But, if the interests of our literary ftate require it, it cannot be doubted that the mere gratification of an individual ought to be given up for the good of the whole community.

But to proceed to the third and last head of our difcourfe: the object of which is the effects or consequences of the following Review. Thefe, like the subject of our preface, may be divided alfo into three parts. In the first place, it is prefumed the injuries done to the name of Shakespeare will be in a great measure repaired, and the lustre of his tarnished honour restored. In the fecond, it is feared Dr. Johnson will fuffer not a little in his literary reputation; and in the last, it may be suspected, that the proprietors will be injured in the fale of the work.

In regard to the first; the pleasure, which it is prefumed every true Englishman will feel, at the attempt to do juftice to his favourite poet, will fufficiently exculpate the author, had it been necessary to practise a still greater feverity in effecting it.

With respect to the fecond, it may not be improper for the writer to offer fomething in his juftification. It is not eafy to guess how far Dr. Johnson would have the respect due to living reputation extend, when applied to himself. He may poffibly have adopted the opinion of Wolfius, and will plead the authority of that great civilian, to prove that men

of

of letters ought not to detract from the unmerited reputation of others. Nemo eruditorum alterius fame ac laudi, five merita, five IMMERITE detrabere debet. In reply to this, however, Mr. de Vattel, a civilian of equal authority, though perhaps of fomewhat less note, takes a different fide of the queftion; affirming, that no person hath a just complaint, because we may deprive him of a thing to which he hath no right, and which he unjustly affumes to himself. On the other hand, he determines that the literary reputation which is gotten undefervedly, is injurious to men of true merit; who thus become fufferers by the Vain and Undeferving. When praise, continues this able civilian, is prostituted on unworthy objects, it lofes its value: the world grows diftruftful, and in confequence of being made the dupe of pretenders, frequently refuses to bestow its applause on the truly Meritorious. Ought we to contribute to this injustice, for fear of depriving an impoftor of the reputation on which he plumes himself, and to which he hath no well-founded pretenfions? Surely not! Such is the reasoning of de Vattel on this interesting point; how far it is applicable to any, or all the editors of Shakespeare, the public is to determine. It is fufficient that the Reviewer hath the civil law at least on his fide, in his endeavours to do justice to merit; though he fhould be found to have detracted, more in effect than with defign, from the reputation of the Undeferving. His confcience is perfectly easy alfo, from the reflection that if he had not undertaken to expofe the defects of Dr. John

fon's

fon's work, fomebody else would. For, as Mr. Edwards juftly observes, the world will not long be imposed on by ungrounded pretences to learning, * or any other qualification; nor does the knowledge of words alone, if it be really attained, make a man "learned. Every true judge, as he observes, will subfcribe to Scaliger's opinion, "If, fays that great "Critic, a person's learning is to be judged of by "his reading, no body can deny Eufebius the cha"racter of a learned man; but if he is to be esteem"ed learned, who has fhewn judgment together "with his reading, Eufebius is not fuch." this it may be truly added, in the words of another author, from whom this writer alfo borrowed them, as he used them on a fimilar occafion; "It is "not the purpose of the following remarks, to caft

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a blemish on his [Dr. Johnson's] envied fame; but "to do a piece of juftice to the real merit of the "comment and the commentator; by that beft and "gentleft method of correction, which nature has « ordained in such a cafe; of laughing them down to their proper rank and character."

As to the last point, viz. the interest of the proprietors; the Reviewer thinks it very problematical whether this will be affected either way. He hath indeed known books fometimes fell the better for being publicly cenfured: but, be this as it may, he can truly aver that he meant them no harm; for, though it is poffible that one or other of them may have sometimes failed a little in that refpect to the writer, which he thinks an author has a right to ex

pect

pect of his bookfeller, and his bookfeller, if he is wife, will be ready to pay him, yet he does not harbour fo much refentment against any of them, as to wish to hurt their intereft. If unluckily it should turn out, however, that the fale of Dr. Johnson's edition of Shakespeare should be hence obftructed, and that it should only bobble, instead of taking a run; the proprietors have nothing to do, but to engage the Reviewer, if they can, or fome body else, to furnish them with a better edition. Nor will this be a difficult tafk, although it would be an arduous and noble one, to give the public fuch a commentary as the writings of this incomparable Bard deferve.

To detain the reader but a moment longer.Dr. Johnson, having acted, in the outrage he hath committed on Shakespeare, just like other finners, not only by doing those things he ought not to have done, but by leaving undone those things he ought to have done; his fins of omiffion are not lefs important, though much more numerous, than those of commiffion. Indeed, nothing is more ufual with commentators in general, than to display their own fagacity on obvious paffages, and to leave the difficult ones to be explained by the fagacity of their readers *. The Reviewer, how ever, cannot be fup

* Dr. Johnson, indeed, fays, in his Preface: Not a fingle paffage in the whole work has appeared to me corrupt, which I have not attempted to restore; or obfcure, which I have not en⚫deavoured to illuftrate.' How he hath fucceeded in thefe attempts, the reader is left to judge for himfelf on perufal of the following sheets.

pofed

1

pofed here to have given a compleat commentary himself; indeed he hath been able only to include in the following fheets fome few remarks on the most glaring blunders and defects that occur in this new edition; of which fuch wonderful things were promised and expected; and to which, having feen the prophecy fulfilled, we may apply, with as much justice as ever it was applied to any thing, that wellknown quotation from Horace.

Quid dignum tanto feret hic promiffor hiatu?

Parturiunt montes: nafcetur ridiculus mus!