But what can be more ignorant, or more unjust than this stigma?

The contempt of stupidity is, it must be confessed, very provoking. Why should the dull soppose that nothing is good but according to their own model? Why should they endeavour to lower us down to mere materialism?

It is among the evils which mix themselves in this world with all good, that the very superiority to which acute and highly-cultivated minds are raised, exposes them to many keen disgusts and mortifications, to which those of a coarser cast are insensible. The former are of a temperament too nice for the common intercourse of society. The rudeness and insults of the obtuse-headed and the hard-hearted, make too deep an impression on them. The finer mechanism of their internal emotions is deranged by rough and brutal behaviour. Otherwise, such pitiful and illfounded animadversions would not for a moment give pain to a well-regulated intellect.

It is a mark of the divine part of our nature, to be constantly aspiring at some excellence beyond our practical reach; and to indulge a thousand virtuous visions, which, if they have vanished with the clouds, have yet not flitted across our fancies in vain!

Whoever is in the habitual practice of accusing the eloquent and richly-gifted, of an hypocritical want of integrity, because they cannot always act up to their own theories and expressions, ought to be despised for his ignorance, and branded for his defect of charity.

That beings of this low and base conformation should hate poetry, and all the charms of fiction, can excite no wonder: indeed the contrary would be

grossly

grossly inconsistent. We hear them treat this divine art as "empty sound, meaning nothing;" and only fit to be the play-thing of children, and love-sick girls! Poor wretches, that glory in the filth and darkness of their own miry cells!

If, indeed, it can he proved, that there is no sincerity in him who deals in high-wrought sentiments; if he utter what he does not feel, and with an intention to deceive, the case is of a widely-different stamp. And even should there be no intention to deceive, they will betray to well-qualified judges their want of nature. There is in what flows from the heart, a sort of indescribable attraction, which produces instantaneous sympathy in the intelligent.

It may, however, be admitted, that there is a distinction of no small importance between those to whom lofty conceptions are within the capacity, and only occasional; and those to whom they are habitual. This may arise from temper, accidental circumstances, and other complex causes. It will not affect the sincerity of the utterers; but the degree of reliance on the probability of more frequent approach to concurrence of action.

If these opinions are calculated to offend many, let them recollect, that they have drawn the stigma on themselves by the narrowness and illiberality of their own judgments.

Feb. 20, 1809.

N*

N° LXVI.

On the Inadequacy of Cotemporary Envy and Prejudice to the final Suppression or Injury of a wellfounded Fame.

If a literary man be not content with his reputation, till he has secured the applause of all the best judges among his cotemporaries, he must descend to his grave in a state of mortification and depression. Envy and prejudice, springing from rivalry, will too often insinuate themselves into the best minds, and taint the most correct or candid judgments. Departed Ge

niuses, who now stand on the same shelf in equal reputation, treated each other, while living, with mutual contempt or hatred. This is well known to have been the case with the two leaders of modern romance in this country, Fielding and Richardson.

Time settles all these differences; and these little passions are forgot in the tomb. Bishop Burnet spoke of the inimitable author of HENRY AND EMMA, as "one Prior!" and Swift treated the Bishop with the most scornful raillery; yet Burnet, and Prior, and Swift, all at length hold their proper place in the temple of Fame, unaffected by each other's injustice. The Bishop also, I think, spoke of Dryden as a compound of vice and impurity. Yet, has this calumny tended to sink the poet's reputation an atom? I do not defend such illiberal conduct; nor do I deny that it may lower a doubtful fame beyond recovery. But real merits will penetrate the temporary veil, as the sun bursts through clouds. What now avail all the degrading expressions which passed between Warbur

ton

How

ton and Lowth? Both now shine with undiminished lustre in their respective ranks of literature. utterly have passed away the consequences of the secret enmity between Pope and Addison! The slighting opinion expressed by Gray, of Akenside's " Pleasures of Imagination," is now of as little import to its credit, as the gentle movement of the passing breeze to the oak, whose branches scarcely bend to its cur

rent.

Johnson's hostility to Gray, could never diminish his popularity while living; nor cloud the glory of his muse when dead. Darwin's affected contempt of Cowper, only recoiled upon himself. How it takes from the nobleness of a great mind, to be thus stained by these petty and disgraceful passions! What strange narrowness, to fear that there may not be space enough for all! And that excellence must be confined to one model! The truth is, that every varied merit in some degree increases the public relish for its opposite, by the contrast which it affords. So that even in a selfish view, envy and jealousy have no just founda

tion.

Let no writer then despair, because there are many of deserved credit, whose approbation he cannot secure; nay, whose sneers and censures he cannot overcome. Their depreciation cannot finally injure him, if his claims stand upon a solid basis, and their applause, could he have it, would be vainly bestowed, if not really his due.

Temporary fame is, no doubt, often the result of accident, or whim, or intrigue. But it is as shortlived, as it is unsound. It blows the possessor up into the air, only to have the mortification of the greater

fall.

fall. When it is the consequence of his own manœuvres, he is entitled to no pity; if it originate from extrinsic circumstances, his humiliation, severe as it must be, is not without a claim to sympathy.

There are men who pnsh themselves into notice by the extent of their personal acquaintance; by little acts of literary officiousness; and by a familiarity with all the common modes, and all the artifices by which books may be circulated. But the effect ceases with the cause; and they are remembered only as long as these exertions continue to operate. Johnson, if I recollect, makes an observation of this kind with regard to the fame of David Mallet.

If there be short roads to the temple of Fame, the temple to which they lead is not the true one. The real road is long and laborious; and he who surmounts it, must incur many weary days, and many selfdenials.

When a reputation is thus acquired, all the private motives which have obstructed its progress for a season will die away, and be no more felt. Malice and rivalry" war not with the dead.”

But whatever be the effect of them on the object to whom they are directed, let no one think the indulgence of these passions innocent. They are unamiable, illiberal, and unworthy of a great or a good mind. The charge against Addison, of hidden ill-will to Pope, is, if true (and be it remembered, that the proofs of it are not decisive*), a sad stain on his character. The operation of these feelings on the judgment, is indeed often so insensible, as to elude the detection of him

See Dr. Warton's Pope, IV. 30. 34.

whom