An essay, concerning critical and curious learning in which are contained some short reflections on the controversie betwixt Sir William Temple and Mr. Wotton, and that betwixt Dr. Bentley and Mr. Boyl / by T.R. Esq. Rymer, Thomas, 1641-1713. 1698 Approx. 53 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 40 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-05 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A58018 Wing R2425 ESTC R9362 11906456 ocm 11906456 50690 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A58018) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 50690) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 821:24) An essay, concerning critical and curious learning in which are contained some short reflections on the controversie betwixt Sir William Temple and Mr. Wotton, and that betwixt Dr. Bentley and Mr. Boyl / by T.R. Esq. Rymer, Thomas, 1641-1713. [2], 77 p. Printed for R. Cumberland ..., London : 1698. Reproduction of original in Cambridge University Library. Attributed to Thomas Rymer. cf. BM. Last page signed: T.R. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Temple, William, -- Sir, 1628-1699. Wotton, William, 1666-1727. Bentley, Richard, 1662-1742. Boyle, Robert, 1627-1691. Education -- Early works to 1800. Education -- Philosophy -- Early works to 1800. 2002-12 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-02 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-03 John Latta Sampled and proofread 2003-03 John Latta Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion AN ESSAY , Concerning Critical and Curious Learning : In which are contained Some Short Reflections on the Controversie betwixt Sir WILLIAM TEMPLE AND Mr. WOTTON ; And that betwixt Dr. BENTLEY AND Mr. BOYL . By T. R. Esq LONDON , Printed for R. Cumberland at the Angel in St. Pauls Church-yard . 1698. AN ESSAY , Concerning CRITICAL AND Curious Learning . SIR , IF I am at all capable of undertaking your Commands , it is wholly owing to the Advantage of that Converse you have for some time Honoured me with : But would you be prevailed upon , to lay aside your Authority over me , I could assign the Province to a much more skilfull Hand ; I could wish you would rather have Instructed me your-self upon those Points you have offered to my Consideration , than to exact the little I am able to say upon them . However , in order to begin that Correspondence betwixt us , which your Letter so kindly proposes , and which is so much for my own Benefit ; I will here give my Imperfect Thoughts upon your first Question , viz. Whether Critical and Curious Enquiries are really Conducive to the advancement of solid and useful Learning , or not ? together with my Opinion in general of the Controversie betwixt Sir William Temple and Mr. Wotton , and that betwixt Dr. Bentley and Mr. Boyl . This I shall only do , so far as it will come within the Compass and Form of a Letter ; for I am not at all inclined to engage in a set Methodical Discourse . Tho' the Negative side of this Question may hold very well , if applyed to some superficial Wits and pretended Virtuosi in the World ; yet it can never be supported against those learned Antients and Moderns , that are justly distinguished by the Name of Criticks . For to them we owe what is truly Curious and Entertaining in Philosophy ; and to them we must attribute all those admirable Refinements in the Liberal Arts and Sciences . For had not the Censors of former Times been able , by their great Knowledge of Nature and Reason , to refute the many crude indigested Hypotheses , which frequently were advanced in Athens and Rome ; what whimsical Inventions had Sophisters imposed upon the more unletter'd sort of People , and transmitted down to Posterity , for rare Systems and unusual heights in Philosophy ? and had not the Criticks of latter Ages , when Learning after a long and dark Interval began to dawn and revive again in Europe , been very industrious in Publishing correct Editions of antient Books , and putting Modern Authors upon great Care and exactness in their Writings , that they might at last restore Letters to the World , we had not at this day seen Learning in so flourishing a Condition , nor so many Academies , and places of Polite Literature , where Men are wholly set apart for the Cultivation of Knowledge . There are indeed some Studies , wherein a Scrutinous Curiosity is altogether impertinent and ridiculous ; as when we would busie our Thoughts about things that can neither reform our Morals , nor enlighten our Understandings , when we either sink them to mean and frivolous Niceties , or raise them to secret unknowable Disquisitions . And yet these two Extreams have strangely engaged many great Men. Simonides ( we are told ) undertook to give a positive Definition of the Nature and Essence of GOD : But he soon found his imperfect Capacity could frame no adequate Conceptions of him , no Descriptions , but what were purely Negative . Aristotle , and many other Philosophers , attempted the Solution of several abstruse Phoenomena in Nature ; which we have cause to believe by their bad Success , is beyond the scanty power of Humane Reason . And our Modern Philosophers and Divines are every day raiseing new Hypotheses , and seem resolved to unfold all the Mysteries of Religion . But after all their subtle reasonings and labour'd Disputes , they will find no better Effects of their Studies than Uncertainty and Confusion . For tho' in Justice to our selves we ought to entertain great and worthy Idea's of the excellency of Humane Reason ; yet Experience teaches us , that it is bounded and limitted in many respects , that it is short and imperfect in its Deductions , even in those things that are more immediately within its compass . Why then should some Men be so fond of Speculations , which the wiser part of Mankind have concluded above their Knowledge , and which they themselves must confess to be nothing better than Learned Amusements ? As to the other Extream ; I am so far from admiring those great Men , that have taken wonderful Pains about little insignificant things , as in traceing the rise and progress of Words ; and have written Volumes concerning particular Letters ; that I think they miserably lost their time ; and so will any one that reads their Works upon these Subjects : Whatever can be said upon them is not worth knowing . The Authors indeed may flatter themselves with the Thoughts of some New Discoveries or hidden Secrets ; but the World will never grow wiser for such Labours . We shall not understand the Noble Expressions and Proprieties of Homer , nor the Style and Genius of Thucydides at all the better , for being nicely skill'd in the Chronology of the Greek Tongue ; or for knowing how many Letters Cadmus first found out , and by what Degrees the Alphabet , as we now have it , was compleated . These are frivolous Curiosities , fit only for Pedants and School-masters to amuse their Boys withall ; and are wholly Forreign to the acquisition of solid and real Knowledge . But there are however many kinds of Learning , wherein Curious and Critical Observations are very commendable , and are doubtless Noble Exercises of Humane Understanding . And of all such Studies , methinks that of Experimental Philosophy is the most noble , beneficial , and satisfactory . For the Mind is not there seduced with abstracted Arguments and Chymerical Notions ; but is determined by Demonstration and Matter of Fact. It is the great Instrument by which such admirable Effects in Nature have been discovered , and from whence the constituent Principles of all mixed Bodies are best known , and those Nice Speculations of Phylosophy so excellently grounded . But even this Science , however desirable and entertaining in it self to an inquisitive Genius , may be prosecuted to a great absurdity : As when Men carry on their Experiments to the Land of the Moon ; contrive AErial Engines for our passage thither ; and teach the Learned to fly as familiarly as others walk : When they are resolved to refine so far upon all former Inventions , as to advance New Impossibilities , and instead of improveing useful Navigation , will propose Methods for Ships sailing under Water , and such like Contradictions to Nature . These , I must confess , are Projections that turn upon too subtle and deep Reasons for my comprehension . Others have discovered by the help of their Glasses , that those Insects which are almost invisible to a Naked Eye , have however as distinct parts as we have ; and that a Louse , compared to those liveing Atoms , is a Creature of a monstrous size . There are yet others ; who not only undertake to trace Nature in all her Operations , but will pretend to rival her Works , and produce the same Effects from Artificial Causes . But when Chymists , setting up for Adepti , forget their useful Experiments , and begin to hunt after the Philosophers-Stone ; when they talk of nothing but their Diana , their Quintessence and their secret Physical Matter : When , I say , they are once so besotted as to have these Whimsies in their Head , and to expend their Health , Labour , and Money , in digging for an imaginary Mine in Fairy Ground ; we may reasonably Conclude them in the High Road to Poverty and Confusion . I wonder indeed , how Men of Sense can be taken with those Improbabilities , some Chymical Authors impose upon their Readers : I mean , those Stories about the Vast Quantities of Gold made their Mighty Elixir or Transmuting Powder ; to which they ascribe little less than a kind of Divinity and Omnipotence . I have read in some of their late Books , that it is Authentically recorded , that Ripley , an English Adeptus , sent for many Years successively an Hundred Thousand Pounds of Artificial Gold to the Knights of Rhodes , to maintain the War against the Turks : And that Raymund Lully , another Adeptus , furnished Edward the First with six Myriads of the same Mettal , to carry on the Holy War in the Holy Land. Besides , I have read a great many Tales of Covents , Monasteries , Hospitals , and other Works of Charity , which have been privately founded at the Expence of the Adepti . But a Man must be arrived at Dotage , before he believes this Cant : It can have no better Credit sure with any thinking Person , than a fictitious Narrative in a Romance . To be well skill'd in Chronology is looked upon as a great and necessary piece of Learning . For this Science only gives us a distinct View of the Successive Order of things from the first Accounts of time : It determines and divides the Periods of the most considerable Transactions of past Ages ; which History does not oblige it self to , being chiefly imployed in representing the Causes Vicissitudes and Events of them ; in letting us into the true resorts and intrinsick Contextures of publick and private Negotiations ; and conveying down such Notices and Observations from Antiquity , as may be of Service in the Conduct of all future Occurrences in Humane Life . And therefore without Chronology we should have but an imperfect knowledge of one of the most useful and pleasant Studies in the World. But I could never understand the use or pleasure of that everlasting Contention some Writers have raised amongst themselves , about small Punctilio's and Niceties ; wherein perchance they are much concerned to discover whether Homer or Hesiod did really live first ; to know what Day and Hour such a King or Consul dyed . These little Questions have seem'd so very important , that the World has been troubled with whole Volumes about them ; and after all , the Quarrel ends as it begun . I am as much at a loss too to know the worth of that hidden and remote Knowledge , Antiquaries so much value themselves upon . It is at best but Uncertain and Conjectural , being drawn out of defaced Monuments , Coins , Inscriptions , Calendars , Traditions , Archives , Fragments , and scattered passages of lost Books . These Men however put an higher Esteem on such Treasures , ( as they call them ) than on all the solid and beneficial Studies a Man can apply himself to . To discern the Year of a rusted Medal , or the Date of a Moth-eaten Manuscript , is in their account a greater piece of Learning , than to be acquainted with the Life and Actions of that Emperour whose Image the Coin bears , or to understand the Style and Matter of the Book it self . Perhaps the one kind of Knowledge may cost as much Pains and Labour as the other ; but that only proves their Folly more ridiculous and unpardonable . Grammar is a Science , that is introductory and subservient to most others , and is absolutely Necessary for a Scholar to be well versed in . Without it we could have no acquaintance with the Dead Tongues , from whence is drawn all , or the best part at least of the Learning now in the World. But I need not endeavour to point out the particular Uses of it , as it is applied to Antient or Modern Languages , and examines the Idiotisms and Proprieties of them , and lays down Rules , by which they may be more speedily learned , and more correctly spoken : Every body is well enough acquainted with them , and I know who I am writing to . But Grammar , as it handles those Grounds and Rules that belong to the Philosophy of Letters , in order to frame a New and Universal Language , wherein every word is a Description of the thing it signifies ; is of a vaster extent , and takes in the whole Theory of Nature . To consider the Analogy between words and things , is no doubt a very entertaining Speculation ; and it would be a means to reconcile the two distinguishing Characters of Humane Nature , Speech and Reason . But I believe those few learned Authors that have treated of it , rather proposed their own private Satisfaction , than any publick Advantage to Mankind . Not to mention others , Dr. Wilkins's Essay towards a real Character , is a Book of great Learning , and is justly admired by all that have read and understood it . But it is like those Noble Schemes and Models , that are too fine and exquisite to be put in practice . And I may venture to say , ( but with due Respect to this and other Learned Authors , who have placed it among their Desiderata ) That a Philosophical Grammer is at this time as Useless as a Mechanical one is Necessary . There is another Study , which is of admirable Use and Ornament , and that is Astronomy . But when Men mistake the End and Design of this too , and instead of understanding the Natural Motions and Situations of the Heavenly Bodies , with respect to the Earth , will undertake to give an account of Planetary Influences and Impressions , to Calculate Nativities , to grasp at and anticipate future things , as if they had not enough to do to digest the present . It then becomes a vain and fruitless Impertinence . The common Argument in favour of Astrology is , that since we are assured by Experience it self that Solstices , AEquinoctials , New Moons , Full Moons , and the like greater Revolutions of the Stars do manifestly Operate upon Natural Bodies , it must needs follow , that the more exact and subtle Aspect of the Planets should produce Effects more exquisite and occult , and open a very ample Field to Humane Observation . But this is precariously affirmed , and as weakly applyed . For the greater and more apparent Influences of the Coelestial Bodies are only known to us by meer Conjecture ; and if so , what Hopes can Humane Inquiry have of discovering their more subtle occult qualities , or collecting any certain Consequences from them ? Horace says admirably well , Prudens futuri temporis exitum Caliginosâ nocte premit Deus , Ridetque si mortalis ultrà Fas trepidat . Which Consideration , as well as many others , ought to check the Presumption of those , who pretend to a secret Intelligence from above , and an Immediate Correspondence with Heaven . This is nevertheless , a Study which some Men think worth their Care ; and if at last they attain to the Reputation of an Almanack-maker or Conjurer , they are abundantly satisfied with the Worthy Distinction . There are yet other Sciences , as Geometry and Metaphysicks ; which in some Degrees are extreamly useful and necessary . For without this great Branch of Mathematicks , many parts of Nature could never be fully comprehended , nor clearly demonstrated , nor accommodated to use with any Skill or Certainty . And without Metaphysicks , what Notion could we have of that vast Circle of Knowledge beyond the Sphere of Matter and Motion , which is conversant about Spirits and Incorporeal Substances ? But I should not desire to be a Profound Critick in them . Because , the greatest Acquirements , that could be hoped for , would hardly compensate the infinite Pains a Man must bestow upon them . Not but that I believe Mathematicks afford as substantial a pleasure to those , who are wholly addicted to them , as any other Humane Knowledge whatever . And so do Metaphysicks too ; if we believe the Story of the Famous Avicen , who is said to have been so ravished with Aristotle's Metaphysicks , that upon his first Understanding of them , he bestowed large Summs of Money on the Poor , out of the abundance of his Joy and Gratitude ; and had the patience to read them over forty times , and get them all by Heart . But , I say , however , I can never be perswaded , that it is worth any Man's while to dedicate his Time and Thoughts to those Abstracted Idea's and Theorems in these Knowledges the Learned so much Talk of . This kind of Pleasure is too Exquisite and Refined for the Taste of the present Age ; and we now adays think it no Reflection upon our Understandings , to profess our Neglect and Ignorance of it . The bent of these Times is for Politer Studies . And therefore Critical Learning , in the Modern Acception , is commonly taken for a thorough Understanding of Classick Authors , and an Exact Knowledge of those Rules , by which Men judge and determine nicely of all the finer Parts and Branches of Humane Literature . Aristotle was the first that drew these Rules up into Compass , and made Criticism an Art ; and the Philosopher took such Care to form his Precepts upon the Practice of the best Writers , and to reduce them withal to the severest Test of Nature and Reason ; that he scarcely left any thing for succeeding Ages to do . We find little or nothing in Horace , and the admirable Fragments of Longinus , but what he had in a great measure lay'd down before . The Modern Criticks drain all their Notions from this great Source and Fountain : And tho' later Systems have endeavoured to explode his Philosophy ; yet I find no Reflections on his Criticks , but what are likely to perpetuate that Esteem and Value the World has all along had for them . But in short , he is esteemed a good Critick , who can distinguish the Beauties and Excellencies of an Author ; and discover likewise his Failures and Imperfections . When he makes his Judgment of a Book ; he takes it in pieces , and considers the whole Structure and Oeconomy of it ; What Connexion and Dependance there is between one Part or Argument and another ; whether all Material Circumstances are fully touched upon ; whether any thing less remarkable is too far spun out , and dilated . Then he proceeds to a Consideration of the Style ; how that is suited and accommodated to the Nature of the things it treats of ; how the Language is worked together and digested ; how the Figures and Proprieties of Speech are used . And here we see a Critick in this sense has a vast Room and Scope for his Observations , wherein he may shew his Judgment and Learning ; and be very Instrumental in the Propagation of Arts and Sciences . But it is sometimes urged against Criticism , that too regular an adherence to the Forms and Measures of it , is a Restraint upon a Writers Invention , and does more harm than good in Composition . For that the Imagination cannot so freely diffuse and expand it self , when it is obliged to any Bounds or Limits whatever . Which Argument is sometimes illustrated and supported by that Famous Example of an Ungovernable Genius in Heroick Vertue , I mean that of Alexander the Great ; whose Vast Ambition never failed to hurry him beyond the due Measures of Conduct : Upon which very Account , ( say they ) his Exploits had always something in them wonderfully Surprizing and Astonishing . Whereas Caesar's Actions , that were more Cool , Deliberate and Proportioned to the Rules of Prudence and Policy , never give us such an Exalted Sublime Idea of his Fortitude as we must necessarily entertain of the Greek Hero's . The Friends too of our great Dramatick Writer , Shakespear , will not be perswaded , but that even his Monstrous Irregularities were conducive to those Shining Beauties , which abound in most of his Plays ; and that if he had been more a Critick , he had been less a Poet. But , I say , notwithstanding this ; good Conduct in War is no hindrance to the boldest Undertakings . For any one that knows History , knows that if Caesar had neglected it , his Atchievements had never been so glorious , nor Alexander's neither . Those astonishing ( I might call them accidental ) Victories , which the latter gained , betrayed ( many of them at least ) more of Fool-hardiness than Valour . And a due Observation of Critical Rules , that is , a strict attendance to the Rules of Nature and Reason , can never impede or clog an Author's Fancy ; but rather produce and enlarge it . They may as well urge , that good and wholesome Laws , which enjoyn nothing but what a Rational Nature would otherwise oblige us to , take away the Liberty of Mankind ; whereas they are the very Life and Security of it . Now I am nameing Invention and Composition , I cannot but reflect on the Use and Advantage of a frequent application to them . Which is another Argument in Favour of your Proposals ; and you will therefore Pardon a short digression upon this Head. It was the Opinion ( you know , Sir , ) of one of the greatest Men of Antiquity , that all Knowledge was but Reminiscence , and that it was innate in the Soul , tho' obscured and darkened by our grosser part more or less , according to the particular Disposition and Temperament of the Body . The allowance of which Principle would doubtless teach us , that to exert these Original Seeds of Science , we must often use and stretch our Intellectual Powers . For thus the Mind would as it were dilate it self , and by degrees correct the Tone and Habitude of the Organs . But whether there be any Truth in the Philosophers Doctrine or no , this is most certain , that all the Faculties of the Mind , both active and passive , are mightily heightened and improved by Exercise . But if they are neglected and unimployed , they will shrink and contract themselves , and be unable to answer their proper Functions . Which ( as the Experiments of our Modern Virtuosi have plainly demonstrated ) is true also as to some Properties of inanimate Bodies . Our Reason , which is an Active Principle , would , if for some time stifled and suppressed , in a great measure loose that Sagacity and Acuteness implanted in it . The Memory , which is more perceptive and passive , could neither retain nor return those Idea's and Images recommended to it , unless it were often proved and examined . It would have but a very Dark and Unfaithful Conception of Things , unless we sometimes recollected and produced our Notions . If we never Committed our Thoughts to Writing , the Invention would become faint and sluggish for want of breathing ; and the Iudgment could never determine aright of that huddled perplexed Chaos of Knowledge , or rather Ignorance , we should have within us . It is the Condition and Circumstance of Humane Nature , under its present Depression , to acquire Science but by Steps and Gradations . The Conveyances to our Understanding , are too gross to be consistent with an immediate Intuition , which is the Happiness and Prerogative of Spiritual Intelligences only : Whereas the Mind of Man takes Impressions from External Objects ; and these Impressions make her reflect upon the Nature of the thing , from whence she receives them , leading us through a long Chain and Series of Thoughts before we can arrive at any Conclusions . Now in Order to bring these Conclusions to some Clearness and Perfection , we must often ruminate upon them , we must turn our Thoughts into Words and Expressions ; and thus we shall instruct and inform the very Mind that produces them , by putting it still upon a more intense Application . For we doubtless understand our selves better by expressing the Idea we have formed within , than we possibly can by Private Thoughts and Internal Reflections , which are always a little dark and cloudy . The Image becomes more clear and determinate , when it is set in open Light , and is , as it were , a second time submitted to the Censure of the Mind . We cannot so easily flatter our selves with false Beauties and Appearances . Our Judgments will reform the Mistakes our Vanity might before have fondly entertained , and give us a juster and more exact View of our Abilties . Thus we shall understand the real Compass and Circle of our Knowledge : We shall digest and settle what we have already imbibed , and be the better able to proceed to further Improvements . We shall discover our own Natural Infirmities or Defects , and consequently may learn to apply proper Remedies and Reliefs to them . It has been a Controverted Question in Philosphy , An omnes animae sint aequales ? and tho' I would not undertake to maintain the Affirmative in all points ; for why should not our Souls be of different Statures and Complexions as well as our Bodies ? Yet I am thus far of the Opinion , as to think , that no Man's Soul is so unluckily formed , so sunk and immersed in his Body , that it cannot by due care be made to exert it's Faculties , and advanced to a considerable degree of Knowledge . Not that I would therefore conclude , that it is positively in every Man's power , provided he uses his utmost Industry , to reach what Perfection he pleases in any Science . All are not blest with the same portion of Genius : Nature has visibly framed and fashioned some Men to particular things ; wherein they proceed with a great deal of Ease and Delight ; the Native Tendency and Propension of their Souls concurring with their Diligence and Labour . On the other hand , it is equally difficult , if not impossible , to turn the Stream , and be successful in spight of Nature . Whereof we have a remarkable Instance in the Famous Cicero , who , tho' he was very fond of Ingenious Men and Writings , and spared no time nor pains to have made himself as considerable a Poet , as he was an Oratour ; yet his Verses are so extreamly Unpoetical , that the Criticks cannot allow him any Title or Pretension at all to the Character . And yet we must not altogether condemn his Poetical Essays , when we consider what he himself somewhere suggests in his own Defence , that such Exercises did not only relieve and unbend his Thoughts from severer Studies , but were of great use to him in his other Composures : They furnished him with the knowledge of Figurative Ornaments ; with that fertility of Imagination , and that Beauty of Conception , which is the Mother of Eloquence , and of all that is graceful in Speaking . So that Invention in any kind will turn to some Advantage or other ; There will either be Pleasure or Profit , and still the Mind must be improved . But to return . It too often happens , that those who now adayes set up for the Censors of Writings are byassed by Partiality ; and in spight of all their specious Pretences , a strong Tincture of ill Nature and Virulence unhappily appears in every Line . They commonly tell us indeed in their Prefaces , that they have dealt very handsomly and candidly with the Authors they comment upon ; and that a Critick ought to be as Cautious and Impartial in determining a Man's Reputation , as a Iudge in the Decision of his Fortune . But all this is soon forgot : For when we come to the Remarks themselves , we are entertained with nothing but continual Snarling and Insolence . The poor Writer is used most inhumanely for the ill Cadence of a Verse , or the Ruggedness of a Period : And if by chance he has offended against any of the smallest Precepts of Aristotle , &c. then to be sure , there is no Mercy nor Quarter for him . The little Lapses of a Pen , and sometimes the Errata of the Press , cannot be passed by without a strange Disgust and and Severe Reprimand . And rather than not swell up his Annotations to a just Volume , this mild , inoffensive , good natured Creature , will acquit his Conscience , and fall foul upon the Author's Morals ; will give us an account of his Religion , Estate , and Pedigree ; or if he has the least Reason to suspect his Friend has none , he is very free in discloseing that Secret too . I am sorry some Pieces lately written on good Subjects , and by good Hands , ( which I forbear to Name ) have fallen under this Censure , and for want of a prudent Conduct have lost a great part of that Reputation they might otherwise have justly claimed . Thus Criticism dwindles into down right Raillery and Aspersion , and we must take it , as we find it , a Composition of a great deal of Dogmatical Arrogance and ill Nature mingled with a very little Wit and Discernment ; which is the Reason it has so small Effect upon those Scriblers who every day crowd the Press with their senseless Productions . But if Critical Writers would lay aside their private Piques ; and employ themselves only in pursuing the main Business of their Art , The Reformation and Finishment of Letters , they would prove extraordinary Members in the Common-Wealth of Learning . But 'till Men will divest themselves of the prevailing Affections of Humanity , this Candor and Ingenuity is rather to be wished for than expected . Not that I would here be supposed to insinuate , that the present Age hath not actually produced Men of as Considerable Abilities and accurate Learning , as any other Age of the World. For never did Men follow Reason with more steddiness , nor prosecute their Studies to greater Purpose and Advantage , than at this day ; as might be proved from several instances not only in the more abstruse Sciences , but in those of Humanity too , had not the Argument been sufficiently controverted already by some Modern Criticks both of this and our Neighbour Nations . But I promised to give you my Opinion of some late Books . I will begin first with Mr. Wotton 's Reflections on Antient and Modern Learning , which he has reprinted not long since with Amendments and Additions . I shall not enter into the Merits of the Cause with him , or pretend to answer his Elaborate Work in an hasty Dissertation . For his Design of giving the World an History of Learning , is doubtless a very Useful and Commendable Undertaking ; and I think he has in General , chosen the better side of the Argument . My Intention is only to consider cursorily his manner of handling it ; and this , I doubt , will not appear so Generous as the Design it self . He , has you know , opposed Sir William Temple , one of the most Gentlemanly Writers of our Age and Nation ; but not with so much Respect and Decency as became either his own , or Sir William's Character . I cannot imagine what Reason he had for it ; unless he thought it might be some Honour to him , if he could provoke ( tho' rudely ) so worthy an Antagonist to enter the Lists with him . But he was unluckily disappointed in that part of his Design , and has therefore in this Second Edition retracted many of those undervaluing Criticisms , that are too frequently urged and insisted upon in the first . But as to the Book it self . It seems Mr. Wotton was engaged by some Friends , or Patrons , to try what could be said in Defence of Modern Learning , against that of the Ancients . Upon which account he found himself obliged to Consider , who had appeared on the other side . And therefore , least he should be accused of betraying his Cause , proclaims open War against Sir William Temple , for having written an Essay in Honour of the Ancients . In order to subdue this popular Adversary , he nicely examines every Word that seems disagreeable to his own Notions ; and , least any thing should be wanting to compleat his Victory , quarrels with him about insignificant Trifles wholly forreign to his Point . Any other Man would have thought it sufficient to have refuted the Arguments in general , without citeing and referring so particularly to almost every Line . But then Mr. Wotton had lost his End ; it was his Business to attack Sir William Temple . And therefore he begins his Book like a good Disputant , with General Reflections on the state of the Question ; then proceeds to examine his Hypothesis , and talks much of inquiring into the particular points , that arise from his General Propositions ; of controverting his Arguments ; of using proper Mediums ; of reasoning severely , &c. Who , upon reading this , would not imagine our Reflecter had some knotty Syllogistical Piece to deal with ; and was at least supporting the Reformation and Church of England against a Second Bellarmine ? But all this mighty Bustle is how to confute an Essay ; which is so far from being penned in a Scholastick or Polemical Way , that it is writ ( as all this Author's Works are , and as all Essays certainly ought to be ) in the most easie unaffected Style imaginable . Which is more than I can say of Mr. Wotton's Book ; for ( tho' I read it with no manner of Prejudice , but with a desire only of being pleased and informed ) it appears to me to be done in a stiff artificial manner . There is indeed a Flowingness of fine Language , and Rapidity of smooth Numbers and Periods ; but then the same dance and chime of Words is eternally sounding in one's Ears , and the same fine Expressions brought in over and over again , and affected even to an Impropriety ; the most nauseous Entertainment a Reader can have . For We love Variety ; and the best Expressions , as well as Things , constantly reiterated will certainly disgust . But this may look very odd , ( especially to the Logical Reasoning Mr. Wotton ) to assert all , and prove nothing ; and yet I am resolved neither to trouble you nor my self with quoteing his Book , which would be the only way , I know of , to prove any thing for or against his Style . I must therefore appeal to your own Judicious Taste for the Truth of what I say ; and in the mean time I will venture to assert one thing further , viz. That whatever becomes of Sir William Temple's Hypothesis , his Essay will always be read with more Pleasure , than Mr. Wotton's Reflections with Profit . For , notwithstanding all his mighty Pomp and Boast of much Reading , if we come to examine what Discoveries he has made , what new Lights he hath given the World on this Subject , I believe we shall find nothing , that was not well known before to any Man of the least acquaintance with Letters . And if he was as considerable , as he thinks himself , that is , so considerable as to represent the Learning of the present Age , these Reflections might very well be alledged against him by those of the Opposite Party , and silence him at once . Perhaps you may fancy by this General Dislike , that I am byassed in my Opinion , but I assure you what I have said is my real Judgment , which tho' it may be mistaken , is however Impartial . I have no Design of gaining Sir W. Temple's Favour , or incurring Mr. Wotton's Displeasure . I only take the Liberty ( which all Authors must allow their Readers ) of speaking my Thoughts freely , and as such I offer them to You. I have now done with Mr. Wotton , and am come to his Friend Dr. Bentley . Who has for some Reasons best known to himself , not only engaged a single Gentleman , but a whole Society , upon a much less important Argument than that of Antient and Modern Learning ; viz. Whether those Epistles and Fables commonly ascribed to Phalaris and AEsop , &c. be truly genuine or not ? The Debate is now depending ; and , however insignificant You and I may take it to be , is prosecuted with as much Heat and Contention on both sides , as if some Article of Eternal Life was immediately concerned in it . I shall not presume to interpose one word in so hot a Dispute ; only as a Stander-by I may be allowed to give my Sentiments of their Behaviour that manage it . First then , The Ground of the Quarrel is generally looked upon as highly ridiculous on the Dr's . part , even allowing the matter of Fact to be just as he himself has stated it . For there was no such keen Sting in the Words he resents , [ viz. collatas etiam ( sc. Epistolas ) cum MSo . in Bibliothecâ Regiâ , cujus mihi copiam ulteriorem Bibliothecarius pro singulari suâ humanitate negavit ] that could have provoked any discreet or sensible Man , whose time did not lye upon his hands , to write a Long and Laboured Dissertation ( on a Subject widely remote from his Profession , and of little or no advantage at all to any other part of the Learned World , ) that he might have a proper Opportunity of retaliating upon his Adversaries . But if he denied Mr. Boyl the King's Manuscript in so rude a manner , as is pretended on the other side ; I think Mr. Boyl was so far from being the Aggressor , that he was obliged in his own Defence , to give the World some Reason why it was not collated ; and he could not say less than he did in his Preface . This is my Opinion of the beginning of this Controversie : But the Dr. perhaps knew better how to apply the Reflection than I do ; and had therefore Reason not to brook it . But before he could conveniently retort this bitter unpardonable Irony , he found it necessary to complement Mr. Boyl out of his Title to the Edition of Phalaris ; that he might clear his way to some other Gentlemen he had a greater mind to be dealing with , and fix the Affront ( as he pretends ) where it ought to be . All this while Mr. Boyl is made a Child and a Tool of , to serve these malicious Ends. He is a Thing of great hopes , and as such the Dr. says he is willing to encourage him . But is so far from looking upon him as a suitable Antagonist , that out of his great Goodness and Condescension he offers by way of Tutor , to give him a clearer View into the Depths and Secrets of Learning , than those Ignorant Pretenders , under whose Care he was bred , have been able to do . The Style of this Book is as remarkable for it's Roughness and Operoseness , as Mr. Wotton's for its Flowingness . But instead of venturing to Criticize upon it , I have here rather chose to Transcribe a few Lines , which may serve to give you a small taste of the Man as well as the Book . In the Prelude to this grand Dispute he looks bigg , and says , Phalaris has the Plea and Right of Possession , and I shall not go to dispossess him , as those have done before me , by an Arbitrary Sentence in his own Tyrannical way ; but proceed with him upon lawful Evidence , and a fair impartial Tryal . And I am very much mistaken in the nature and force of my Proofs , if ever any Man that reads them persist in his old Opinion of making Phalaris an Author . After he has quite confounded the Epistles , he proceeds to his Triumph over the Late Edition ; and gives an Account of his own Extraordinary Character and Learning , in the following Words . Pro singulari suâ humanitate ! I could produce several Letters from Learned Professors abroad , whose Books our Editors may in time be fit to read ; wherein these very same words are said of me candidly and seriously . For I endeavour to oblige even Forreigners by all Courtesie and Humanity ; much more would I encourage and assist any useful Designs at home . And I heartily wish I could do any service to that young Gentleman of great hopes , whose Name is set to the Edition . I can do him no greater at present , than to remove some blemishes from the Book , which is ascribed to him ; which I desire may be taken aright , to be no Disparagement to himself , but a Reproof only to his Teachers , &c. While I write this , I cannot but fancy it is dictated to me by some Haughty School-master , with his Rod in his Hand . It has such a strong Tang of that kind of Pride , that no Body else could have said it . He professes indeed to dislike an arbitrary Tyrannical Way of Writing ; but has not Skill enough at the same time to conceal it in himself . But why should I quarrel with the Dr. for that which is a fault in his Nature , and which he has as little Inclination as Power to correct ? I have nothing more to add , only to assure him I am not singular in my Sentiments . The same Censure is passed upon his Book by all I have discoursed with about it : And some of them were such as had no great Friendship for his Adversaries . You are by this time probably prepared to expect I should determine in favour of Mr. Boyl , ( his Quarrel I mean , for I do not interfere with the Argument . ) And truly so I should , if he had not lately printed a Book in his own Defence ; which I will here give you a short touch of : But it must be in the same superficial manner I have done of the Two Books already dismissed . This Piece cannot be exempted from as many Faults at least , as have been charged upon the Dr's . They are indeed Faults of a different kind : The Dr. all along entertains his Reader with Insolence and Pedantry ; and this Gentleman with School-boy's Jests and little Witticisms . Two Extreams equally distant from fine Satyr ; which I the rather mention , because I believe it was more immediately both their Aims , than any true design to Examine the Argument in Debate . But Mr. Boyl has in a great measure acknowledged , that this is not his Performance . For he says , he employed some Friends at Christ-Church , to consult such Authors as would be of use to him . And I believe the Wits of that place could hardly content themselves with dry Citations only , and not be provoked now and then to exercise the Talent they are so remarkeable for ; especially in a Case that concerned them so nearly . There are many more Reasons to suspect Mr. Boyl in this than in the Edition of Phalaris . But I shall only hint at such , as will be no Dishonour for him to acquiesce in . Any one Person certainly would have been quite weary of jesting , before he had swell'd a Book to half this Volume . And as for the Honour of the Quotations , he himself does not contend for it . If I may be permitted to suggest my own Opinion ; I fancy this Book was written ( as most Publick Compositions in that College are ) by a Select Club. There is such a profusion of Wit all along , and such variety of Points and Raillery , that every Man seems to have thrown in a Repartee or so in his turn , and the most Ingenious Dr. Aldrich no doubt was at the Head of them , and smoaked and punned plentifully on this Occasion . It brings the old Character of Christ-Church very fresh into my Mind ; which you may remember distinguished it self from the rest of the University , not by its Extraordinary Learning , but its abominable Arrogance . Methinks a little Consideration would have restrained their Fury against Dr. Bentley , for being guilty of their own darling Fault ; and which the World will justifie him in returning upon them . Pride and Insolence are certainly as allowable in him , who is a Scholar , as in some young Men , who cannot reasonably be supposed to be so . Not that I would justifie such a Character in any Man of twice Dr. Bentley's Learning ; for he has made himself ridiculous by it , as I have observed before . But I would very fain know what Prerogative some People have of sanctifying it in themselves , when they have naturally such Scorn and Contempt for it in others . The Dean , instead of checking this intolerable Temper , encourages and promotes it by his own worthy Example . It is not long since he published a small Compendium of Logick , for the Use of Mr. Boyl , ( upon which account I name it , ) wherein he gives a Specimen of his haughty Dogmatical Humour , and takes all Opportunities of inveighing very warmly against the Author of L' Art de Penser , a most ingenious and useful Writer . He makes nothing of calling him Coxcomb , Fool , and Blockhead , for dareing to dissent from Aristotle , and for presumeing to advance any thing New , upon a Subject that great Man had quite exhausted so many Ages before him . One would imagine that this learned Dr. had done his Master Stagyrite some Notable Service . But his Book is only an Epitome of Sanderson , and one of the worst , most obscure Epitome's I ever read . He has forsooth endeavoured to turn Sanderson's plain intelligible Language into terse polite Latin : Which Sanderson could have done as well as he , had he not industriously avoided it , and with good reason . For he knew , if the Phrase was too laboured , the Rules would still become more obscure ; and the Student consequently perplexed with an unnecessary Pomp and Ornament of Style . But this will be no Fault , when the present Controversie comes to be turned into Latin. Pedantry is another thing , which they have severely branded Dr. Bentley with . But this too might have been spared as well as his Insolence , and upon the same Account . For it is as errant a sign of Pedantry to spend ones Time in publishing bad Editions of Old Authors , and to be highly sollicitous about the various Readings of them , which former Editions have only neglected , because they were insignificant ; as to affect the Use of hard words , and to lard English Writings with Greek and Latin. I think Dr. Aldrich is pretty Notorious at present , for imploying his young unexperienced Students this way . He betrayed Mr. Boyl into the impertinent Controversie he and his Friends are now engaged in ; and is still involving others in the Quarrel . We have lately had an Edition of some of AEsop's ( or , as they are called , AEsopical ) Fables , in the Preface to which , the young Editor , with a Pertness peculiar to that College , has made a very slighting mention of Dr. Bentley . Such a one as I think the Dean ought to have retrenched upon the score of good Breeding ; a thing they so frequently exact from others . But instead of that , I find in another Book published last Week , called Examen Poeticum Duplex , &c. that he has suffered some of his College to make Sport with him in their Occasional Compositions . Amongst other things , some Body has endeavoured his Character in two Epigrams , one of which I have here transcribed for You. I am assured they were made in Christ-Church , and either by the Dean himself , or a Brother Doctor at least . Intellectus agens illuminat phantasmata . Ad R. B. Bibliothecarium philocriticum . Quidam acer doctusque ( ipsi si credere possis ) Scriptorum judex , & benè notus homo , Dum terit assiduè chartas , rigidique magistri Argutum examen vocula quaeque Jubit ; Saevit● atrox impunè hinc inde minantia vibrat Arma , ferus calamo , nec minùs ungue ferus . Arbiter ipse unus : Quippe hic mihi perplacet Author , Sit sacer ; ille mihi displicet , intereat . Ille idem mancis reddit sua membra Poetis , Siqua dies rapuit longa , vel ignis edax . Quicquid Aristotelis Gellive intercidit , illi Tam notum , quàm qui prostat ubique liber . Praevidet ille etiam seclô scribenda futuro , Et nondum natum mente revolvit opus . Bacchetum aspexti ? minimè , nec curo ; necesse est Haec fari , haud aliter scribere , novi hominem . O quàm deliri vis est foecunda cerebri ! Quid non ingenii vivida flamma potest ? Te praebente facem pellucent , Mome , tenebrae , Splendorem fumus , somnia pondus habent . Another Gentleman , of the same College , has strained hard in a Poem , intitled Articuli Pacis , to bring in a smart Verse upon him , viz. Anglo-Graeco-Latino-crepundia Bentleiana . But it may be some Satisfaction to the Dr. that these are by no means the best Copies in the Collection . I have just read it over , and because I know you have a Value for such things , will send it you ( with those Books you mentioned ) by the first Opportunity . I think I cannot make a better Present of the kind . But I had almost forgot what an Acquaintance of ours has often said upon this Argument , in Opposition to Dr. Bentley , that if he had had either good Manners or good Sense , he would never have hastily fallen upon a Learned Body , that was so very able to justifie it self , and to confound him , it being the most likely way to make a Shipwreck of the little Reputation he had got . In Answer to this , ( for you see I have changed sides , and as the Case now stands , am entirely for the Dr. ) I have already confessed it my Opinion , that he was too forward in provoking the Dispute , and that he engaged himself in a great deal of unnecessary Trouble when he did it . But I cannot agree with our Friend in my Reasons why I think so . For he would have the College a Match infinitely above Dr. Bentley ; whereas I think , that part of it which was at first concerned was rather below him , and upon that Account the Dr. should have been silent . He represents them as too formidable a Society for any single Person to encounter , without Shipwrecking his Reputation , tho' he has the Truth on his side . But a Multitude is not always terrible , because it thinks it self so . Dr. Bentley knew well enough the World had no such Opinions of them , and that both his Character and Argument would stand secure against all the weak Efforts they could make ; which I fancy was one great Reason of his being too warm in his first Resentments . I hear he has now prepared an Answer to their Book , which I much wonder at . For the Abusive Part of it is so blunt and ungenteel , that it does not affect his Reputation at all ; and the Authorities in the other are so falsly cited and misapplied , that they answer themselves . In my little Reading , I can perceive several Mistakes , and I doubt not but the Dr. and others , who are more conversant in such Authors , are able to detect many more . But if I might advise both Parties , they should employ their Time and Pains upon some more Useful Subject . There has been too much Dust raised about this already . Thus , Sir , you see , by striving to say a great deal in so narrow a Compass and short a Time , I have scarce said any thing ; I have but just named those Topicks , that should have been minutely considered , to have done the Subject right , rather proposing all along than proving my Opinions , which I submit to your better Judgment . And I hope you will put the most Favourable Construction upon my Endeavours , if I have been more willing than able to Observe your Commands . I am SIR , Yours , &c. T. R. In page 13. line 7. r. made by their