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"does he express a savage nature, in fastening upon the celebrated author, dwelling upon "his imaginary defects, and paffing over his confpicuous excellences. He treats all "writers upon the fame impartial foot; and "is not, like the little critics, taken up entirely "in finding out only the beauties of the an"cient, and nothing but the errors of the mo"dern writers. Never did any one exprefs more "kindness and good nature to young and unfi“nished authors; he promotes their interests, "protects their reputation, extenuates their "faults, and fets off their virtues, and by his can"dour guards them from the feverity of his "judgement. He is not like those dry critics, "who are morofe because they cannot write "themselves, but is himself master of a good vein "in poetry; and though he does not often employ it, yet he has fometimes entertained "his friends with his unpublished perform

ances.

The reft of the Lay Monks seem to be but feeble mortals, in comparison with the gigantic Johnson; who yet, with all his abilities, and the help of the fraternity, could drive the publication but to forty papers, which were G 4 after

afterwards collected into a volume, and called in the title a Sequel to the Spectators.

Some years afterwards (1716 and 1717) he published two volumes of Effays in profe,. which can be commended only as they are written for the highest and noblest purpose, the promotion of religion. Blackmore's profe is not the profe of a poet; for it is languid, fluggish, and lifelefs; his diction is neither daring nor exact, his flow neither rapid nor eafy, and his periods neither smooth nor strong. His account of Wit will fhew with how little clearness he is content to think, and how little his thoughts are recommended by his lan guage.

"As to its efficient caufe, Wit owes its pro

duction to an extraordinary and peculiar "temperament in the conftitution of the pof"feffor of it, in which is found a concur66 rence of regular and exalted ferments, and "an affluence of animal fpirits, refined and "rectified to a great degree of purity; whence,

being endowed with vivacity, brightnefs, "and celerity, as well in their reflexions "as direct motions, they become proper in"ftruments

"ftruments for the fpritely operations of the "mind; by which means the imagination can "with great facility range the wide field of "Nature, contemplate an infinite variety of objects, and, by observing the fimilitude and

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disagreement of their several qualities, fingle 86 out and abstract, and then fuit and unite "thofe ideas which will beft ferve its purpose. “Hence beautiful allufions, furprising meta

phors, and admirable fentiments, are always “ready at hand: and while the fancy is full "of images collected from innumerable ob

jects and their different qualities, relations, "and habitudes, it can at pleasure dress a $6 common notion in a strange but becoming "garb; by which, as before observed, the "fame thought will appear a new one, ❝ to the great delight and wonder of the hear“ er, What we call genius refults from this "particular happy complexion in the firft "formation of the person that enjoys it, and

is Nature's gift, but diverfified by various fpecific characters and limitations, as its "active fire is blended and allayed by differ❝ent proportions of phlegm, or reduced and "regulated by the contrast of oppofite fer"ments. Therefore, as there happens in the 66 com

"compofition of a facetious genius a greater

or lefs, though ftill an inferior, degree of "judgement and prudence, one man of wit "will be varied and distinguished from ano "ther."

In these Effays he took little care to propitiate the wits; for he fcorns to avert their malice at the expence of virtue or of truth.

"Several, in their books, have many far"caftical and fpiteful ftrokes at religion in "general; while others make themselves plea"fant with the principles of the Chriftian, "Of the last kind, this age has seen a moft "audacious example in the book intituled, "A Tale of a Tub. Had this writing been published in a pagan or popish nation, who are justly impatient of all indignity offered to the established religion of their country, "no doubt but the author would have received "the punishment he deserved. But the fate "of this impious buffoon is very different; "for in a proteftant kingdom, zealous of their "civil and religious immunities, he has not only escaped affronts and the effects of pub"lic refentment, but has been caressed and patronized by perfons of great figure, and

"of

"of all denominations. Violent party-men, "who differed in all things befides, agreed in "their turn to fhew particular respect and "friendship to this infolent derider of the

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worship of his country, till at laft the re

puted writer is not only gone off with impunity, but triumphs in his dignity and pre"ferment. I do not know that any inquiry or fearch was ever made after this writing, or that any reward was ever offered for "the discovery of the author, or that the in"famous book was ever condemned to be "burnt in public: whether this proceeds "from the exceffive efteem and love that "men in power, during the late reign, had for "wit, or their defect of zeal and concern for "the Chriftian Religion, will be determined "best by those who are beft acquainted with ❝ their character."

In another place he speaks with becoming abhorrence of a godlefs author who has burlesqued a Pfalm. This author was supposed to be Pope, who published a reward for any one that would produce the coiner of the accufation, but never denied it; and was after