the admirer of the abode of Socrates and Plato has the satisfaction to find, on opening the first volume, a view of Athens; which, though somewhat flattering, seems, on the whole, to present a faithful picture of that celebrated city.

ART. II. Essay on the Study and Composition of Biography. By James Field Stanfield. 8vo. pp. 340. Gale and Co., &c. 1813.

IN

N July 1788 and in September 1789, we had to notice previous publications of this writer, whose new production merits similar attention. His object, he says, in taking this view of biography, is to assist in developing the principles of human nature, and in applying the knowlege of them to practical conduct. He does not approach his topic merely as a critic, who would give lessons to the literary biographer, but also as a moralist, who would infer from manifold experience the principles of real prudence. He expects not only that the writers but that the readers of lives may derive advantage from his pages, and be led to consider self-movement (to borrow his own word) as the characteristic and critical object of attention and evolution, under all the accidents of fortune and the combinations of sympathy. That which a man does because of surrounding events, or because of co-operation with others, is much less worthy of analytical observation, that that which he does out of idiosyncrasy. The individual person, as contradistinguished from his fellows, can only be introduced to our acquaintance by being singled out from the crowd, and can only be discriminated in the memory by the notice of his peculiar features.

The first chapter treats of the disadvantages which have arisen to theoretical biography, or biology, as the author proposes to call it, from scantiness of material and deficiency of record. Important characters of antiquity might be mentioned, whose influence over human affairs has changed the face of the world, but of whose individual disposition, culture, and intellect, we have very little knowlege. Cyrus is an instance of this kind. Remoteness of time, and inaccessibility of record, frequently compel even the qualified biographer to give a maimed and empty skeleton instead of a living image.

Chapter ii. discusses those deficiencies in the writer of biography which result from the neglect of preparatory studies, or from an absence of the biographic spirit. Mallett's life of LordBacon is censured in the words of Warburton; who, being informed that Mallett had undertaken a life of Marlborough, observed that, as in his first work this writer had forgotten that Bacon

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Bacon was a Philosopher, so in his next he might not remember that Marlborough was a General.

The biographic spirit is placed in the art of characterizing;of selecting for conspicuity those traits which paint the individual, and which display his difference from others moving in the same career with like pursuits. Great praise is bestowed on the luminous and orderly delineations of Melchior Adam ;' and Plutarch is commended at p. 24. with a warmth which is inconsistent with the censure passed at p. 6.: but perhaps the life of Cæsar, which provokes the censure, is inferior to the Greek lives, which excite the praise.

In the third chapter, Mr. S. treats of the disadvantages arising, from the relative situation of the subject and the writer; of partiality or resentment, proceeding from patriotic, factious, or religious prejudices; of credulity or scepticism, arising from imperfect knowlege, or want of critical tact; and of deceptious execution, as when a writer involves the account of an entire period in a particular life, and thus produces an opinion of the disproportionate influence of the principal over the subordinate characters. Individuals are criticized; and Lord Clarendon is boldly preferred to Thuanus.

Something is said of auto-biography, or, in the author's hybrid dialect, of self-biography. The theme is important, and essential to a disquisition of this kind: but it should have been reserved for a separate discussion, and examined at greater extent. Little originality is displayed on a topic which is so new, and which of late years has become so fertile. Saint Augustine gave an early and a good specimen of this kind of biography. An intrinsic knowlege of human nature can be imparted by the sincere memorialist of his own actions: but moral tolerance must have made that progress which it effects only in the bosom of public depravity, for a writer to grow so cynically bold as Rousseau; and to expect an applauding gratitude for stripping himself before the nations of Europe, and exhibiting to their gaze the nudities of nature and of sin. By degrees, men will learn to distinguish between the actions which interest them as spectators, and the actions which concern them as neighbours: those of the former class may be left to the mercy of capricious opinion, but those of the latter must be circumscribed by the definition of the magistrate.

The life of Constantine by Eusebius is justly censured by Mr. Stanfield for its profligate extenuation of that Emperor's crimes. Middleton's life of Cicero, and Boswell's life, of Johnson, form an apt contrast: in the one, public principles and conduct are alone brought out, and the man is exhibited in his forensic gown; in the other, private and conversational

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resource is the object of admiration, and genius is shewn prating in the elbow-chair.

In Part II. of this work, the author considers the materials of biography; and the first chapter treats of requisites and preliminary studies. Among desiderated lives, Mr. S. reckons that of Julius Cæsar; since we possess, he thinks, no account of that hero which is adequate to the importance of his actions and their influence on mankind.

Mr. Stanfield proposes, in a second section, to class men according to their principal pursuit. Thus a first class might, consist of those whose object was supreme power; and a second, of those whose aim was literary reputation. We much suspect, however, that deception would mix itself with this plan, since men are more often moved by necessity than by purpose; and many have attained supreme power who did not make it their pursuit. For the evils of anarchy, a military despotism is the appropriate and universal remedy; and the best General of the place and time is called in and forced into power. It is frequently an after-thought of the historian to paint a Cromwell or a Napoleon as premeditating, in early life, those depositions, regicides, or massacres, which were steps indeed to their ascent but not of their own contriving. The interest and attraction of biographical narrative may be enhanced by describing success as the effect of deliberate foresight, and of a settled and definite purpose: but this system teaches an erroneous view of human affairs. The most splendid instances of advancement in life occur among men who were uniformly intent on the next step upwards, and not on any specific ultimate station. In the busy streets of the world, the near-sighted walk forwards with less jostling than the farsighted. The scheme of an indwelling purpose may give à godlike dignity to the hero of a biographer, and facilitate his apotheosis in the skies of celebrity: but in general it is a poetic deception which thus anticipates event, and imputes pre-existence to the offspring of circumstance.

As Mr. S. has condensed into a set of aphorisms the prin cipal inferences drawn by him from an extensive study of the life-writers, we will exhibit this sifted specimen of his mental effort:

1. A certain degree of fermentation assists in producing an ardent spirit in the heat of public commotion is engendered the rage of ambition.

2. Without the supply of talent, ambition is impotent; without opportunity, useless.

3. Youthful ambition may be excited in consequence of conjectural prediction of future excellence or high destinations the time,

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place,

place, and personage pronouncing,-all giving influence to the impression.

4. Early danger teacheth prudence, without extinguishing hope; and, sometimes,

"Lowliness is young ambition's ladder."

5. The instruments of advancement are rendered effective-the great men by interest and intrigue; the soldiers by valour and munificence; and the people by splendour and condescension.

6. When there are divisions in a state, decision, in embracing one party, condenses the means of advancement, and points the ener gies to a determinate process.

7. The influence of a party is concentred in the leader : the chief of a weak faction is before the subaltern or equal member of a powerful combination.

8. An early act of invincible resolution not only establishes fortitude in the agent himself, but disposes others to confidence in his future stability. The proofs of an innate and determinate magnanimity cannot appear too soon; and a party will give its whole trust and powers to a man who is not to be turned from the cause by interest or danger.

9. The existence of party is identified with the success of the leader; and to his fortune the hopes and destinies of the whole must be indissolubly chained.

10. Affording open protection and encouragment to the injured and to the discontented, substantiates the power that is assumed, and converts semblance into reality.

11. In a popular career, the display of virtues is as necessary as the actual possession.

12. Public estimation is the support of power; and can never be preserved without the most evident observance of the rites and ordinances of national religion.

13. Whilst designs are silently advancing, suspicion is lulled by the plausible semblance of contradictory manners.

14. Precipitation is injurious, provided the machine do not stand still or retrograde: that time is not lost, which gives strength to the power, addition to the means, and facility to the progression.

15. To a mind of energy, the failure in any subordinate attempt is but a stimulus to superior atchievements. Proceed or perish !

16. The course once begun, popular attention is fixed-no charm, no remission all is dazzling, successful progression.

17. Offices, or public stations, carry in themselves a character of power and privilege, which is always added to the native worth and influence of the possessor.

18. Specious and shewy allurements bend before the sagacious appreciation of solid advantage.

19. In comparative or conjunct transactions, all reputation is monopolized by the superiority that overbears every appearance of suceessful participation.

20. Successes, in the same scenes and exploits, where others have toiled to obtain a celebrity, are made light of, in order to enhance the value of the agent's more important atchievements.

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21. With

21. With adversaries, hope is never to be extinguished: success is then viewed without horror, and an opening still left to reconciliation.

22. In many cases, it is as necessary to wink at the errors of friends, as it is convenient to expose as well as profit by the defects of opponents.

23. The interest of rivals may be promoted, when their success gives facility to the scheme in hand; and the innovations of others are supported, when they may stand as precedents to be taken advantage of on future occasions.

24. The allurements of love, and the avengement of injuries, are powerful but not invincible temptations: affection and resentment are the two greatest sacrifices that can be immolated on the altar of ambition.

25. Money, the sinews of political as well as military operations, if levied by foreign warfare, will effect a double advantage-repu tation in the acquisition, and power in the disposal.

26. Favourable occasions are fleeting; vigilance seizes upon, and makes them instrumental: the neglect of one opportunity may put to hazard a whole plan of action.

27. Common forms and usages sink before power and resolution. 28. The confidence of possessing a power to infuse heroism, and even abilities, into the souls of others, returns, with added energy, upon the agent, and renders the combination invincible.

29. The end being ever in view, the intermediate atchievements will partake of the nature of the object; but detain attention only as means to the ultimate accomplishment.

30. When the inevitable moment, at last, demands the masterresolution, silence precedes the blow- -no preparatory signs give time to apprehension or resistance. The leader's spirit is imparted in the surprise and grandeur of the stroke; thought is overwhelmed in admiration; and suddenness becomes the soul that animates decision.'

The second chapter of this part discusses again the biogra.phical spirit. Dramatic studies form an expedient preparation. As those, who have learned to draw, observe more accurately the features of nature, so those, who frequent the theatre, observe more accurately the features of character. If we may re-quote from our own pages (Vol. xviii. N.S. p. 126.) a passage which is introduced in p. 113. by this author, "There is a passion of the mind, the strength of which is usually commensurate with the progress of our knowlege of human nature; -which delights to observe the manners; to investigate the symptoms of character; to infer from the occasional actions of an individual the predisposing bent or state of his mind; or, from a preconceived idea of his turn and disposition, to infer his probable conduct in given circumstances, and to compare with these inferences the actual result; a philosophic passion, which might be named the ETHIC CURIOSITY.” It is this

passion