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Rome was not only the Seat of Liberty and Empire, but of true Wit and exalted Genius. The Roman Power indeed out-lived the Roman Liberty, but Wit and Genius could not long furvive it. What a high Value ought we then to fet upon Liberty, fince without it, nothing great or fuitable to the Dignity of human Nature, can poffibly be produced! Slavery is the Fetter of the Tongue, the Chain of the Mind, as well as the Body. It embitters Life, fowers and corrupts the Paffions, damps the towering Faculties implanted within us, and ftifles in the Birth the Seeds of every thing that is amiable, generous, and noble. Reason and Freedom are our own, and given to continue fo. We are to ufe, but cannot refign them, without rebelling against him who gave them. The Invaders of either ought to be refifted by the united Force of all Men, fince they encroach on the Privileges we receive from God, and traverse the Defigns of infinite Goodness.

2. We come now to the Paffions, &c.-] The learned World ought certainly to be condoled with, on the great Lofs they have fuftained, in Longinus's Treatife on the Paffions. The Excellence of this on the Sublime, makes us regret the more the Lofs of the other, and infpires us with deep Refentments of the irreparable Depredations committed on Learning and the valuable Productions of Antiquity, by Goths, and Monks, and Time. There, in all Probability, we fhould have beheld the fecret Springs and Movements of the Soul disclosed to View. There we should have been taught, if Rule and Observation in this case can teach, to elevate an Audience into Joy, or melt

them

them into Tears.

There we fhould have learned, if ever, to work upon every Paffion, to put every Heart, every Pulfe in Emotion. At prefent we must fit down contented under the Lofs, and be satisfied with this invaluable Piece on the Sublime, which with much Hazard has escaped a Wreck, and gained a Port, tho' not undamaged. Great indeed are the Commendations, which the Judicious beftow upon it, but not in the leaft difproportioned to its Merit. For in it are treasured up the Laws and Precepts of fine Writing, and a fine Taste. Here are the Rules, which polish the Writer's Invention, and refine the Critic's Judgment. Here is an Object proposed at once for our Admiration and Imitation.

Dr. Pearce's Advice will be a feasonable Conclufion. "Read over very frequently this Golden "Treatife (which deferves not only to be read but "imitated) that you may hence understand, not only "how the best Authors have written, but learn

yourself to become an Author of the firft Rank. "Read it therefore and digeft it, then take up your "Pen in the Words of Virgil's Nifus ;

Aliquid jamdudum invadere magnum

Mens agitat mihi, nec placida contenta quiete eft.

FINI S

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