66 tion, I had almoft faid reluctance, with which any remark is introduced which is favourable to the Dr's. reputation, or might lead us to conceive a high opinion of his abilities. Thus his powers of ex-. citing the Paffions are restrained to one fubject, that of the duties of Parents and their Children; the Sermons on which, we are coolly told, "a genuine Pathos "feems to pervade". A fimilar referve may be noticed in another place, where it is acknowledged that his "talent for Sublimity no one can doubt or forbear "to admire"; but this breath of praise is immediately blown away by the adjoining hints, that "Sublimity is a quality "not effential or even expected in Ser"mons, and its effect is fleeting and "tranfient". And I cannot but think that an oblique reflection is intended for him, where mention is made of "the flippant familiarity of the fnipInap Dialogue". 66 M I am at a lofs to affign any probable reafon that could induce fo refpectable a writer as the Differtator to be thus. rigid in his animadverfions on one, who is paft the power of replying to his attacks. In his Differtation he speaks of the "fcoffs and cenfures of a few envious "or narrow minded perfons, who hate every excellence which they cannot at❝tain". Mr. M, I am confident, p. liii. cannot justly be included in this number. Was it then what he calls "the fatal jealoufy of authorship", that made p. xcvii. him forget the natural humanity of his temper, and provoked his indignation against his fellow-collegian and friend? Towards a living author one might have fufpected this to have been the cafe; but a dead writer, one would fuppofe, ceases to be the object of rivalship among his contemporaries. But whatever were the caufe, Mr. M. had an undoubted right to deliver his opinion on any learned performance, in whatever way way he pleased: a work given to the world every one is at liberty to censure, fo it be done with urbanity and a love to truth; and thofe efpecially are qualified to decide on the literary merits of others, who have themfelves arrived at eminence in the Profeffion of Letters. Let fuch teach others, who themselves excell, And cenfure freely, who have written well. Cambridge, 4 July, 1780. S. H. |