na are almoft univerfally regarded as anoma lous and inexplicable. It is however worth while to enquire, whether this be really the cafe, and to make an attempt at least, to explain the nature and varieties of Genius from the fimple qualities of the human mind.

4

i

PART

I

PARTİ.

Of the Nature of Genius.

T will be proper to begin our enquiries, by ascertaining, what it is that properly constitutes Genius as diftinguished from our other intellectual powers. This will both render our conception of it precife, and lead us to discover, what other operations of the understanding, attend it in its exertions, or affift it, and in what manner.

SECT. I.

Of the Province and Criterion of Genius.

THE powers of the human mind, however diftinct in themfelves, are generally complicated in their energies. Scarce any of them can be exerted in perfection, without the affiftance of many others. others. On this account, it is very difficult to collect the phenomena which belong to each, to diftinguish precisely one faculty from the rest, and to afcertain its peculiar nature and province. The

B 3

The habit of confounding our mental powers with one another, is fo ftrong as to render the closest attention neceffary for making a separation; and the natural fubtlety of the subject makes it hard to reflect upon it with close attention. But without determining, in this manner, the proper nature of each faculty, and marking its real difference from those which most resemble it and are often combinéd with it, our conception of it will be imperfect and indeterminate.

THE exertions of Genius can never be complete or regular, when any of the intellectual powers is remarkably defective. It receives affiftance from them all. But Genius is notwithstanding one of the intellectual powers, and distinguishable from the reft. There are many productions which are far from fatisfying reafon, or altogether approving themselves to tafte, in which we yet acknowlege confpicuous marks of real genius. Their faults difcover a defect, not of this, 'but of fome

other power. Few competent judges will now-a-days affert that the dialectics of Arif totle, are of any confiderable utility for the end which he propofed to answer by them, the discovery of truth: but that work, perhaps

haps more than any other of his works, difplays the compafs of his genius. It will be generally allowed that the writings of ShakeSpear have almost as great faults as beauties; but it will be as generally afferted, that his genius is fo original and immenfe as to place him at the head of modern poets. What then is the precife criterion of genius? If we can determine what it is, we fhall the more easily form a diftin& conception of the nature of this faculty.

THE difficulty in determining the province of genius, which arifes from the natural intricacy and mutual connexion of the intellectual powers, is increased by the confused application of names, to which that has given occafion. Genius is confounded, not only by the vulgar, but even fometimes by judicious writers, with mere capacity. Nothing however is more evident, than that they are totally diftinct. A capacity of learning, is very general among mankind. As birds are by nature made fit for flying, a horse for the courfe, or a wild beaft for fierceness, fo docility is congenial to man. A human creature in every respect unteachable, were one of the greatest and rareft of monfters. Moft chilB 4

dren

dren promise fome abilities, though the want of culture and other caufes often blast them, and frustrate the kind intentions of Nature (a). Mere capacity, in most subjects, implies nothing beyond a little judgment, a tolerable memory, and confiderable industry. But true genius is very different, and much less frequent.

GENIUS is properly the faculty of invention; by means of which a man is qualified for making new discoveries in fcience, or for producing original works of art. We may afcribe tafte, judgment, or knowlege, to a man who is incapable of invention; but we cannot reckon him a man of genius. In order to determine, how far he merits this character, we must enquire, whether he has difcovered any new principle in science, or invented any new art, or carried those arts which are already practifed, to a higher degree of perfection, than former mafters? Or, whe

(a) Sicut aves ad volatum, equi ad curfum, ad fævitiam fere gignuntur: ita nobis propria eft mentis agitatio, atque folertia. Hebetes vero et indociles non magis fecundum naturam hominis eduntur, quam prodigiofa corpora, et monftris infignia: fed hi pauci admodum. Fuerit argumentum, quod in pueris elucet fpes plurimorum : quæ cum emoritur ætate, manifeftum eft non naturam defeciffe, fed curam. QUINTIL. Inftitut. Orat. lib. i. cap. 1.

ther,

1