excite con- 
tempt. Had the poem poffeffed the poe- 
tical and energetic lines of Pope, and 
the notes, the elegant and cauftic profe of 
Junius, fome indulgence might be al- 
lowed to irritability, anda defire of reta- 
ation. But for Giants to complain of 
wounds from the buliruthes of Pigzies, 
conftitutes the we plus ultra of the ridi- 
culous. Since the rage for deteétion 1s 
not yet over, I fhall (to end the farce) 
put the purfuers of the purfuits on a {cent 
that may lead them to the vermin. _ 
The Critical Review for September 
1797; which with a juit feverity attacks 
the Purfuits of Literature, afcribes the 
performance to the author of two nearly 
forgotten things called the Baviap and 
AveviaD. How is it that this than has 
not been called on, to declare, not whe- 
ther he wrote the whole or 20, but whe- 
ther he had not a hand in the pye. A 
Greck-quoting LORD probably too knows 
fomething ot the authors, and may have 
contributed a portion of his literary lead 
to form this monument of malignant 
sveaknefs, and rancorous illiberality. ~ 
IMPARTIAL, 
—— eee i 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
BIR ay 
i ie anonymous author of the Pur- 
of Literature, among many 
ether farcaftical ftrittures on the writers 
of the day, is pleafed with great feverity 
o cenfure the. extravagance of thofe who 
print their works on wove and hot-preff- 
ed paper, whereby they lay a heavy tax 
upon the public, and impede the progrefs 
of knowlelge. See among other paflages, 
p- 149, the lines immediately follow-~ 
ing thole fo juftly animadverted upon: in 
wour jaf number, about’Dr. Parr, and 
Birmingham half-pence. 
Well, if none read fuch works, yet all ad- 
gate —— i 
The paper? Yes; ten shillings every guire * 
The type is Bulmer’s uf? like Boydell’s plays: 
So milter Ha, ley fhines in Milton’s rays. 
' RF, 
tpt 
! Jets 
Purfuits of Literature, its Author, Sc. 
[ Sept. - 
Hereupon follows this note. *¢ Net Dr. 
PaRR’s paper, or printing, which in 
fome of his works is fometime fcarce [for 
fearcely] legible ; but I allude to and con- 
demn the general needlefsly expenhve man 
ner of publifhing mof pamphlets and 
books at this time. If the prefent rage 
of printing on fine, creamy, wire-wove, 
vellum, hot-prefled paper is not [be not] 
ftopped, the injury done to the eye from 
reading---[He had intimated above, that 
‘©none read fuch works’ ]---and the 
fhameful expence of the books, will in 
no very long time annihilate the defire of 
reading, and the poflibility of purchafing. 
No new wark whatever faould be pub 
lifhed in ¢hzs manner, or “literature will 
deftroy itfelf.”’ 
This author, very confiltently has 
avoided the charge of printing his mew 
avork ‘© in this manner.”* But he has not 
confulted the good of his reader’s “ eyes,”* 
for the print in his notes, and efpecially, 
his ** notes: upon notes ** is fo imall and 
indiftinst that I have been almoft blinded 
in reading them.. No “¢ paper or print- 
ing of Dr. Parr’s”’ that ever I faw are 
half fo bad, and few Grub-ftreet publica- 
tions are worfe. But the moft extraordi- 
nary circumftance of all is, that this fru- 
gal gentleman has no more confulted the 
pockets of his readers than their ‘* eyes ;”* 
for behold this fame new work otf his, 
one volume 8vo. containing jult 381 
pages, is charged in the firit leat in ca- 
PITALS 
PRICE EIGHT SHILLINGS AND SIX- 
PENCE IN BOARDS!!! ; 
Query ; what other author would have 
evacted more for the fame work, on 
<¢ wove paper, hot-prefled,”” and a new 
legible type ? Dips 
If we may credit this author himfelf, he 
is actuated by the nobleft of ajl motives. 
P.'205, “I folemnly proteft, [have no 
OTHER OBJECT in vicw in what I have 
written but the GOOD OF MAN in all 
his beft interefts.””. T-leave your readers, 
Sir, to their own reflections, and f leave. 
this difinterefted author in the hands of 
Dr. Parr,’ who will, doubtlefs, be able 
to apply tome Greek quotation which 
‘che will underfand,” the fenfe of which 
may be bef kept from the vulgar. 
: Lam, Sir, &c: PL re 
P. S. JE wonder that when the author 
was adminiftering fuch wholefome chaf- 
tifement to his friend Bz/hop Howr/fley;: he 
did not call him to account for his Circu- 
lar Letter to his'Clergy, recommending 
the French ecclefiaitics (to whom this 
gentleman expreffes fo ftrong an antipa- 
Ca 1p Se Ge 
