men over the face of the earth cannot unite; as for other reasons, so because they cannot be sufficiently ascertained of each other's characters." have seen persons, within these ten years, uniting in a bad cause in every part of Europe, and may derive the only possible consolation from the reflection. Combinations in a good cause, now begun, if they do not command success, will nevertheless deserve it; and that their encouragement of worth may interest people of various descriptions, it may be observed, that to amend is, likewise, to polish mankind. Morals operate in the same manner as politeness, by correcting and keeping down the passions; and it may some time hence be thought as little plausible and gentlemanlike for him who overthrows a government, as for him who breaks open a house, to excuse his avarice in saying, Tell me why, good Heaven, Thou madest me what I am, with all the spirit, That fill the happiest man? Ah, rather why The ascendancy of fitness should be favoured likewise where we are to profit from talents, as well as virtues. In no line perhaps is judgment so much tried as in that of politics, and therefore I will resort to them for an example. It would be puerile to trust our lives and fortunes, and every thing dear to us, to any statesman ambitious of governing a country, on account of possessing other qualities of understanding than those immediately or eventually concerned in improving property, and promoting public and private happiness. The brilliant declamation of Bolingbroke, illustrating enchantingly, if not instructively, the most interesting parts of history and philosophy, was va→ luable; but the solid good sense, the knowledge of things, and the extensive financial abilities, of Walpole, were, in the line in which the two great men rivalled each other, still more so. A perfect minister would, like Lord Chatham, be perceived to shake the senate with eloquence of the first order, and he would by sympathy, for the same reason, and not only from rule, know how to estimate the sublime and beautiful in the pursuits of those whom he was called to govern, wherever they mingled with them he would, like him, too, by a commanding policy, string the nerves of war, and direct its force, as well as wisely influence the cabinets of foreign countries: but he would, over and above this, be eminent, like Walpole, for great designs of a pacific character; and well digested plans to improve the revenues of his nation. In Lord Chatham, however, judgment sufficiently predominated; it being from his measures that he chiefly derived his glory. It did not, on the contrary, in Bolingbroke, whom we see in the last part of his correspondence, lately published, very differently from Lord Chatham, failing in a favourite expedition, planned by him, without making amends for his failure by the steady operation of a comprehensive system, that often accounts, and finally compensates, for one. In writings which have in view principally to instruct, their proper scope is not sufficiently considered, and the claims of fitness only in part satisfied. The generality of readers are all for energy; and scholars and learned men look out, perhaps, too constantly in such works, for language to the last degree select and accurate. But it is wonderful that those who are so able to distinguish between an effort to amuse the fancy, and one to inform the understanding, should, from the mixture of the styles in books on general topics, persist in frequently confounding them. Very sensible people, in pronouncing an opinion of the style of a right reverend divine, have, I believe, chosen to include. his critical works, in forming their judgment. Yet criticism is, in fact, philosophy; and where there is any thing of disquisition, such as philosophy requires, I should think it would be fair not to make style the smallest test of necessary merit. What should we think if the letters of Newton to his friends, on scientific subjects, were precisely estimated by the degree in which they possessed that ladylike ease and elegance, which forms the excellence of epistolary writing? If style be, in such cases, superadded to thought, the author's merit, and our advantage, certainly are so much greater. But he may be a master of style, and yet stoop to language somewhat too common, where matter, from the laws of the composition, is so comparatively important, that it may seem frivolous to attend to manner. Though Burke's Treatise is an unparalleled instance of the union of both; he thought himself in it obliged to "submit the style to the matter; and frequently give up the praise of elegance, satisfied with being clear." This is what a sound philosopher will be inclined to do, knowing the difficulty of the task he undertakes; but, on the contrary, nothing is so quick, so flowing, so plausible, so every thing that captivates and imposes, as the philosopher of the modern school, while he is promising impossibilities. The undistinguishing demand for style is extremely connected with the spirit of modern philosophy; it is both its cause and consequence. When authors know the critic's attention will be chiefly directed to the structure of their language, they will be less careful to ground their doctrines on demonstration; and when no proofs are afforded by those who cultivate philosophy, but inconclusive arguments in favour of the sovereignty of the people, and other maxims and opinions enumerated in the work of which this is a continuation, the man of sense will require at least some food natural to his mind, and welcome it in the elegant treats of language and rhetoric. The true philosopher carries weight in running against his rivals, and his power ought only to be rated as what it appears, after a sufficient scrutiny. From the historian more graces of style may be expected; but even to him style should appear subordinate; and if there be any marked fidelity or diligence conspicuous in him, the faults of a common, style will vanish in perusing him. The laborious arrangement |