33Z4 
 "B65 
 

 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 u 
 
 
 L_ ^4) c<r- 7> 
 , ",-
 
 'THE 
 
 PROGRESS OF SATIRE 
 
 AN 
 
 ESSAY IN PERSE. 
 
 WITH NOTES, 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 REMARKS ON "THE PURSUITS OF LITERATURE.' 
 
 SECOND EDITION, 
 WITH CONSIDERABLE ADDITIONS. 
 
 non fi <juid turbida Roma 
 
 Elevet, accedas ; examenque improbum in ifta 
 Caftiges trutina. ferf, 
 
 Wkat, if an addle-headed Public praife 
 
 The proud conceited Pedant's rumbling lays, 
 
 Shall we not weigh his infolent pretence 
 
 In jufter fcales, the fcales of Truth and Senfe ? 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR J. BELL, NO. 148, OSFORD-STREIT.
 
 33 A V 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 1 H E approbation with which the following 
 Eflay has been received by * many of the beft 
 judges, and, indeed, by the public in general, 
 has induced me to revife it with care, and en- 
 deavour, by confiderable additions and improve- 
 ments, to render it more worthy of their notice. 
 I am, however, fenfible it can claim but little 
 
 * Among thefe I could mention two, at leaft, of the four 
 gentlemen in whofe fuppofed approbation my adversary 
 triumphs. But I fcorn to quote the private converfations of 
 any man in favour of my work. It is equally unfair and 
 mean in an anonymous writer j fince the public at large have 
 no means of knowing whether he fpeaks truth, or not. Let 
 that public decide (and they will decide juftly in the end), 
 whether the little Satirifl's Poem ($s he calls it) or this Eflay 
 is written with mod candour, tafte, or even poetical fpirit. 
 
 A 2 merit 
 
 868413
 
 iv PREFACE. 
 
 merit, except in the intention ; which is, not 
 to retaliate any perfonal infult myfelf or friends 
 may have fuftained, but to mew to the public, 
 and particularly to men of literature, how un- 
 becoming it is in itfelf, and how prejudicial to 
 the interefts of learning, to encourage anony- 
 mous Satires; the authors of which, being fecure 
 from all effectual refponfibility, attack indif- 
 criminately the moft refpectable characters, and 
 laugh at every appeal to the laws of candour 
 and good-nature. 
 
 The reader of this who may have perufed 
 the Letter prefixed to the later editions of the 
 Ptirfttits of Literature^ will probably be of 
 opinion that the Author's defence (if it can be 
 deemed one) againft the charge of perfonal 
 malignity is chiefly directed to the objections 
 urged againft him in this work. He difdains, 
 indeed, to name any of his adverfaries, or to 
 reply in detail to any one of their accufations. 
 This is convenient : this is worthy of the 
 GREAT AUTHOR ; who, like the Great Nation y 
 may condefcend to do an injury, but mould 
 never condefcend to repair, or even fairly to 
 defend it. 
 
 But
 
 PREFACE. r 
 
 But let him, if he dares, come to the point. 
 Let hi;n,inftead of flickering himfelf under gene- 
 ral expreffionSjjuftify \heirtftances of mifconduct 
 brought forward in this publication. If he de- 
 clines to do this, may not the contempt with 
 which he affects to treat his adverfaries (adding 
 infult to injury) be retorted by an indignant 
 public on himfelf ? 
 
 Adverting, however, in the mean time to the 
 leading topics of this notable defence, let us 
 confider whether the principles laid down by 
 him are not often unjuft, and whether they are, 
 at all events, applicable to thofe inftances of the 
 writer's mifconduct which have been repeatedly 
 produced. 
 
 " Playfulnefs and humour," he complains, 
 " have received other appellations ;" viz. (I 
 prefume, for his delicacy does not permit him 
 to name them,) ill-nature and infolence. A few 
 queftions will enable the public to decide on 
 this point. 
 
 i. Is it playfulnefs and humour (or does it 
 
 deferve thofe other appellations) to blend with 
 
 A 3 the
 
 vi PREFACE. 
 
 the opinion of an Author's work a reprefenta- 
 tion, or rather mifreprefentation, of his private 
 concerns, for the purpofe of rendering his cha- 
 racter ridiculous*? In other words, Does every 
 man who publifhes a book expofe thereby all 
 his private life to farcaftic obfervation and 
 obloquy ? 
 
 2,. Is it " playfulnefs and humour" to mif- 
 reprefent the origin and object of a charitable 
 inftitution, for the purpofe of ridiculing that in- 
 flitution, or fome perfon who endeavours {o 
 promote it-f ? 
 
 3. Is it were playfulnefs and humour (with- 
 out the leaft mixture of ill-will or envy) farcaf- 
 
 * This he has done in fame inftances ; and in one, perhaps, 
 a much heavier charge might be juftly brought againft him. 
 But it is referved till he (hall be compleatly drawn forth from 
 his lurking-place. He is, indeed, fufficiently known already 
 to all who duly confider the circumftances that have happen- 
 ed fmce the firfl publication of his work. 
 
 -f- See Part IV. page 13, of the early editions. It is true 
 this fhameful paflage is now omitted, but it flood in two or 
 three editions ; and the author has therefore no right to ex- 
 it fliould be forgotten. 
 
 tically
 
 PREFACE. vii 
 
 tically to depreciate the talents of a gentleman, 
 even at the expence of truth, becaufe he has, 
 early in life, obtained a refpectable and con- 
 fidential fituation under the government of the 
 country * ? 
 
 4. Is it mere playfulnefs and humour to dwell 
 at length, farcaflically, as well as ludicroufly, 
 on the propenfity of a man of learning (no Au- 
 thor by the way) to collect curious editions of 
 books, and his attending at fales for that pur- 
 pofe t ? 
 
 * He reprefents the Microcofm t to which Mr. Canning, 
 whilft a boy at Eton, contributed, as the work of his riper 
 years, for the purpofe of depreciating his abilities. Some 
 circumftance, however, has alarmed or ihamed the little man, 
 for he has fuddenly changed his fatirical note into a pane- 
 gyric, and thinks the former is forgot : 
 
 " Infolent thought ! and like a fecond blow." 
 
 f I think no candid man can doubt that his note on 
 Dr. Goflet, (Part IV. page 13.) as it flood at firft, was meant 
 ill-naturedly to depreciate and ridicule him, however power- 
 lefs in it's effect. If, as he intimates, Dr. G, laughs at the 
 note himfelf, it is at the folly and abfurdity, not at any wit 
 or humour, contained in it. 
 
 A 4 5-1*
 
 viii PREFACE. 
 
 5. Is it playfulnefs or humour to reprefent 
 the diligence of a refpeftable Member of Parlia- 
 ment, in effecting thofe improvements in the 
 promulgation of Statutes, and that attention to 
 the revival of them the want of which has been 
 juftly complained of, as originating in the mere 
 defire of felf- importance * ? 
 
 6. Is it playfulnefs and humour to endeavour 
 to vili-y one of the brighteft ornaments of our 
 church, by reprefenting him as proud and mean, 
 on an idle tale, unfupported by evidence, and 
 contrary to the known liberality of his cha- 
 racter f? 
 
 7. Is it playfulnefs and humour to pronounce 
 the mind of a man to be crafty, merely from the 
 
 * See Part IV. page 29, (note i.) This wretched attempt 
 at ill-natured farcafm is now indeed omitted ; but I faw it in 
 the third edition of that Dialogue, and believe it continued 
 to the fifth : fo that his malice circulated throughout the 
 kingdom. Nor does he now make the leaft apology. 
 
 f The ftory arifes, I am well informed, from a circum- 
 ftance that happened when the Prelate alluded to was Bifhop 
 of Salifbury, but without his fault. Let the little man, if he 
 dares, produce his authority for the aflertion he has hazarded. 
 
 appearance
 
 PREFACE. !x 
 
 appearance of his countenance in a print ? and 
 this too of a venerable exile ; whofe rank, cha- 
 rader, and misfortunes have a peculiar claim to 
 the protection of this country *? 
 
 Laftly ; Is it mere playfulnefs and humour to 
 allude, in farcaftic and contemptuous terms, to 
 the circumftance of a diftinguifhed Barrifter 
 being obliged, by the incefla'nt exertions of his 
 mind and fatigues of his profefiion, to take opium, 
 occafionally for his relief f ? 
 
 More inftances might be produced ; but thefc 
 may, for the prefent, be fufficient to exercife all 
 the Author's ingenuity in defence. But I afk 
 his pardon this he difdains his " J countenance 
 
 * See Part IV. page 26, (note e.) A remark as ungenerous 
 as ever difgraced the page of a libeller. 
 
 f The whole note on Mr. Erikine is, indeed, unworthy of 
 any gentleman or fcholar. 
 
 J nuvof o/x/xar' s%uv. But when,foon afterwards, he declares 
 his refolution to remain concealed, what reader does not an- 
 ticipate the conclufion xpadwv $' EAapcio? and may we not 
 iuftly exclaim (in the ftrong language of Pope's tranflation), 
 
 Oh monfter, mix'd of infolence and fear ! 
 Thou dog in forehead, but in heart a deer !
 
 x PREFACE. 
 
 " // unaltered" &c. Bravo ! There is nothing 
 like facing it out : there is nothing fo convenient 
 as to avoid all difcuffions of a conduct which 
 candour and juftice would condemn, to ridicule 
 the complaints of the injured, to defpife the cen- 
 fures of the candid, and to trample on public 
 opinion in the folemn confidence of aflumed 
 dignity. 
 
 Yet, after all, though we are too great to 
 anfwer diftindly to any one charge, we do not 
 find it quite fafe to reft our juftification on the 
 work itfelf. No: the GREAT AUTHOR muft 
 defcend a little from his dignity : he muft throw 
 out a few general topicks, by which the inatten- 
 tive, the indolent, or the partial reader may, if 
 poflible, be mifled. The quotation, for inftance, 
 of a paflage from Horace, defigned by it's Au- 
 thor to juftify a fingle line, (which laughed at 
 two contemptible individuals,) is applied to the 
 juftification of all ridicule, whatever it's kind or 
 degree. But if the opinion of any fatirift in his 
 own defence can be produced as an argument, 
 let us hear the fame Poet on the fubjefi of un- 
 warranted and unfeeling ridicule : 
 
 Solutos
 
 PREFACE. *i 
 
 Solutos 
 
 Qui captat rifus hominum, famamque dicacis j 
 Fingere qui non vifa poteft, cotnmiJJ'a tacere 
 , Qui nequit, hie * niger eft. 
 
 Is this, (I will afk any candid man,) or the 
 paflage he has himfelf cited, moft applicable to 
 the Author of The Piirfmts of Literature ? 
 
 " Cenfure," he complains, " is reprefented as 
 *' malignity, and reprehenfion as abufe." Now 
 if his cenfures appear, from the manner or de- 
 gree, to arife from malignity; if his reprehenfion 
 degenerate into abufe, who is to blame? the 
 perfon who gives occafion for fuch charges, or 
 he by whom they are brought ? I might felect, 
 as an inftance, his furious attack on Dr. Warton. 
 
 * I have heard the tranflation of this paflage by Francis 
 ridiculed, as a ftrange and ludicrous departure from the 
 original. But it now appears to have been written with a 
 prophetic fpirit : 
 
 This man is vile : here, Roman, fix your mark ! 
 His foul is black, as his complexion's dark. 
 
 Vol. iii. p. 6 1. 
 
 The whole paflage is, indeed, (in the tranflation,) not only 
 defcriptive of the little Satirift, but very much in the general 
 ftyle of his poetry. 
 
 I main-
 
 x PREFACE. 
 
 " is unaltered" &c. Bravo ! There is nothing 
 like facing it out : there is nothing fo convenient 
 as to avoid all difcuffions of a conduct which 
 candour and juftice would condemn, to ridicule 
 the complaints of the injured, to defpife the cen- 
 fures of the candid, and to trample on public 
 opinion in the folemn confidence of affumed 
 dignity. 
 
 Yet, after all, though we are too great to 
 anfwer diftindly to any one charge, we do not 
 find it quite fafe to reft our juftification on the 
 work itfelf. No: the GREAT AUTHOR muft 
 defcend a little from his dignity : he muft throw 
 out a few general topicks, by which the inatten- 
 tive, the indolent, or the partial reader may, if 
 poflible, be mifled. The quotation, for inftance, 
 of a pafTage from Horace, defigned by it's Au- 
 thor to juftify a fingle line, (which laughed at 
 two contemptible individuals,) is applied to the 
 juftification of all ridicule, whatever it's kind or 
 degree. But if the opinion of any fatirift in his 
 own defence can be produced as an argument, 
 let us hear the fame Poet on the fubjecl: of un^ 
 warranted and unfeeling ridicule : 
 
 Solutos
 
 PREFACE. *i 
 
 Solutos 
 
 Qui captat rifus hominum, famamque dicacis j 
 Fingere qui non vifa poteft, commiffa tacere 
 )ui nequit, hie * niger eft. 
 
 Is this, (I will afk any candid man,) or the 
 paflage he has himfelf cited, moft applicable to 
 the Author of The Purfuits of Literature % 
 
 <c Cenfure," he complains, '* is reprefented as 
 " malignity, and reprehenfion as abufe." Now 
 if his cenfures appear, from the manner or de- 
 gree, to arife from malignity; if his reprehenfion 
 degenerate into abufe, who is to blame? the 
 perfon who gives occafion for fuch charges, or 
 he by whom they are brought ? I might felecl:, 
 as an inftance, his furious attack on Dr. Warton. 
 
 * I have heard the tranflation of this paflage by Francis 
 ridiculed, as a ftrange and ludicrous departure from the 
 original. But it now appears to have been written with a 
 prophetic fpirit : 
 
 This man is vile : here, Roman, fix your mark ! 
 His foul is black, as his complexion's dark. 
 
 Vol. iii. p. 6 1. 
 
 The whole paffage is, indeed, (in the tranflation,) not only 
 defcriptive of the little Satirift, but very much in the general 
 ftyle of his poetry. 
 
 I main-
 
 Xll 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 I maintain that in # two points his cenfure is 
 without juft foundation ; but, if they admit of a 
 doubt, he fhould have refrained from unqualified 
 and vehement reprehenfion. In the other point, 
 jf we grant that Dr. W. miftook his duty as 
 Editor, is that a j unification of infolent and brutal 
 invective f? 
 
 A more important objection (as he admits it 
 to be) has been brought againft his work, as in- 
 confiftcnt with that religion which he affects fo 
 much to revere. But how does our Satirift ftate 
 the objection ? Is it (as he reprefents) an ob- 
 jection to fatire in general ? or to paltry, info- 
 lent, uncandid, and (too often) malicious fatire? 
 Whether 7be Purfuits of Literature deferve that 
 character, or not, is the only point to be fettled 
 between us. Should it be found to merit all or 
 any of thefe appellations, I fhould like (for once) 
 
 * See the Poftfcript to this work. 
 
 f And this from the fame writer who, in another part of 
 his work, ridicules Sir James Burges for not having tte his 
 Poem lafcivious and indecent ! This from the fame man 
 who publifhed the grofsly indecent paflage about Acis and 
 Galatea, and the rnore infamous allufions refpecting Mr. 
 Steevens, &c. &c. \\ ! OK (hame, where is thy blufh ? 
 
 to
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 xm 
 
 to fee him lay his hand on his heart and an- 
 fwer this queftion : Have you, the pretended 
 champion of .Chriftianity, ac"ted on the divine 
 principle of " loving your neighbour as your- 
 "felf?" Have you (I will ilake the whole 
 caufe upon this ifiue) invariably " done 'unto 
 " others as you would that others Jhould do unto 
 "you?" 
 
 I now proceed to the ftrong hold, the tower 
 of his defence. We, who condemn his work, 
 as (in many parts) little better than a libel, are, 
 it feems, deftitute, not only of common fenfe, 
 but (rifum teneatls!) of common law : for, behold, 
 the GREAT AUTHOR, he who holds Barrifters 
 in fuch fupreme contempt, has gone fo far in his 
 legal lucubrations as to confult an elementary 
 book : (Calvum et doclus cant are Catullum] pro- 
 tected *, as he thinks, by the authority of one 
 legal diclum, he laughs at all appeals to candour, 
 
 or to feeling, and defies the facred tribunal of 
 
 
 
 * Even this might be fairly queftioned ; for that fpecies of 
 chaftifement which (it is admitted on all hands) the little 
 Satirift has fo often provoked, wcdd certainly be a breach of 
 the peace, however merited. He feems alfo complexly ig- 
 norant that the principle quoted applies only to an indict- 
 ment for a mifdemeanor, not an a&ion for damages. 
 
 honour*
 
 XIV 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 honour. But here my learned friend tnuft ex* 
 cufe me if, inftead of accepting the iflue tender- 
 ed, I demur to his plea. Can no writing, then^ 
 be deemed, in common parlance, libellous, unlefs 
 it be indictable at law ? Can no character be 
 depreciated, no honourable feeling wounded, no 
 literary injuftice effected, without the means of 
 legal redrefs ? What other defence have the 
 moft malignant fcribblers, than that they juft 
 contrive to keep out of the pale of the law \ 
 Let me, however, advife him, now he has feized 
 on this vantage ground, to reft on it, as the 
 moft fecure. Let him not talk of his " cha- 
 " rafter and reputation with his country," fince 
 he muft be confcious how wantonly he has 
 fported with the characters of others : let him 
 not appeal to Chriftianity, as the teft of his con- 
 duct, while he muft feel that he has violated the 
 moft extenlive principle of Chriftian morality. 
 
 Having, in the notes to this edition, remarked 
 on moft of the other topics of the little Gentle- 
 man's defence, I will now only notice the con- 
 venient principle under which he would melter 
 all his illiberal attacks n individuals, all his un- 
 manly and unfeeling ridicule. " When the tin- 
 
 " demanding"
 
 PREFACE. xv 
 
 " derjlanding" (fays he, with a Greek quotation 
 morefuo] " is enervated, 13c. It is open to till 
 " manner of deception, and to all the trnpreffions of 
 " fophiflry" Were we to admit the truth of this 
 principle *, in one fenfe and in fome degree, it 
 would be impoflible for the Author to prove it's , 
 application to one half of the perfons and works 
 which he has thought proper to ftigmatize, or 
 oppofe it to the inftances of mifcondut which 
 have been repeatedly produced. 
 
 This, however, and all fimilar pretences, he 
 knows to be vain. Scarcely a paflage in which 
 he has endeavoured to teafe and vex, or to de- 
 preciate and- injure, refpedtable perfons could 
 have been written with the view of correcting 
 their fuppofed errors, or producing any real 
 good to fociety. No : the manifeft objed: was 
 to exhibit the pleafantry and humour of which 
 he believes himfelf to be pofTeflfed, ami to amufe 
 himfelf with his vaunted power of inflicting 
 
 * Perhaps we might deny the principle itfelf ; at leaft in 
 any fenfe applicable to the point in queftion. For it by no 
 means follows, that, becaufe a man thinks or ab abfurdly in 
 a particular inftance, (and who is there free from fuch a 
 foible?) his whole mind and conduct in life are thereby cor- 
 rupted and mifled. 
 
 pain.
 
 xvi PREFACE. 
 
 pain. The political incendiaries and jacobins 
 are, indeed, juftly reprobated. But this (thank 
 Heaven !) was requifite, to give popularity, or 
 even plaufibility, to his fatire. After all, " he 
 " may fometimes have made his fatire felt ; but let 
 " not Injudicious admiration mijlake the vensm of 
 * c the Jh aft for the vigour of the bow. He has fome- 
 " times fported with 'lucky malice ; but to him 
 " that knows his company it is not hard to be far- 
 " cajlic in a mqjk. While he walks ^ like JAC K T HE 
 " GiAWT-RiLLERitnacoalofdarkne/Sibemay do 
 *' much mif chief with little firength. Let us abftraft 
 "from his wit the vivacity ofinfolence, and with- 
 " draw from his efficacy the fympathetic favour 
 " of malignity -, I do not fay that we Jhall leave 
 " him nothing ; but if we leave him only his 
 <c merit i what will be his praife ?" This was 
 faid by the great Samuel Johnfon ; and it was 
 faid of a writer, " the latchet of whofe fhoes" 
 the little Satirift " is not worthy to unloofe *.'* 
 
 * The jufteft character of the Author of the Purfuits of 
 Literature was written above a hundred years ago : Homo, 
 ttt notijjimum eft, ingenli maligm et oris male die entljjtmi^ qui, 
 propter pr<tftantijjimorum et de re literarid optime meritorum 
 virorum invidas ac injuriofas (atumniationes, tnerito CANIS 
 GRAMMATICUS appellatur. 
 
 ADVER-
 
 THE 
 
 PROGRESS OF SATIRE. 
 
 K)LD was the man" (a) (as ancient Poets fay) 
 Whofe feeble bark firft ploughed the wat'ry way." 
 As bold the Bard, who, panting for renown, 
 Dares launch Us veflel on that fea the Town 3 
 Nor dreads a faction's rage, a rival's fpite, 
 Or Satire's wanton malice (b) veil'd in night. 
 
 Yet 
 (a] HOR. Ode Hi. Lib. I. 
 
 (1} The pra&ice of ridiculing individuals by name in a fatirical 
 poem, and concealing that of the author who attacks them, is 
 equally unworthy of a fcholar and a gentleman. The writer who 
 sffails another in his perfonal, or even literary, character, fhould 
 (if he pretends to candour) make himfelf refponfible for the juftice 
 of his accufation No :" (fays the little anonymous Satirift) 
 " Satire never has its full force if the author of it is known ; for the 
 " unworthiuefs of any man lefTens the ftrength of hjs objeftions. 
 B " This/*
 
 Yet bolder he who, (corning fafhion's power, 
 Ne'er chas'd the gaudy meteors of an hour, 
 On native worth could build his honeft claim, 
 And, felf-fupportcd, climb the fteep of Fame. 10 
 Fir'd by fuch hopes immortal Milton fung : 
 Such genuine numbers flow'd from Thomfon's tongue, 
 When, at his call, in fancy's brighteft hue, 
 All nature rofe majeftick to his view. 
 Thus, Shakfpear, mafter of the human heart! 
 Thy generous foul difdain'd each groveling art, 
 With fleeting fhadows ne'er debas'd the ftage, 
 But bade thy pictures live through every age. 
 \ 
 
 *' This," he adds, " is a full anfvver to all who require the name of 
 
 " a fatirical Poet." A notable anfwer indeed ! Not to inquire, 
 
 as I might juftly do, whether the fad itfelf be not very queftion- 
 able ; (for the candid part of mankind will furely give more credit 
 to accufations from a known good man than from one who may be 
 of an opposite character) what is this but to juftify every fpecies of 
 concealment and circumvention ; which are, in many cafes, more 
 ejjctlual than open attacks ? Would not fuch a do&rine proted from 
 cenfure the dark aflaflln and the midnight murderer? the ft iletto of 
 the Italian, and the poifoned dart of the Indian ? We now begin 
 to understand the^ro/em^/, but feemingly harmlcfs, remark, that "the 
 " authorized" (i.e. lawful) " injlruments of lawful <war are /awful," 
 Pulchre! bene! rede! The end, it kerns, juftifies the means! 
 Evil may le done that good (and a very doubtful good) may en- 
 fue ! Truly the little gentleman (I beg pardon, the little man, and 
 that too is fcarcely a proper term,) has been well denominated * 
 jfefuiL 
 
 Yet
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 Yet Bards, though lefs fablime, have learn'd to pleafc 
 By fprightly fancy, or by graceful eafe, 20 
 
 On tafte, on feeling, true delight imprefs'd, 
 Nor wak'd one ranc'rous paffion in the breaft. 
 Thus later ages have confpir'd to praife 
 The courtly Waller's fmooth and gentle lays : 
 Thus Prior's drains could every grace admit : 
 His fertile genius, and his varied wit, 
 Now with love's thrilling notes the heart aflail, 
 Now charm the fancy by fome fportive tale. 
 Let the true Bard, when genuine ardours rife, 
 Beam on his foul, and fparkle in his eyes, 30 
 
 Each fenfe, each feeling, waken'd to delight, 
 O'er wide creation throw his piercing fight, 
 View Nature's form fublime, her beauteous face, 
 That awes by dignity, or charms by grace, 
 Or trace, through each condition of mankind, 
 The ftrong, but varying features of the mind. 
 Each fcene, where'er enraptur'd Fancy ftrays, 
 Deck'd by her charms, infpires the Poet's lays. 
 
 Whence then does Genius, Ikill'd alone to gain 
 The choiceft bleflings of th'Aonian train, 40 
 
 B 2 Each
 
 ( 4 ) 
 
 Each nobler fong, each gentler lay, decline, 
 
 Lur'd by the leaf! attraclive of the Nine ? 
 
 In petty wars his fpendid powers difplay, 
 
 And dwell on themes that fcarce outlive the day*? 
 
 Alas ! 'tis envy prompts, or anger fways 
 
 Our hearts, more prone to cenfure than to praife. 
 
 Though oft th' unblufhing vices of her age 
 
 Have juftly wak'd indignant Satire's rage, 
 
 How oft does wanton wit, or ranc'rous pride, 
 
 Flow with a noxious and polluted tide, 50 
 
 Where malice tinges her envenom'd dart, 
 
 That fixes deep, and rankles in the heart ! 
 
 Arife ! thy violated rights defend, 
 Propitious Candour, merit's conftant friend 1 
 Averfe to mark, reluctant to accufe, 
 The venial faults and frailties of the Mufe, 
 Yet prompt to crufli each infoient pretence 
 By manly reafon and reliillefs fenfe, 
 With generous zeal the fophiit's art expofe, 
 And wake th' indignant ftrain 'gainft virtue's foes, 60 
 But, when true genius lights its heaven-born flame, 
 Fan the bright fparks, and point the way to fame. 
 
 Say,
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 Say, (<:) (hall I pairit, in fierce difdainful rhyme, 
 The weak, but harmlefs Poet's deadly crime, 
 And lafh the culprit, whofe afpiring lays 
 Strive for the nobleft meed, ingenuous praife? 
 Or, in conceit and pedantry's fond dream, 
 Make the (*/) Pwfuits of Literature my theme, 
 Alarm the church and ftate in ftyle myflerious, 
 (" Seeming humility and tone imperious"} 7 
 
 Talk (e) " 'bout" French priefts and Winchefter great 
 
 houfe, 
 
 Labour like mountains, then bring forth a moufe, 
 
 Difdain 
 
 (c) This vehemence againft fome writers who were fair, though 
 perhaps not very fuccefsful, candidates for fame, is, in my opinion, 
 the fault of the Baviad. It is a departure from the Author's plan ; 
 which was to ridicule the arrogance and falfe tafte of a particular fet 
 of coxcombs. Mr. G.'s imitator, the Purfuer of Literature, (as 
 he has been juftly called) can copy only his fault, with fcarcely a 
 fpark of his merit. 
 
 (J) I fliould here apologize for fome clumfy abbreviations, but 
 that they are fanftioned by my great original (errare cum Platone, 
 &c.). The reader will obferve I have borrowed fome expreffions 
 and one entire line from him, deeming them peculiarly happy in 
 themfelves, as well as applicable to the fubjeft. It is not, perhaps, 
 eafy to fay how feeming humility and tone imferloui can exift toge- 
 ther. But if it be meant that the general tone is imperious, with 
 fome occafional pretences to humility, nothing can more exactly 
 defcribe the Purfuits of Literature. 
 
 (<) " Of Lorkin's diligence 'bout Lord's arrears." See P. of L. 
 
 Part 111, page 23, of the early editions. The little man has in 
 
 B 3 thw
 
 Difdain all order, and reject all plan, 
 
 Affect the fcholar, but " forget the man" 
 
 (/) And, while detraction's daemons " round me roll" 
 
 " Stamp on th' infernal page the malice of my foul." 
 
 No : be it mine to ftem vain fafhion's tide, 
 
 That buoys the faucy fat'rift's fenfelefs pride, 
 
 And bid him, ere this angry drain we hear, 
 
 To his own faults be juft, if not fevere. 80 
 
 Since then, ingenuous Mufe, thy tuneful choir 
 For harfher founds rejects the gentle lyre, 
 Say, from what fource, in what far diftant age, 
 Fierce Satire rofe, and taught thy verfe to rage ; 
 Trace the ftrong current of her claflic drains 
 From ancient Rome to Britain's favour'd plains; 
 
 this, as in many other inftances, profited by my admonition, and it 
 now flands " for Lord's arrears !" But perhaps the line has loft 
 as much in one way, by the change, as it has gained in the other. 
 
 (/) " And, while the fwelling numbers round him roll, 
 
 " Stamps on th' immortal page the vifions of his foul." 
 
 P. of Lit. Part IV. 
 
 The Alexandrine line, though in fome meafure copied from Dryden, 
 is certainly a fine one, but dearly purchafed by the admiflion of it's 
 bombaft aflbciate. I have no ambition to become perfonally ac- 
 quainted with the little gentleman, but mould like, for once, to 
 fee him with his pen in his hand and " the fwelling numbers rolling 
 " round him." 
 
 Mark
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 Mark where fhe breaks or truth's or candour's laws, 
 And wake her flumb'ring zeal in virtue's caufe. 
 
 Though far from Helicon's more tranquil fhade, 
 (g) Greece early nurtur'd this ungentle maid, 90 
 When, fired by wrath, in keen Tambick Tongs, 
 The bold Archilochus avenged his wrongs, 
 And Comick bards, with malice unconnVd, 
 Aflail'd the beft and wifefl of mankind; 
 Till juftice, waked at length, with wholefome pains 
 Check'd the wild licence of their favage Itrains, 
 Bade harfli unfeeling ribaldry to ceafe, 
 Nor wanton infults wound domeftick peace. 
 Thence taught, (b) Aurunca's Bard expos'd to view 
 Thofe forms his rough but vigorous pencil drew, 100 
 
 (g) Both Horace and Quintilian afcribe the origin of Satire to 
 the Romans : and this is true in the fenfe in which they ufed the 
 term ; viz. to defcribe certain poems, of a mifcellaneous kind, on 
 the manners or morals of the times. But in modern language all 
 lampoons, or fevere v/ritings, are called Satires ; and the origin of 
 thefe may be traced to the lambicks of Archilochus, and the old 
 Greek Comedy ; from which laft, Horace himiclf admits, the Satire* 
 of Lucilius were derived, with no other change than that of the 
 metre. 
 
 () Jjucili'us was born at Aurunca, a town of Etruria, and ii 
 therefore called by Juvenal Auruncx alummu* 
 
 B 4 In
 
 In fmoother numbers and a ftyle lefs rude, 
 
 Though carelefs ftill, old Ennius' fteps purfued. 
 
 Oft as with ardent zeal he wak'd the lay, 
 
 Vice fhrunk abafh'd, and own'd the Mufe's fway ; 
 
 Pale, as when Jove's avenging thunders roll, 
 
 Guilt heard, and trembled to her inmoft foul. 
 
 Yet, fam'd Lucilius, (/') faction's bitter rage 
 
 Could warp from candour thy diftinguiuYd page, 
 
 And zeal or intereft urg'd thee to oppofe 
 
 With angry taunts thy patron's nobleft foes. no 
 
 But when were party's furious zealots known 
 
 To cherifti (k) " virtue and her friends alone ?" 
 
 Yet who the grateful tribute can refufe 
 
 To him whofe worth infpired the fweeteft Mufe ? 
 
 (/') Metellus is faid to have been fatirized by Lucilius ; and, though 
 it is not clear which of the Metelli is meant, yet as the Chiefs of 
 that family were on bad terms with Scipio, the patron of that 
 Poet, there is too much reafon to think he was influenced by party 
 motives. 
 
 () '* Uni aqitus virluti atque e]us amicis." HOR. But of what 
 Satirift can this be truly faid ? Certainly not of Pope, who ap- 
 plies the line to himfelf : (" To virtue only and her friends a 
 friend.") Probably Horace and his fucceflbrs deferved this praife 
 more than any of our Englifh Satirifts, excepting Young; as not 
 one of the names whom they attacked has been tranfmitted to us, 
 through other channels, as undeferving of the iligma affixed to 
 them* 
 
 Horace,
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 Horace, thy gay yet philofophick (Trains 
 
 Nor envy warps, nor wanton malice ftains. 
 
 In thee what different charms unite to pleafe ! 
 
 The fcholar's judgment with the courtier's eafe, 
 
 With graceful raillery, with wit refined 
 
 That gently probes, yet never wounds the mind. 120 
 
 To life, to manners true, thy moral page 
 
 Difplays the genuine features of the agej 
 
 And, when fome parafite, buffoon, or knave, 
 
 Some (hamelefs -prodigal, or upftart flave, 
 
 Was mark'd by ridicule, thy happy art 
 
 Seem'd not to aim, yet fix'd th' unerring dart. 
 
 But angry Satire, in fucceeding times, 
 Awaked to vengeance, roufed by daring crimes, 
 When from the (/) Stoic fchool grave Perfius brougnt 
 The rigid lore her ancient fages taught, 130 
 
 And ardent virtue with fublimer rage 
 Infpired fierce Juvenal's indignant page. 
 What keen reproach, (alas !) what cauftick lays 
 Could brand too deeply (m) Rome's degen'rate days, 
 
 (/) Perfius was educated by Cornutus the philofopher, and ad* 
 dreffes one of his Satires to him. 
 
 (w) Perfms defcribed the reign of Nero, Juvenal that of Domitian. 
 
 When
 
 ( 10 ) 
 
 When vice, the curb of fear or fhame unknown, 
 Rear'd her proud creft triumphant on the throne ? 
 
 From thefe illuftrious models () Britain draws 
 The moral fong, and frames her Satire's laws : 
 But to new themes her Mufe applies the rhyme, 
 Free as her fons, and varying as her clime. 140 
 To life, to manners, now no more confined, 
 The general faults or follies of mankind, 
 For bolder flights proud Satire plumes her wings, 
 (o) The friend, or foe, of Statefmen and of Kings, 
 And oft, with Faction's fierce refentment warm, 
 Points her dread vengeance, and " directs the florm.'* 
 
 Rough Donne, in homely flrains, devoid of art. 
 Spoke the plain truths that prove an honed heart. 
 
 () I have not deemed it necefiary to infert any account of the 
 French Satirifts, fince they, as well as our own, (for the moft part,) 
 copied from the Romans j and this Eflay profefles only to trace the 
 progrefs and ftate of abufes of that fpecies of poetry, not to cha- 
 racterize all who excelled in it. 
 
 (o) Political Satire (I mean that of which, the primary objeft is 
 politic?) feems to have originated in this country, and cannot, per- 
 haps, be traced higher than Butler. I had omitted to mention his 
 celebrated work, on account of it's (ingular nature, and it's not 
 being derived from the Roman Satire. 
 
 In
 
 ( II ) 
 
 In learning rich, in native humour bold, 
 His merry tale the laughing Butler told, 150 
 
 And mark'd fanatic pride and factious zeal 
 In fatire faithful to his country's weal. 
 But Dryden's vigorous Mule, as intereft fways, 
 Now wounds by fatire, and now fooths by praife: 
 Now ftoops to crufh (/>) an envious Poet's name, 
 The dull proud rival of his fplendid fame, 
 Now (q] weaves the myftic fable, to expofe 
 Dire faction's arts and brand a monarch's foes. 
 Oh ! hadft thou fcorn'd thy towering foul to bend, 
 Of guilt the flatterer, and of vice the friend, 160 
 Ill-fated Bard ! how few, with generous pride, 
 AfTail'd by want, can ftem corruption's tide ? 
 How few, when life is cruel fortune's fport, 
 Could fhun the gay allurements of a Court ? 
 'Tis thus the pitying Mufe her wrath allays, 
 And half forgives the drain (he dares not praife, 
 
 But who thy finiih'd beauties can difplay, 
 Pope, mighty mafter of the moral lay ? 
 
 (/>) In his Mackflecknoe. 
 
 (q) It is hardly neceflary to fay, that his Abfalom and Achito- 
 phel is here alluded to. 
 
 Whofe
 
 ( '2 ) 
 
 Whofe manly wit and polifh'd tafte combine, 
 
 Point the ftrong fenfe, and tune th' harmonious line. 
 
 Soft as the ftrains that grac'd th' Horatian lyre^ 171 
 
 Sublime as Juvenal's more vigorous fire, 
 
 Thy magic numbers with prevailing art 
 
 Steal on th' enraptured ear, and win the heart. 
 
 (r) Each form facceeding Bards for Satire choofe 
 
 Springs from thy various, thy accomplifh'd Mufe ; 
 
 Whether they claim (s) juft imitation's praife, 
 
 And claflick thoughts adapt to Britifh lays, 
 
 Or, more inventive, in appropriate rhymes 
 
 (/) Difplay the manners, and record the times, 1 80 
 
 Or, mighty trifles ftudious to rehearfe, 
 
 () Strut on the Hilts of mock-heroic verfe, 
 
 (r) It is not meant that we had no examples of thefe different 
 fpecies of Satire prior to the writings of Pope, but that moft of our 
 fubfequent Satirifts, in thefe different branches, have taken him for 
 their model. 
 
 (*) His Imitations of Horace have ferved at a model for all fub- 
 fequent imitators. 
 
 (t) His Ethic Epiftles afford the favourite example of that kind 
 of Satire. 
 
 () The Rape of the Lock is here alluded to. 
 
 Or
 
 ( 13 ) 
 
 Or (v) dafh proud dulnefs from ParnafTus* height, 
 And with the Mufe's arms aflert the Mufe's right. 
 
 Alas'! could wit, could genius bright as thine 
 E'er give to fpleen one harfh ungenerous line ; 
 Or bid with bitter eloquence to flow 
 That verfe (a?) " which made an Addifon thy foe ?" 
 
 With wit that elfe had claim'd an equal prize, 
 But tafle lefs juft, fee (jy) virtuous Young arife ! 1 90 
 His keen remark, well-temper'd, though fevere, 
 His lively fentence, and his pointed fneer, 
 
 (v) The Dunciad belongs both to the third fpecies of Satire here 
 mentioned, and alfo to the fourth, viz. Satirical Criticifm. 
 
 (AT) " Curd be that verfe, how fmooth foe'er it flow, 
 " That tends to make one honefl man my foe !" 
 
 was the juft imprecation of Pope on malevolent Satire. Yet too 
 many inftances of fpleen and ill-humour (not to fay ill-nature) 
 might be given from his works. I have chofen his attack on Ad- 
 difon, becaufe it originated in flight and probably ill-founded fuf- 
 picions, and becaufe the character of Addifon, and the important 
 fervice he had rendered to the morals (as well as manners) of h& 
 country, fliould have protected him againfl a treatment fo fevere. 
 
 (j) Scarcely ajiy Englifh Poet is fo invariably zealous in 
 caufe of virtue as Dr. Young. 
 
 At
 
 At general vice, or flagrant follies,, aim 
 
 Their nobler fting, nor wound one honoured name. 
 
 But Toon 'twas thine to mark, indignant Mule, 
 Degen'rate Satire warp'd by party views. 
 See, her bold front Malignity difplay,- 
 And Faction triumph (z) in fierce Churchill's lay ! 
 Nor Candour's voice, nor fenfe of right and wrong, 
 Checks in it's courfe his dire vindictive fong. 200 
 He deals on every fide the fatal blow, 
 Nor owns fenfe, wit or virtue in a foe. 
 And yet infulted Candour mufl admire, 
 Diftinguifh'd Bard, thy Mufe's flrength and fire, 
 Mufl own, if party-zeal had ne'er confined 
 To tranfient themes thy bold and fervid mind, 
 Britain had dwelt with rapture on thy page, 
 Preferv'd by genuine worth from age to age. 
 
 (z) Churchill feeme to have been, in the ftri&eft fenfe, a party 
 Poet, perhaps the leaft amiable votary of the Mufes. The afperity 
 of his Satire (often arifing from party prejudice) muft be difgufting 
 to every impartial reader. Yet his poetry, though occafionally 
 negligent, poflefled great vigour and fpirit : and he ii lefs read at 
 prefent, only becaufe he chofe temporary and evanefcent fubjefts for 
 his Satire. 
 
 Still
 
 ( '5 ) 
 
 Still Satire fecks a tranfitory name, 
 Nor hce-.ls the call of never-dying fame, 210 
 
 Purfues vain fhaclows, and exerts her power 
 To catch the fleeting fafhions of an hour. 
 Shrouded in night, the feign'd (a] Macgregor pours 
 The tide of fong from wit's abundant (lores, 
 Skill'd to combine with humour's richeft vein 
 The pomp of verfe, the mock majeftic ftrain. 
 And thou, fvvcet Bard ! o'er whofe untimely urn 
 The Graces droop, the Mufe delights to mourn, 
 (/') Tickell, in vain to tafte, to genius dear, 
 Accept this fond, this tributary tear ! 220 
 
 'Twas thine by playful ridicule to feize 
 (^) Gay Fafhion's follies, yet her vot'ries plcafe, 
 
 . (a) The name affiimed by the unknown author of the Epiftle to 
 Sir William Chambers. 
 
 (3) Richard Tickell, Efq.grandfon to Thomas Tickell the Poet, 
 and friend of Addifon. -The " little Satirift" calls Mr. Tickell 
 " the bapplejl occafional writer of bis day" This is a juft chara&er ; 
 though we may fairly fufpedt the writer's motive, (ftrtutem in- 
 columem odimus, fullatam ex oculis querimus invidi.} But Mr. 
 Tickell might have obtained much higher praife, had he employed 
 his talents in works of a more permanent nature. 
 
 (c) See The Wreath of Fa/hlon ; a poem written to ridicule the 
 tben, prevailing tafte for fentimcntal poetry. 
 
 Stern
 
 (d) Stern Party's rage by fprightly wit allay, 
 And cheer her gloomy fcenes by fancy's ray. 
 Oh ! hadft thou e'er, by true ambition fired, 
 To nobler themes, to lading fame, afpired, 
 Each charm, each gift of the propitious Nine, 
 That graced th' Aufbnian Fays, had beam'd in thine, 
 
 Severer Satire, from a different fource, 
 Flow'd with rough vehemence and turbid courfe. 230 
 When (e) C s from Fafhion's heavenly region fell, 
 Enraged he waked the Majefty of Hell, 
 And bade him, ifluing from th' infernal gloom, 
 Record diftinguifh'd guilt, and ftamp it's doom. 
 Harfh was his cenfure, not unjuft his aim ; 
 (f) While Satire echoed the loud voice of fame. 
 
 (d) Tie ProjeR, a political poem, and the witty and elegant 
 Epiftle from Mr. Fox, Partridge-lhooting, to Mr. (now Lord John} 
 Townfhend, Crui/ing,are here alluded to ; though Mr. Tickell wa* 
 moil known by his celebrated pamphlet, Anticipation. His lefler 
 poems alfo have great merit, either for wit and humour, or tender- 
 nefs and elegance : 
 
 His Jaltem acctaffulem donis> et fungar inani 
 Munere. 
 
 (e} Author of The Diaboliad, and fome other Poems of the fame 
 kind, the fatire of which being merely perfonal, is now almoft 
 wholly forgotten. 
 
 (/) The charafters expofed in The Diaboliad were, for the moil 
 part, notorioufly profligate. 
 
 But
 
 ( '7 J 
 
 But 16 ! what tumults rife ? what buftling throng 
 Provokes the fcornful critic's angry fong ? 
 "Pis Qr) Affectation's motley crew invades, 
 With fteps unhallow'd, the Pierian (hades : 240 
 They feize the facred chair, their (3) fhrill notes raife, 
 And ring th' unvarying peal of mutual praife. 
 Mourn, claffic Mufe ! conceit pollutes thy {train, 
 Proud Nonfenfe triumphs in her Crufca's reign : 
 When fee, refentment fparkling in his eyes, 
 
 To crufh thy foes indignant (/') G d rile \ 
 
 Thy foes, the fluttering infedls of an hour, 
 
 Fly from his rage, or bow beneath his power. 
 
 Yet why, victorious champion, why abufe 
 
 The cheap and eafy conqueft of thy Mufe ? 250 
 
 Infult the faH'n, or brand fome Bards who claim 
 
 No proud diftinclion in the ranks of fame ? 
 
 The modeft Poet's unobtrufive lays 
 
 True candour pardons where it cannot praife. 
 
 (gj Delia Crufca, Anna Matilda, &c. &c. &c. who forfeited us 
 with their bad tafte, conceit, and effrontery: although feme of them 
 were not wholly deftitute of genius and poetical fpirit. 
 
 (h) This was a favourite mode of rhythm with the Crufca 
 fchool. 
 
 (') Author of the Baviad and Maeviad. 
 
 C Conceit
 
 ( '8 ) 
 
 Conceit once check'd, let angry warfare ceafe, 
 And unoffending dullnefs reft in peace. 
 
 Or feek the nobler praife of him who draws 
 His pen in Virtue's and Religion's caufe, 
 And mark, what awful fcenes, what deeds, confpire 
 To roufe the Patriot's zeal, the Poet's fire ! 260 
 See the cool Sophift, with collected mind, 
 Spread pbifon, rage, deftru&ion o'er mankind ! 
 See bafe Oppreffion, imcontroll'd by fhame, 
 In Freedom's garb, ufurping Freedom's name f 
 See, Britain, thy (^) triumphant flag unfurl'd ! 
 Thy fons undaunted, " 'midft a falling world !" 
 And oh, while yet thy generous bands maintain 
 True freedom's empire o'er the circling main, 
 Senfe, learning, genius, in thy caufe unite ! ' 
 Be bold in eloquence, as firm in fight ! 270 
 
 " (/) Senfe, genius, learning, wit, in me combine," 
 A namelefs fat* rift cries, " all, all are mine ! 
 " 'Tis mine, by keen unerring judgment graced, 
 " To reign, defpotic arbiter of tafte, 
 
 (k) Thefe lines were written immediately after the news of Lord 
 Duncan's glorious vi6tory. 
 
 (/) No impartial reader of The Purfuitt of Literature will, I think, 
 deem the following fpeech exaggerated, notwithftanding the veil of 
 modefty occafiooally affumed by the Author. 
 
 To
 
 ( 19 ) 
 
 " To awe by (;) myftic threats the paflive Town* 
 " Raife by a fmile, extinguifh by a frown, 
 " And brand the name of each devoted wightj 
 " But hide my own, () fecured by friendly night.'* 
 
 Alas ! 
 
 (w) In one of his Prefaces (viz. to Part II. edit, ift.) the little 
 great Author fays, " I diffuade every perfon from flippant and ran- 
 " dom application of any fuppofed name : it is a3 unjuft as it is ab- 
 " furd. Flebity et inftgnls tola cantabitur url>c t was faid of old ; and 
 " I recommend to every gentleman and lady of eminent fagacity 
 " and curiofity, to remember that there is a darknefs which may be 
 "felt." In his Preface to Part IV. he ufes exprefiions whicfy to all 
 common apprehenfions, feem equivalent : viz. that " it will be more 
 " thanfooli/b to be very inquifitive." 
 
 The audacious prefumption of the above threat could only be 
 equalled by its egregious abfurdity. No man, I believe, read it 
 without a mixture of indignation and contempt. But, when lafh'd, 
 on that account, in this and fome other publications, what does the 
 little gentleman reply? Truly, that no threat was intended! It 
 '.vas meant only to intimate that fuch an attempt would be fruit- 
 lefs. Wifely, however, he omits the firft and ftrongeft of the two 
 paflages ; a paflage to which it is impoflible, by any torture of ex- 
 prefiions, to give a different meaning. The latter^ indeed, is plain 
 enough ; efpecially as he took care to print the moft material words 
 in Italkks. What are we now to think of this high and mighty 
 champion of morality, religion, &c. ; who (as a great writer ex- 
 prefles it) " meanly fneaks out of a difficulty, into which he had 
 " proudly ftrutted :" 
 
 (n) Yet he boafts of his courage (See the concluding Note to 
 
 Part IV.), that courage which dares not look the injured in the 
 
 face ! He might as well pride himfelf on his character; that c'a- 
 
 C a
 
 ( 20 ') 
 
 Alas ! can pride to fuch importance raife 
 A wretched mortal, pufFd by tranfient praife ? 280 
 Thou, who (0) no faults, no weaknefs, canft excufe, 
 Hear thy own merits from th' ingenuous Mufe ; 
 Who, proud all juft diftinclions to admit, 
 Proclaims thee half a Poet, Q>) half a Wit ; 
 
 Now 
 
 raSer which fhuns the teft of fcrutiny ! But 1 aflc his pardon : 
 " The uniuorthlnefs of any man leffens the flrength of his ob- 
 ** jeffions." This curious defence has been already expofed. But 
 it is fomething to find it admitted there may be fome nnworthinefs 
 even in THE GREAT AUTHOR. I am apt, indeed, to fufpeft we 
 fhould find him to be a poor mortal, like ourfelves, liable to all our 
 prejudices, impelled by our paflions, and indulging fome of the 
 worll of them. The objedion, however, to anonymous Satire on 
 private characters (and even on literary works, unlefs you fairly dif- 
 cufs them) is, I conceive, unanfwerable. Every accufer ought to 
 be refponfible, if not for the truth, at leaft for the fairnefs of his 
 charge, and the integrity of his motives. An anonymous Satirift 
 is " an unknown Profecutor." He ftmnks from that refponfibility 
 to which every man who attacks the character of another ought to 
 fubjedl his own. 
 
 (0) He dwells on the flighted faults of eminent writers with an 
 invidious minutenefs, (lightly noticing their merits, or (in fome 
 cafes) pafiing them over entirely, 
 
 (/) Although the perfon alluded to is, no doubt, concerned in 
 the work, it is next to impoflible the whole fhould have been written 
 by one perfon ; not fo much frorn a variety in the ftyle, as from the 
 ftrange an d frequent inconfiftencies throughout. It is fcarcely ever, 
 indeed, elegant, but fometimes it has a certain degree of poetical 
 
 fpirit :
 
 Now vig'rous, fpirited, (y) almoft fublime, 
 Now tagging (r) feeble words to feeble rhyme ; 
 
 Now 
 
 fpirit : at other times it is not only profaic, but vulgar ; though no 
 one is fo forward as the writer in cenfuring every degree of vul- 
 garity in others. Sometimes his declamations in the Notes appear 
 eloquent, at others frothy and puerile : on fome occafions his far- 
 cafms are pointed and juft; on others wretchedly trifling, or de- 
 liberately ill-natured. 
 
 (y) In his mod laboured effort at fublimity (Part IV. from page 
 15 to 22 of the firft edition,) he is in part fuccefsful ; but in fome 
 parts inflated and obfcure. There is alfo too much appearance of 
 art and labour. The writer refembles, as Johnfon (and, I think, 
 Longinus before him) exprefled it, " a lion kindling his rage by the 
 *' lafli of his own tail." True fublimity is more fimple and natural. 
 I had remark'd that his poet, who 
 
 Hears in each blaft fome confccrated rhyme, 
 Trac'd by the fpirit of the troublous clime, 
 
 muft have been the noted Delia Crufca. He has now omitted the 
 couplet, but without fubftituting any thing to connect that which 
 preceded to that which followed it ; which now appear disjointed, 
 and little better than nonfenfe. And we have ftill " the fia tiling 
 " numbers round him roll," nearly as bombaftan expreffion, I venture 
 to fay, as ever was hazarded in poetry. 
 
 (r) To cite the feeble and profaic paflages in The Purfuits of 
 Literature, would be to repeat almoft half the book. Many alfo, 
 which are not quite profaic, are inelegant and vulgar ; and the 
 purity and propriety of the Englifti language are ofteu grofsly 
 violated : a fault unpardonable in one who affumes the office of a 
 fatirical critic and literary cenfor. Some of thefe improprieties he 
 C 3 has
 
 Now arm'd, 'gainft daring crimes, in Virtue's caufe, 
 Now meanly cavilling at (j) petty flaws; 
 
 Now 
 
 has lately eorrefted ; inftruted (as it fhould feeni) by The Progrefs 
 of Satire ; though he has not the gratitude to confeis his obliga- 
 tion. His dogs no longer wear blue fandals, nor are they " coated 
 "for the pubjie brunt" But they are ilill " black-letter* d for a 
 " chace ." for the joke of printing the word in black-letter could 
 not be fpared. The other improprieties remain, with many that 
 had not been noticed ; yet this edition, he fays, has been revifed 
 with the greateji (are. Many of his vulgarities are noticed in a 
 very fenfible efiay called Str'iSures on the Pursuits of Literature. 
 Many more, and perhaps ftronger, inftances might be added. But, 
 *' Le jeu ne vaut pas Ja chandelle." I will, therefore, only remind 
 my little friend (againft his next revifion) of the chimney-fweeper's 
 reply to Pope : -" Mend you ! It would take lefs trouble to make a 
 
 (s) What can be more paltry, than the cavils he makes at the 
 commentators on Shakefpeare ; than his farcafms on the profeffion 
 and private concerns of writers (with which neither he nor the public 
 has any thing to do) ; on Mr. Er/kine for taking opium ; on Mr. 
 Abbot for having a fmiling countenance, &c. &c. ? " He (loops to 
 '* fuch trifles" (he would have us believt) " rather unwillingly." 
 Quite the revf rfe, if the evident'ia rei is to decide. Nothing appears 
 to delight him fo much : he is never in his own element but when he 
 can indulge in this kind of ribaldry. But has this child of " play- 
 " fulnefs and humour" (as he is pleafcd to term his wanton and 
 unfeeling ridicule) never read the fable of the Boys and Frogs? Does 
 he really think it allowable to depreciate the characters andfport with 
 the feelings of refpe&able perions, merely to obtain a greater variety of 
 topics for bisfatirc ? His defence, in effecT:, amounts to this, and this 
 alone (See the Letter to a Friend, prefixed to The P. of L., 7th 
 
 edit,
 
 Now candid, now by prejudice debafed, 
 (A (/) Bigot's principles, a (u) Pedant's tafte) 296 
 
 Prompt 
 
 edit. p. 1 2.) I leave it to the judgment which every man of can- 
 dour and feeling muft pronounce. With regard to the " high 
 " crime and mifdemefnor" which fome fcholars have committed by 
 tranflating Gray's Elegy, the little gentleman bears teftimony 
 againft himfelf, when he afks " What intereft have mankind in a 
 " few old Greek boys in gowns and cafTocks ?" Then pray, my 
 good Sir, why all thefe remarks upon them ? Why dwell on the 
 fubjedl through fourteen pages of text and notes ? But '.* the ex- 
 " ample," it feems, " is of the deepejl confluence" Indeed ! Thefc 
 Greek tojs are then become men of fuch eminence as to poifon by 
 this dreadful example the whole current of literature. How incon- 
 iiftent dots a writer become when he ceafes to make truth and can- 
 dour his guides! 
 
 (/) If his furious and inceflant declamations againft the unfor- 
 tunate French Priefts, and his ridiculous fears left our charitable 
 ftipport of them Ihould endanger the Eftablimed Church, do not 
 flamp him a Bigot, any argument to prove the point muft be thrown 
 away. " All he has advifed" (he tells us) " is on the fide of cau- 
 *' tion." Be it fo. But what occafion then for mifreprefentation 
 and invective ? If this be the language of caution, what is that of 
 perfecution ? What could he have faid more, had his defign been 
 to excite every vindictive paflion againnY thefe refpedlable men, who 
 are the martyrs, not to the Roman Catholic perfuafion, but to Chrif- 
 tianity itfclf ? 
 
 () If pedantry be properly defined " an oflentatious difplay of 
 '' learning," no one but a pedant can deny the little Gentleman 
 that title. I had quoted a ftrong inftance of it, his quaint and 
 forced conceit (continued through ten pages) of comparing the 
 Commentators on Shakefpeare to Actaeon's hounds. But inftances 
 might be produced from almoft every page. What he fays in de- 
 C 4 fcnc
 
 C 24 ) 
 
 Prompt to repel Religion's barbarous foes, 
 
 Yet (x) crufh her Tons, and aggravate their woes ; 
 
 And 
 
 fence of his quotations, does not apply to thofe jnftances (and they 
 are numerous) where the quotations are needlefs to illuttrate the 
 fubject, or where they are drawn from Authors little known and of 
 little merit or weight. Nor does he, in general, give the fubftance 
 of them in Englifh, as he is pleafed to fTert. 
 
 (*) It is matter of great furprife to me that the candid and able 
 writer of " Striffures on the Purfuits of Literature" Ihould acquiefce 
 in the illiberal inve&ives on the Emigrant Priefts. He feems not 
 to have confidered againft whom thofe inveftives were direded, and 
 upon what grounds. The Emigrants at large are not perfecuted. 
 by the little Satirift ; nor are their political principles adverted to. 
 "No : he affects to fear only the helplefs, the refpeftable body of 
 men, againft whofe general conduct in this kingdom (lander itfelf 
 has fcarcely ventured a whifper ; againft \vhom the Author himfelf 
 docs not bring any fpecific charge. The charges that were 
 brought by others were, I am well Informed, refuted by a dili- 
 gent and difpafiionate inquiry. While they were maintained at 
 Winton, they were placed (lajs he) " on a hill/' meaning (if he 
 has any rational meaning) to object to their confpicuous fituation, 
 and to their being maintained in a body, inftead of being difperfed 
 in private houfes ; the very circumftances, 1 conceive, that moft ef- 
 fectually prevented the ciiiTcmination of their religious principles. 
 When they had been removt-d from that afylum, even this did not 
 fatisfy the malice of their perfecutor. He difcovered, it feems, that 
 they were dill allowed, though in fmaller parties, to aflbciate toge^ 
 ther. This was fufficient to excite another furious philippic. The 
 mode of relief is alfo objected to ; although it is adminiftered under 
 the direction of a Committee of rcfpe&able Gentlemen, and known 
 friends to our Eitablifht d Church ; and the Bimop of Leon is only 
 ron Suited as btft knowing the characters and prctenfions of thofe 
 who apply. But if there is no intention to deprive thefe helplefs
 
 And blending love of truth and zeal for right 
 With bloated (y) arrogance, and (s) envious fpite. 
 
 Nor 
 
 obje&s of charitable fupport, why is the fum allotted to them and 
 the Lay Emigrants (who are on this occafion joined in order to 
 inflame the reckoning) fo frequently dated and invidioufly dwelt 
 upon ? He cannot be ignorant that, whatever may be the aggregate 
 amount, the pittance to each individual is barely adequate to the 
 fuilenance of life. But what if, in addition to this, it mould appear 
 from the Records of Parliament that the whole fum hitherto granted 
 for the fupport of the Emigrants amounts to lefs than he has dated as 
 granted in the year 1796 ALONE ? I leave every reader to draw the 
 inference. To fay " GOVERNMENT ought not to relieve them,'* 
 is to fay they mould not be relieved at all ; the funds of private cha- 
 rity having been long fince exhaufted. 
 
 (_y) The proofs of his arrogance (I repeat it) ftare the Reader in 
 the face in ahnoft every page ; though we have here and there an 
 hypocritical profefllon of humility. The very purpofe of his 
 work (viz. to exalt or deprefs the fame of cotemporary writers 
 at his will and pleafure) is the height of arrogance. It is fome- 
 thing worfe, to decline contemptuoufly a difcuflion of thofe 
 charges which are brought againft him by refpe&able and injured 
 perfons, and echoed by the almoft unanimous voice of mankind. 
 " The fume fuperliam of a Poet ought not (he tells us) to be rigidly 
 " examined." But (befides that it appears full as often in his profe) 
 it ought to be the pride of a real Poet, not of one whofe poetry 
 (excepting a few occafional fallies) confifts chiefly of flat and pro- 
 faic lines, or inelegancies and improprieties of language, or fervile, 
 unacknowledged, and, for the moft part, clumfy, imitations of 
 Pope. 
 
 (z) How far his attacks on meritorious writers originate in 
 envy, is beft known to his own heart ; but if moft of thofe 
 wliich I have inftanced are not fpitrful) I know not what can be 
 
 deemed
 
 ( 26 ) 
 
 Nor think, howe'er me boaft her motley rhymes, 
 Thy (a) fhapelefs Mufe fhall live to after-times. 
 No : though fuftain'd by mean unworthy art, 
 
 She (I) feed each bafer paffion of the heart, 
 
 Indignant 
 
 deemed fo. He blufters, indeed, in his Letter to a Friend, as if he 
 was, in every cafe, juftifiable. But how does this boaft accord with 
 his frequent, though filent, retractions ? If the pafTages in quef- 
 tion were at firft proper, he fhould not afterwards have omitted them 
 In compliance with any cerifure. To give a ftriking inftance : The 
 <Jiiparagmg account of Mr. Canning (manifeftly the offspring of 
 envy) is now, by a magic touch of the pen, converted into praife, 
 and without the leaft apology or explanation. The candid acknow- 
 ledgment of error might indeed, in fome degree, atone for it. But 
 this attempt to deceive our memories, this filent tergiversation, is 
 tbe difgraceful fubterfuge of meannefs and infolence. 
 
 (a) 1 call his Mufe Jlapdefi, becaufe nee pes n?c capnt lint red- 
 daiur form*?. Indeed the whole pafiage in Horace defcribes a work 
 Similar to The Purfuits of Literature. The Author fays he could 
 analyfe his work ; but I am convinced he dares not attempt it : for 
 fuch a procefs would (hew it in all it's native deformity. The autho- 
 rity of Pope's two Dialogues will not avail him. For (befides that 
 their merit would cover mod defects) they are much {horter poems, 
 and on a fingle fubjet, his own writings; and they contain, in 
 fobftance, merely a defence of himfelf, however occafionally illuf- 
 trated.by general topics. But in far the greater part of Pope's fati- 
 rical works there is an uniformity of defign, and juftnefs of arrange- 
 ment, that ought to fhame his pretended imitator. 
 
 (A) " Is there a paflage" (he aflcs) "which panders to the pol- 
 " luted affections and paffions of bad men :" A pretty bold chal- 
 lenge ! Have you then, my good Sir, never chanced to hear of a 
 amiable paffion called EN vv .' Or are Men of Letters and 
 
 Authors
 
 Indignant virtue yet fhall mark thy fhame, 
 
 And juftice blot thee from the rolls of fame. 300 
 
 Thus fafhion's praife allured the Sat'rifVs lay 
 To trifling themes tnat perifh with the day, 
 Bade him to fleeting modes adapt his mind, 
 Nor trace the bolder features of mankind ; 
 And thus keen ridicule, which, well applied, 
 Checks full-blown arrogance and upftart pride, 
 Infpired by (c} felf- conceit, at random throws 
 It's wanton fhafts, confounding friends with foes. 
 
 But 
 
 Authors peculiarly exempt from it ? What fay you then to a work, 
 in which almoft every Reader, efpecially if alfo an Author, may find 
 fome enemy, fome rival, or fome envied fuperior, depreciated or 
 ridiculed ? What fay you to a work, in which the flighted failings 
 in men of talents and virtue are eagerly feized and invidioufly am- 
 plified ? in which the private concerns of Authors are brought for- 
 ward merely to render them objefts of contempt ? in which the 
 motives of public exertion are mifreprefented, and the zeal of bene- 
 volence laughed to fcorn ? But, independent of this confederation, 
 let me afk, is the general curiofity and appetite for {lander among 
 the paflions moft honourable to human nature ? The boafl of hav. 
 ing publiflied nothing offenfive to female delicacy is equally un- 
 founded. See the paflages cited in Striftures on the Purfuits of Lite- 
 rature, and thofe referred to in this Work. Some others might be 
 mentioned. 
 
 (r) It would, furcly, be fuperfluous to quote inftances of conceit 
 ill the little Satirift. It pervades his whole work. lie muft have 
 
 rigid
 
 But you, ye candid few, whofe generous praife 
 Can beam on merit's unprefuming lays, 310 
 
 Whom facred truth can charm, whom heaven has 
 
 graced 
 
 With native fenfe, with independent tafte, 
 Aflert your facred rights ! fulfil your trufl ! 
 And, fpurning faihion's fway, ftill dare be juft ! 
 Nor you, ye injured Bards ! who fcorn to pay 
 Bafe homage to the minion of the day, 
 Retort his fneering profe, or flippant rhyme, 
 But calmly wait the juft award of time. 
 Britain, at length awaked, fhall own your claim, 
 Shall yield the full, the lafting meed of fame, 320 
 And ftamp with juft applaufe your honeft page, 
 Secured from envy's hate and faction's rage. 
 
 rigid mufeles from whom the felf-importance of this " ftrutting 
 ** Bantam" does not frequently provoke a fmile. What, for in- 
 flance, can be more truly ridiculous than his citing, on the autho- 
 rity of his fingle aflcrtion, four gentlemen as admiring his book, not 
 one of whom has publljhcd a fy liable concerning it. We have often 
 feen teftimonies of diftinguifhed writers quoted in recommendation 
 of a work. But this, perhaps, is the firft inflance of an anonymous 
 writer afluring the world that fuch and fuch men of literature com- 
 mend his book. But as he is fo fond of private anecdotes, let me 
 advife him not to boaft too much of Mr. Storer's " love to bis 
 ** Kaa ;" as thereby hangs a tale. Mr. S., on whofe praife he 
 plumes himfelf, laid a trap for the GREAT AUTHOR'S vanity, and 
 fuccceded to a miracle. Never was a man of fuch profound wifdoru 
 duped. 
 
 POST.
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 J. HE little Satirifl appearing confcious of the indignation 
 excited by his brutal attack on Dr. Warton, and attempting 
 to juftify it, a more full difcuflion of that fubjecl: may not be 
 improper; though (as the public mind is pretty well made 
 up on his conduct) it may not be neceffary. It has, indeed, 
 been ably treated by the author of Strictures on the Purfuitt 
 of Literature \ but to perfons who have not feen that work, 
 the following considerations will, I think, fhew the artifices 
 and malignity of our Satirifl in their true light. 
 
 i. Nothing, when duly confidered, can be more captious 
 than to cenfure an Editor for publishing a likenefs of his 
 author. It is not, indeed, abfolutely neceflary ; but cultom 
 authorizes and in fome degree requires it ; and it gratifies a 
 very natural and harmlefs curiofity. Why then flioulcl a 
 practice encouraged in others, be cenfared in Lord Sheffield 
 and Dr. Warton ? Becaufc, forfooth, Gibbon had a clumfy 
 perfon, and Pope a deformed one ! As if the knowledge of 
 thefe circumftances could leflen the fame of either of thofe 
 diftinguimed writers ! The likenefs of Pope was taken by 
 an eminent painter without the lead view to caricature, and 
 certainly makes him lefs deformed than tradition had repre- 
 fented him. But were it otherwife, what injury could be 
 done thereby to his memory ? What can it take from that re- 
 putation which was gained by the qualities of his mind, not 
 of his perfon ? 
 
 a. Another
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 2. Another objection Is, that Dr. Warton has borrowed 
 many of the notes from his celebrated EfTay. But would any 
 man profefling to give an edition of Pope, with compleat 
 Notes, have done otherwife ? Had Dr. W. avoided every 
 remark that had appeared in his Eflay, what cenfure would 
 he not then have incurred ! Should we not have been told 
 that, from interefted motives (namely, that his Efiay might 
 ftill be an object of purchafe), he had, in the edition, pre- 
 fented us with the mere refufe of his b/ain, with the glean- 
 ings of a harveft already gathered ? And how many Critics 
 would have lamented that fome other perfon had not under- 
 taken the tafk, who would, without fcruple, have borrowed 
 the moft valuable remarks from Dr. Warton, fince the Doctor 
 would not from himfelf ! 
 
 3. On the next ground of attack, I am fenfible that Dr. W. 
 may be defended with great appearance of reafon. This has 
 been ably performed by the author of Strictures on The Pur- 
 
 fuits of Literature. I am fenfible that here too the little Sati- 
 rift has been guilty of a mifreprefentation ; for Poems pub- 
 limed by Pope himfelf, or with his confent, in his riper years, 
 are very different from Mr. E.'s Geranium, or any other irre- 
 gular fally of youth never publifhed by it's author. Neither 
 is Warburton's edition free from objectionable paflages, and 
 even poems. Yet I admit that, as far as my own opinion 
 goes, it might have been better if Dr. W. had not fo ftrictly 
 interpreted his duty as an Editor. But did that error, if it 
 be one, require fuch a profufion of infults and invectives ? 
 Is it true, as the Satirift aflerts, that the edition only, not 
 the editor^ is the object of his animadverfion ? Let any 
 reader turn to the eight lines of the Text ([ am afliamcd to 
 recite them) in which fo many opprobrious epithets are 
 lavifhed ! Let him turn even to the Note that contains this 
 
 aflertion,
 
 ( 3' ) 
 
 aflertion, and fay there is no unprovoked and tmneceiTiiry 
 perfonality ! No man, I repeat it, who had the feelings of 
 a man, would have raked out fo induftrioufly, and aggra- 
 vated fo grofsly, every little blemim in Dr. W.'s work 9 or 
 would have infulted by fuch language a man of his age and 
 character. But no refpecl (it feems) is due to age i No, not 
 even in the cafe of an eminent and amiable perfon ! Have 
 you forgotten then (mod worthy fir) the maxims of all your 
 favourite claflics ? " // u not (you tell us) in the title 
 "page" Pro pudor ! Is there a (ingle reader of fuch a book 
 ignorant that Dr. Warton has been for nearly half a century- 
 one of the brighteft ornaments to the claflical literature of 
 his country ? But charge muft be heaped upon charge. A 
 few general obfervations (perfectly accordant with the fpirit 
 of the conftitution) are picked out and diftorted from their 
 true meaning, in order to prove (contrary to the tenor of his 
 work and life) Dr. W. a favourer of democracy. This, I 
 am confident, is the fir ft time fuch a charge has been evea 
 infinuated againft him. His bittereft enemies (if he has 
 enemies) would be afnamed of it. But " Cafar afoa. tned J 
 No : that quality of the mind has not a name in his vocabu- 
 lary, not a correfpondent feeling in his- breaft. If, however, 
 indignation at malignity would permit one to fmile at the 
 inconfiftencies of felf-conceit, it would be amufing to fee the 
 man who above all writers (of any learning) deals in colloquial 
 barbarifms and vulgar idioms, reproaching Dr. Warton with 
 what he is pleafed to term vulgarity. Would it be beHevedi 
 that, in the work of this Ccnfor General, of this faftidiou* 
 hypercritic, may be found fuch couplets as this : 
 
 He rofe, late heeded by patrician care, 
 
 Though private friendlhip helped him to the chair ! 
 
 (N. B. This jumble of incongruity and vulgarity veryyWi- 
 ciwjly clofes a laboured paflage.)
 
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