The Augustan Reprint Society

Daniel Defoe

_A Vindication of the Press_ (1718)

With an Introduction by Otho Clinton Williams

Publication Number 29

Los Angeles

William Andrews Clark Memorial Library

University of California

1951

_GENERAL EDITORS_

 H. RICHARD ARCHER, _Clark Memorial Library_

 RICHARD C. BOYS, _University of Michigan_

 EDWARD NILES HOOKER, _University of California, Los Angeles_

 JOHN LOFTIS, _University of California, Los Angeles_

_ASSISTANT EDITOR_

 W. EARL BRITTON, _University of Michigan_

_ADVISORY EDITORS_

 EMMETT L. AVERY, _State College of Washington_

 BENJAMIN BOYCE, _Duke University_

 LOUIS I. BREDVOLD, _University of Michigan_

 CLEANTH BROOKS, _Yale University_

 JAMES L. CLIFFORD, _Columbia University_

 ARTHUR FRIEDMAN, _University of Chicago_

 LOUIS A. LANDA, _Princeton University_

 SAMUEL H. MONK, _University of Minnesota_

 ERNEST MOSSNER, _University of Texas_

 JAMES SUTHERLAND, _Queen Mary College, London_

 H. T. SWEDENBERG, JR. , _University of California, Los Angeles_

INTRODUCTION

_A Vindication of the Press_ is one of Defoe's most characteristicpamphlets and for this reason as well as for its rarity deservesreprinting. Besides the New York Public Library copy, here reproduced, I know of but one copy, which is in the Indiana University Library. Neither the Bodleian nor the British Museum has a copy. 

Like many items in the Defoe canon, this tract must be assigned to himon the basis of internal evidence; but this evidence, thoughcircumstantial, is convincing. W. P. Trent included _A Vindication_ inhis bibliography of Defoe in the _CHEL_, and later bibliographers ofDefoe have followed him in accepting it. Since the copy herereproduced was the one examined by Professor Trent, the followingpassage from his ms. Notes is of interest:

 The tract was advertised, for "this day, " in the _St. James Evening Post_, April 19-22, 1718. It is not included in the chief lists of Defoe's writings, but it has been sold as his, and the only copy I have seen, one kindly loaned me by Dr. J. E. Spingarn, once belonged to some eighteenth century owner, who wrote Defoe's name upon it. I was led by the advertisement mentioned above to seek the pamphlet, thinking it might be Defoe's; but I failed to secure a sight of it until Professor Spingarn asked me whether in my opinion the ascription to Defoe was warranted, and produced his copy. 

Perhaps the most striking evidence for Defoe's authorship of _AVindication_ is the extraordinary reference to his own natural partsand to the popularity of _The True-Born Englishman_ some seventeenyears after that topical poem had appeared [pp. 29f. ]. Defoe wasjustly proud of this verse satire, one of his most successful works, and referred to it many times in later writings; it is hard tobelieve, however, that anyone but Defoe would have praised it in suchfulsome terms in 1718. 

The general homeliness and facility of the style, together withcharacteristic phrases which occur in his other writings, indicateDefoe's hand. Likewise homely similitudes and comparisons, specificparallels with his known work, and characteristic treatment of matterfamiliar in his other works, all furnish evidence of his authorship ofthis pamphlet. 

Just what motive caused Defoe to write _A Vindication of the Press_ isnot clear. Unlike his earlier _An Essay on the Regulation of thePress_ (1704), _A Vindication_ does not seem to have been occasionedby a specific situation, and in it Defoe is not alone concerned withfreedom of the press, but writes on a more general and discursivelevel. His opening paragraph states that "The very great Clamouragainst some late Performances of Authorship, and the unprecedentedCriticisms introduc'd" make such an essay as he writes "absolutelynecessary. " Yet there is no clear indication of just what worksoccasion this necessity. The ironic reference to Mr. Dennis at the endof the first paragraph, taken together with the praise of Mr. Pope'stranslation of Homer and the allusion to "the malicious and violentCriticisms of a certain Gentleman in its Disfavour" [p. 23], mightsuggest that Defoe had in mind Dennis' _Remarks upon Mr. Pope'sTranslation of Homer_, but even the entire body of writings attackingPope's _Homer_ would hardly seem sufficient to give point to thissomewhat omnibus and unfocused essay. 

Equally suggestive, perhaps, are Defoe's references to the Bangoriancontroversy and to Bishop Hoadley [pp. 10, 23]. This controversy ragedfrom 1717 to 1720 and produced a spate of pamphlets (to which Defoecontributed), many of which were marked by heated argument andacrimony. Defoe, with his liking for moderation, no doubt intended tomake an oblique criticism of the license of many of the Bangoriantracts. But these tracts are certainly not advanced as the primeoccasion for _A Vindication_. 

Defoe points out in the first section of his essay how important isfreedom of the press as the foundation of the "valuable liberties" ofEnglishmen. I have been unable to find any reference to a specificthreat of regulation of the press at this time that might haveoccasioned _A Vindication_. Nevertheless, it is possible thatsentiment for control of the press, perhaps incited by the Bangoriancontroversy, was felt in 1718 and may have been a contributing motiveto the composition of this tract. Whatever the immediate motives forwriting it may have been, the variety of its contents suggests thatDefoe saw an opportunity to turn a penny, to express himself on anumber of his pet subjects, and to defend his own position as aprofessional writer. 

_A Vindication_ is made up of three clearly marked sections: in thefirst the author vindicates the usefulness of writing; in the secondhe discusses the usefulness--it would be more exact to say theharmfulness--of criticism; in the third he expatiates upon thequalifications of authors. One may admit at once the comparativeworthlessness of the pamphlet as a contribution to criticism orcritical theory. Defoe's comments upon specific writers are thoroughlyconventional and commonplace, as may be seen from a glance at hisremarks about Milton, Chaucer, Spenser, Shakespeare, and others on p. 12. 

Of more interest is his very high praise of Dryden, "a Man forLearning and universal Writing in Poetry, perhaps the greatest thatEngland has produc'd" [p. L5], and his comment upon the criticaldetraction from which he suffered. He compares Pope, interestinglyenough, with Dryden, remarking that Pope ("a Person tho' Inferior toMr. _Dryden_, yet speaking Impartially has few Superiors in this Age")also is persecuted by envy; and he has generous praise for that poet'stranslation of Homer. One may note that Defoe avoids the shortcomingsof the critics whom he condemns for judging according to party. Hedistributes his praise indiscriminately between Whig and Tory writers. In short, his essay hardly does more than confirm the criticalcommonplaces of the time and attest to the catholicity of the author'staste. 

Of particular interest for students of Defoe is the paragraph [p. 2l]in which Defoe defends the hack-writers who must write forsubsistence. One should not expect their writings, which arenecessarily numerous, to be as correct and finished as they might be. After comparing their pens to prostitutes because of their venality, he claims, in a half-ironic tone, for both authors and booksellers theliberty of writing and printing for either or both sides withoutignominy. After all, they must write and print to live. Such practiceis certainly, he observes, no more unjust or disreputable than otherways of gaining wealth such as one finds in Exchange-Alley. 

This paragraph gains point when one remembers that Defoe had servedboth Whig and Tory governments. In 1718, as letters written to LordStanhope in that very year testify, he was engaged in the perhapsdubious business of masquerading as a Tory, while actually in theservice of the Whig ministry, to take the "sting" out of the moreviolent Tory periodicals; and he was much concerned with the danger ofhis ambiguous position. In December of 1717 he had been identified asa writer for _Mist's Weekly Journal_, the leading Tory paper, and wassubjected to growing attacks in the Whig press. One can hardly doubtthat this paragraph is a thinly veiled defense of his own practice asa professional journalist. 

It is no surprise to find the author of _A Vindication_, in discussingthe qualifications of writers, advocating the importance of genius and"Natural Parts" above mere learning. He instances the author of _TheTrue-Born Englishman_ and Shakespeare, the former "Characteriz'd as aPerson of Little Learning, but of prodigious Natural Parts" and thelatter having "but a small share of Literature. " The further exampleof the literary achievements of the "Fair Sex, " who had, of course, nouniversity education, reminds one of Defoe's championship elsewhere ofwomen. The business of a writer is "to please and inform, " and thegeneral implication is that genius is more necessary to this end thanlearning. 

Also characteristic of Defoe is his emphasis upon the advantage to anauthor of conversation, "the Aliment of Genius, the Life of all airyPerformances" [p. 32]. Likewise, his digression upon education [pp. 34f. ], his charge that people of quality in England all too oftenneglect their children's education, his remarks upon the advantages oftravel and the need of training in the vernacular, all will befamiliar to readers of Defoe. 

_A Vindication of the Press_ is chiefly important for thecorroboration of our knowledge of Daniel Defoe. It presents nothingthat is new, but it gives further evidence of his pride in authorship, of his rationalization of his actions as a professional journalist, and of his belief in the importance of a free press. Many of hischaracteristic ideas are repeated with his usual consistency in pointof view. Although the critical comments in the essay are thoroughlyconventional, they offer evidence of contemporary literary judgmentsand reveal Defoe as a well-informed man of moderation and commonsense, though certainly not as a profound critic. In the catholicity of histastes and interests Defoe is far ahead of his Puritan fellows, andhis essay may be taken as one indication of the growing interest ofthe middle-classes for whom he wrote in the greater world ofliterature. As Professor Trent remarks in his ms. Notes, "Defoe rarelywrote a tract without introducing something worthy of attention andcomment, and the present pamphlet is no exception to the rule. "

I should like to thank Dr. Henry C. Hutchins for his generosity inmaking available to me Professor Trent's ms. Notes on _A Vindication_and Dr. John Robert Moore for his kindness, criticisms, andsuggestions. 

Otho Clinton WilliamsSan Jose State College

Vindication of the Press:

OR, AN ESSAY ON THE _Usefulness of Writing_, ON CRITICISM, AND THE

Qualification of AUTHORS. 

Wherein is shewn, That 'tis for the Advantage of all Governments to encourage Writing;otherwise a Nation would never be secure from the Attempts of its mostsecret Enemies; Barbarous and prejudic'd Criticisms on Writings aredetected, and Criticism is justly stated. With an Examination intowhat Genius's and Learning are necessary for an AUTHOR in all mannerof Performances. 

_LONDON_:

Printed for _T. Warner_, at the _Black-Boy_ in Pater-Noster-Row. MDCCXVIII. 

[Price Sixpence. ]

[ILLUSTRATION]

A Vindication of the PRESS:

OR, AN ESSAY ON THE _Usefulness of Writing_, &c. 

The very great Clamour against some late Performances or Authorship, and the unpresidented Criticisms introduc'd, render a Treatise on theUsefulness of Writing in general so absolutely necessary, that theAuthor of this Essay has not the least Apprehensions of Displeasurefrom the most inveterate, but on the contrary, doubts not anApprobation, even of the Great Mr. _Dennis_. 

For the Usefulness of Writing in the Church, I shall trace back to theAnnals of our Saviour and his Apostles. Had not Writing been at thatTime in use, what Obscurity might we reasonably have expected thewhole World would have labour'd under at this Day? when, notwithstanding the Infidels possess such vast Regions, and Religionin its Purity shines but in a small Quarter of the Globe. 'Tis easy-toimagine, that without the New-Testament every Person of excellency inLiterature, and compleat in Hypocrisy, either out of Interest, orother worldly Views, would have taken the Liberty to deny the mostSacred Traditions, and to have impos'd upon the Populace as manyReligions as they pleas'd, and that the ignorant Multitude wouldeasily acquiesce, as they do in _Turkey_, and other distant Parts ofthe World, which deny the Divinity of our Saviour. 

What fatal Errors, Schisms, and concomitant Evils would have beenintroduc'd, must be apparent to all Persons of the least Penetration. The Quakers might at this Time possibly have been our National Church, and our present Happiness, with regard to those Considerations, can noway be more lively and amply demonstrated than in taking a step atonce from Mr. _Penn's_ Conventicle to the Cathedral Church of St. _Pauls_. 

The Regularity and heavenly Decorum of the latter, give an Awe andTransport to the Audience at the same time they ornament Religion; andthe Confusion of the former fully shews, that as it only serves toamuse a Crowd of ignorant Wretches, unless meerly with temporal Views(Sectarists generally calculating Religion for their Interests) so itgives a License to all manner of Indecencies, and the Congregationsusually resort thither with the same Regard as a Rake of the Townwould do to Mother _Wybourn's_, or any publick Place of Diversion. 

Whether it be not natural to have expected a Confusion in the Church, equal to that of the worst Sectaries in the World, had not the Use ofWaiting been early attain'd and practis'd, I appeal to the Breast ofevery unprejudic'd Reader; and if so, how infinitely happy are we bythe Use of our Sacred Writings, which clear up the Cloud of Ignoranceand Error, and give a Sanction to our Religion, besides theSatisfaction we of the Church of _England_ have in this felicitousContemplation, that our Religion, since the Reformation, strictlyobserv'd, is the nearest that of our Saviour and his Apostles of anyProfession of Faith upon Earth. 

'Tis owing to Writing, that we enjoy the purest Religion in the World, and exclusive of it, there would have been no possibility oftransmitting down entirely those valuable Maxims of _Solomon_, and theSufferings of the Righteous _Job_, in the old Testament; which are soextensive to all Parts and Stations of Life, that as they areinfinitely preferable to all other Writings of the Kind, so theyafford the greatest Comfort and Repose in the Vicisitudes incident toHumane Nature. 

How far Theology is improv'd from those inestimable Writings, I neednot to enlarge, since it is highly conspicuous that they are theFoundation of all Divine Literature; and how ignorant and imperfect weshould have been without them, is no great difficulty to explain; andwho can sufficiently admire the Psalter of _David_, which fills theSoul with Rapture, and gives an Anticipation of sublimest Joys. 

Besides the Advantages of Sacred Writings in the Cause of Religion;'tis chiefly owing to Writing, that we have our most valuableLiberties preserv'd; and 'tis observable, that the Liberty of thePress is no where restrain'd but in Roman Catholick Countries, orKingdoms, or States Exercising an Absolute Power. 

In the Kingdom of _France_ Writings relating to the Church and Stateare prohibited upon the severest Penalties, and the Consequences ofthose Laws are very Obvious to all Persons of Discernment here; theyserve to secure the Subject in the utmost Obscurity, and as it wereEffect an entire Ignorance, whereby an exorbitant Power is chearfullysubmitted to, and a perfect Obedience paid to Tyranny; and theIgnorance and Superstition of these People so powerfully prevail, thatthe greatest Oppressor is commonly the most entirely Belov'd, which Itake to be sufficiently ently Illustrated in the late _Lewis_ theFourteenth, whose Arbitrary Government was so far from Diminishing theAffections of his Subjects, that it highten'd their Esteem for theirGrand Monarch. 

But of late the populace of _France_ are not so perfectly encloudedwith Superstition, and if a young Author can pretend to Divine, Ithink it is easy to foresee that the papal Power will in a very shortspace be considerably lessen'd if not in a great measure disregardedin that Kingdom, by the intestine Jarrs and Discords of their Partiesfor Religion, and the Desultory Judgments of the most considerablePrelates. 

The best Support of an Arbitrary Power is undoubtedly Ignorance, andthis cannot be better cultivated than by an Absolute Denial ofPrinting; the Oppressions of the Popularity cannot be thoroughlyStated, or Liberty in general Propagated without the use of the Pressin some measure, and therefore the Subjects must inevitably submit tosuch Ordinances as an Ambitious or Ignorant Monarch and his TyrannicalCouncil shall think fit to impose upon them, how Arbitrary soever: Andthe Hands of the Patriots and Men of Eminence who should Illuminatethe Age, and open the Eyes of the deluded People are thereby tied up, and the Infelicity of the Populace so compleat that they are incapableof either seeing their approaching Misery, or having a redress ofpresent Grievances. 

In _Constantinople_ I think they have no such thing as Printingallow'd on any Account whatsoever; all their Publick Acts relating tothe Church and State are recorded in Writing by expert Amanuensis's, so very strict are the Divan and great Council of the Sultan inprohibiting the Publication of all manner of Writings: They are verysensible had Persons a common Liberty of stating their own Cases, theymight Influence the Publick so far, that the Yoke of Tyranny must sinkif not be rendred insupportable; and this is regarded in all Kingdomsand Countries upon Earth Govern'd by a Despotick Power. 

To what I have already offer'd in favour of the Press, there may beExceptions taken by some Persons in the World; and as it is myIntentions to solve all Objections that may be rais'd to what Iadvance, as I proceed, I think I cannot too early make known, that Iam apprehensive the following Observations may be made; _viz. _ that ageneral License of the Press is of such a fatal Tendency, that itcauses Uneasinesses in the State, Confusions in the Church, and isdestructive sometimes even to Liberty, by putting the ruling Powersupon making Laws of Severity, on a Detection of ill Designs againstthe State, otherwise never intended. 

In answer to which, I shall give the following Particulars: In respectto Uneasinesses in the State, it may not be amiss to premise, that itis esteem'd by Men of Penetration, no small Wisdom in the presentAdministration, to bestow Preferments on the brightest and mostenterprising Authors of the Age; but whether it be so much out of aRegard to the Service they are capable of to the State in theirEmploys, as to their Writing for the Government, and to answertreasonable Pamphlets, poison'd Pens, _&c. _ I do not take upon me todetermine. I must confess, where a Faction prevails, it gives asensible Monarch some Pain to see Disafection propagated by the Press, without any manner of Restraint; but then, on the other Hand, such aRuler is thereby let into the Secrets of the Faction, he may withfacility penetrate into their deepest Intrigues, and be enabled toavert an impending Storm. Upon approach of a Rebellion, he will bethoroughly sensible from what Quarter his greatest Danger is to beexpected, whereby it will be entirely his own Fault, if he be withouta sufficient Guard against it, which he could not be appriz'd of (withany certainty) without a general Liberty of Writing: And tho' Slandermust occasion a great deal of Uneasiness to a crown'd Head, the Powerof bestowing Favours on Friends only is no small Satisfaction to thePrince, and a sufficient Punishment to his Enemies. And it is myOpinion, that the Grand Sultan, and other Eastern Potentates, would bein a great deal less danger of Deposing, (a Practice very frequent oflate) if in some measure a Liberty of Writing was allow'd; for theEyes of the People would be open, as well for as against their Prince, and their fearing a worse Evil should succeed, might make them easyunder a present Oppression. 

As for Confusion in the Church, I look upon this to be the greatestObjection that can be raised; but then it must be allow'd, thatwithout Writing the Reformation (the Glory of our Religion) couldnever have been effected; and in respect to religious Controversies, tho' I own they are seldom attended with good Consequences, yet I mustbeg leave to observe, that as the Age we now live in, is more brightand shining in substantial Literature than any preceding Century, sothe generality of Mankind are capable of judging with such anExactness as to avoid a Bad; not but, I confess, I think many of thePersons concern'd in the Controversy lately on foot, with relation tothe Bishop of _Bangor's_ Sermon, preach'd before His Majesty, deserveto be stigmatiz'd, as well for their indecent Heat, as for theLatitude taken with regard to the Holy Scriptures. And for the lastObjection, I never knew that Writing was any ways destructive toLiberty, unless it was in a Pamphlet, [entitled King-Killing noMurder] which 'tis said occasion'd the Death of _Oliver Cromwel_. 

These are the Uses of Writings in the Church and the State, withAnswers to such Objections as may be made against them, not to mentionparticularly in respect to the former, the Writings of the Fathers, and even of some Heathen Philosophers, such as _Seneca_, &c. Andbesides the valuable Performances of our most eminent Divines in allAges, as Dr. _Taylor_, Bishop _Usher, Tillotson, Beveridge_ &c. And_The whole Duty of Man_, &c. In our private Devotions. I now proceedto the Uses in Arts and Sciences. 

How much Posterity will be oblig'd to the Great Sir _Isaac Newton_ andDoctor _Flamstead_ for their Mathematical Writings, is more easy toimagine than the Improvements which may be made from thence; there's agreat deal of Reason to believe, that if a future Age produces aSuccessor to Sir _Isaac_, (at present I take it, there's none in theWorld) that not only the Longitude at Sea will be discover'd, but theperpetual Motion, so many Ages sought after, found out. 

How much are the Gentlemen of the Law oblig'd to my Lord _Littleton's_Institutes and _Coke's_ Commentaries thereupon? Writing in thisProfession is esteem'd so Essential, that there's seldom a Judge quitsthe Stage of Life, without a voluminous Performance, as a Legacy tothe World, and there's rarely a Term without some Production of thePress: The Numbers of these Writings are very much augmented by thevarious Reports of Cases from Time to Time made; and these seem to beentirely necessary by way of Precedent, as a discreet and cautiousJustice will not take upon him to determine a Cause of difficultywithout the Authority of a Precedent. 

And in the Practice of Physick, are not the present Professorsinfinitely obliged to the Discoveries and Recipes of _Aristotle_, _Galen_, &c? How much the World is oblig'd to the Declamations of_Tully_, _Cicero_, for Oratory; to the famous Writings of _Milton_ forthe Foundation of Divine Poetry; Poetry in general is improv'd fromthe Writings of _Chaucer_, _Spencer_, and others; DramatickEntertainments perfected by _Shakespear_; our Language and Poetryrefin'd by _Dryden_; the Passions rais'd by _Otway_; the Inclinationmov'd by _Cowley_; and the World diverted by _Hudibras_, (not tomention the Perfections of Mr. _Addison_, and several others of thisAge) I leave to the Determination of every impartial Reader. 

'Tis by Writing that Arts and Sciences are Cultivated, Navigation andCommerce (by which alone Wealth is attain'd) to the most distant partsof the World Improv'd, Geography Compleated, the Languages, Customsand Manners of Foreign Nations known; and there is scarce any oneMechanick calling of Note or Signification, but Treatises have beenwritten upon, to transmit the valuable Observations of IngeniousArtificers to the latest Posterity. 

There might be innumerable Instances given of the Advantages ofWritings in all Cases, but I shall satisfy my self with theparticulars already advanc'd, and proceed to such Objections, as I amapprehensive may be made relating to the Writings last mentioned. First, it may be Objected that the numerous Writings tend more toconfound the Reader, than to inform him; to this I answer, that it isimpossible there can be many Writings produced, but there must be somevaluable Informations communicated, easy to be Collected by ajudicious Reader; tho' there may be a great deal superfluous, andnotwithstanding it is a considerable Charge to purchase a usefulLibrary, (the greatest Grievance) yet we had better be at thatExpence, than to have no Books publish'd, and consequently noDiscoveries; the same Reason may be given where Books in the Law, Physick, &c. Are imperfect in some Part, and tend to the misleadingPersons; for of two Evils the old Maxim is, always chuse the least. The only Objection that I do not take upon me to Defend, is, thatagainst Lewd and obscene Poetry in general; (for sometimes the verygreat Wit may make it excuseable) which in my Opinion will admit ofbut a slender Apology in its Defence. 

The use of Writing is Illustrated in the following Lines, whichconclude my first Head of this Essay. 

 _By ancient Writing Knowledge is convey'd, Of famous Arts the best Foundation laid; By these the Cause of Liberty remains, Are Nations free'd from Arbitrary Chains, From Errors still our Church is purified, The State maintained, with justice on its Side. _

I now advance to my second Particular, _Criticism_. 

The fatal Criticism or Damnation which the Writings of some Authorsmeet with thro' their Obscurity, want of Friends and Interest in theWorld, &c. Is very discouraging to the Productions of Literature:It is the greatest difficulty immaginable, for an obscure Person toEstablish a Reputation in any sort of Writing; he's a long time in thesame Condition with _Sisyphus_, rolling a heavy Stone against anaspiring Mount which perpetually descends again; it must be to hisbenign Stars, some lucky Subject suiting the Humour of the Times, morethan the Beauty of his Performance, which he will be oblig'd for hisRise: And in this Age Persons in general, are so Estrang'd from bareMerit, that an Author destitute of Patronage will be equallyUnsuccessful to a Person without Interest at Court, (and you'll asrarely find the Friendship of an _Orestes_, as the Chastity of_Penelope_) When a Man of Fortune has no other Task, than to give outa stupid Performance to be of his own Composing, and he's immediatelyrespected as a Celebrated Writer: And if a Man has the good Fortune tohit the capricious Humour of the Age; after he has attained aReputation with the utmost Difficulty, he's sure to meet with theseverest Treatment, from a herd of Malicious and Implacable Scriblers. 

This was the Case of the late Mr. _Dryden_, a Man for Learning anduniversal Writing in Poetry, perhaps the Greatest that _England_ hasproduc'd; he was Persecuted by Envy, with the utmost Inveteracy formany Years in Succession: And is the Misfortune at this Juncture ofMr. _Pope_, a Person tho' Inferior to Mr. _Dryden_, yet speakingImpartially has few Superiors in this Age: From these Considerationsit is Evident, (tho' it seems a Paradox) that it is a Reputation to beScandaliz'd, as a Person in all Cases of this Nature is allow'd someMerit, when Envy attacks him, and the World might not be sensible ofit in General, without a publick Encounter in Criticism; and manyAuthors would be Buried in Oblivion were they not kept alive byClamours against their Performances. 

The Criticks in this Age are arriv'd to that consummate Pitch ofill-nature, that they'll by no means permit any Person the favour toBlunder but their mighty selves, and are in all respects, except theOffice of a Critick, in some measure ill Writers; I have known anunnatural Brother of the Quill causless condemn Language in theWritings of other Persons, when his own has really been the meanest;to Accuse others of Inconsistency with the utmost Vehemence, when hisown Works have not been without their Æra's, and to find fault withevery Line in a Poem, when he has been wholly at a loss to Correct, orat least not capable of Writing one single Page of it. 

There are another sort of Criticks, which are equally ill-natur'd tothese I have mention'd, tho' in all other respects vastly inferior tothem: They are such as no sooner hear of a Performance compos'd by aJuvenile Author, or one not hitherto known in the way of Writing hehas undertaken; but immediately without reading a Line give it a Stampof Damnation; (not considering that the first Performance of an Authorin any way of Writing done carefully, is oftentimes the best) and ifthey had thoroughly perus'd it, they were no ways capable of Judgingof either the Sense, Language, or Beauty of any one Paragraph; andwhat is still worse, these ignorant Slanderers of Writings frequentlytake what other Persons report for Authority, who know as little, orperhaps are more Ignorant than themselves, so little Regard have theyto the Reputation of an Author. 

And sometimes you'll find a pert _Bookseller_ give himself the Airs ofJudging a Performance so far, as to Condemn the Correctness of what heknows nothing of these there's a pretender to Authorship in the City, who Rules the young Fry of Biblioples about the _Royal-Exchange_. 

But the _Booksellers_ in general, (tho' they commonly Judge of theGoodness of Writings, by the greatness of the Sale, ) are Very sensiblethat their greatest Security in respect to the Performance of anyWork, is the Qualification of the Person that Composes it, theConfidence they can Repose in him; his Capacity, Industry andVeracity; And the Author's Reputation is so far concern'd in aPerformance, which he owns that the _Bookseller_ will sooner rely uponthat, than his own Judgment. 

To descend still to a lower Order of Criticks, you'll find very fewCoffee-Houses in this opulent City without an illiterate Mechanick, Commenting upon the most material Occurrences, and Judging the Actionsof the greatest Councils in _Europe_, and rarely a Victualing House, but you meet with a _Tinker, a Cobler, or a Porter_, Criticizing uponthe Speeches of Majesty, or the Writings of the most celebrated Men ofthe Age. 

This is entirely owing to Party, and there is such a Contagiondiffuses it self thro' the greatest Part of the World at this Time, that it is impossible for a Man to acquire a universal Character inWriting, as it is inconsistent for him to engage in Writings for bothParties at one and the same Time, (whatever he may do alternately)without which such a Character is not attainable; and these contendingParties carry Things to that Extremity, that they'll by no means allowthe least Merit in the most perfect Author, who adheres to theopposite Side; his Performances will be generally unheeded, if notblasted, and frequently damn'd, as if, like _Coelus_, he were capableof producing nothing but Monsters; he shall be in all Respectsdepress'd and debas'd, at the same time an illiterate Scribler, anauspicious Ideot of their own (with whose Nonsense they are neversated) shall be extoll'd to the Skies: Herein, if a Man has all theQualifications necessary in Poetry, as an Elegance of Style, anExcellency of Wit, and a Nobleness of Thought; were Master of the mostsurprizing Turns, fine Similies, and of universal Learning, yet heshall be despis'd by the Criticks, and rang'd amongst the damn'dWriters of the Times. 

The Question first ask'd is, whether an Author is a Whig or a Tory; ifhe be a Whig, or that Party which is in Power, his Praise isresounded, he's presently cried up for an excellent Writer; if not, he's mark'd as a Scoundrel, a perpetual Gloom hangs over his Head; ifhe was Master of the sublime Thoughts of _Addison_, the easy flowingNumbers of _Pope_, the fine Humour of _Garth_, the beautiful Languageof _Rowe_, the Perfection of _Prior_, the Dialogue of _Congreve_, andthe Pastoral of _Phillips_, he must nevertheless submit to a meanCharacter, if not expect the Reputation of an Illitterate. 

Writings for the Stage are of late so very much perverted by theViolence of Party, that the finest Performance, without Scandal, cannot be supported; _Shakespear_ and _Ben Johnson_, were they, nowliving, would be wholly at a Loss in the Composure of a Play suitableto the Taste of the Town; without a promiscuous heap of Scurrility toexpose a Party, or, what is more detestable, perhaps a particularPerson, no Play will succeed, and the most execrable Language, in aComedy, produc'd at this Time, shall be more applauded than the mostbeautiful Turns in a _Love for Love_: Such are the Hardships aDramatick-Poet has to struggle with, that either Obscenity, Party, orScandal must be his Theme, and after he has performed his utmost ineither of these Ways, without a powerful Interest, he'll have moreDifficulty in the bringing his Play upon the Theatre than in theWriting, and sometimes never be able to accomplish it. 

These are the Inconveniencies which Writers for the Stage labourunder, besides 'tis observable, that an obsequious prolifick Musegenerally meets with a worse Reception than a petulant inanimateAuthor; and when a Poet has finished his Labours, so that he hasbrought his Play upon the Stage, the best Performance has oftentimesthe worst Success, for which I need only instance Mr. _Congreve's Wayof the World_, a Comedy esteem'd by most Persons capable of judging, no way inferior to any of his other Performances. 

A Choice of Actors, next to Interest and Popularity, is the greatestAdvantage to a new Play: If a Stage-Poet has the Misfortune not tohave a sufficient Influence over the Managers of the Theatres to makea Nomination, his Performance must very much suffer; and if he cannotentirely Command his Theatre, and Season for bringing it on, it willbe perfectly slaughter'd; and a certain Theatre has lately acquir'dthe Name of a _Slaughter-House_, but whether more for the Stupidity ofits Poets than its Actors, I do not pretend to determine; but certainit is, that Acting is the Life of all Dramatick-Performances. And tho'an indifferent Play may appear tolerable, with good Acting, it isimpossible a bad one can afford any Entertainment, when perform'd byan incompleat Set of Comedians. 

In respect to Writings in general, there is an unaccountable Capricein abundance of Persons, to Condemn or Commend a Performance meerly bya Name. The Names of some Writers will effectually recommend, withoutmaking an Examination into the Merit of the Work; and the Names ofother Persons, equally qualified for Writing, and perhaps of greaterLearning than the Former, shall be sufficient to Damn it; and all thisis owing either to some lucky Accident of writing apposite to theHumour of the Town, (wherein an agreeable Season and a proper Subjectare chiefly to be regarded) or to Prejudice, but most commonly theFormer. 

It is a Misfortune to Authors both in Prose and Verse, who are reduc'dto a Necessity of constant writing for a Subsistence, that thenumerous Performances, publish'd by them, cannot possibly be socorrect as they might be, could more Time be afforded in theComposure. By this Means there is sometimes just room for Criticismupon the best of their Productions, and these Gentlemen, notwithstanding it be never so contrary to their Inclinations, areentirely oblig'd to prostrate their Pens to the Town, as Ladies ofPleasure do their Bodies; tho' herein, in respect to Party, it is tobe observ'd, that a Bookseller and an Author may very well be allow'doccasionally to be of either Party, or at least, that they should bepermitted the Liberty of Writing and Printing of either Side forBread, free from Ignominy; and as getting Money is the chief Businessof the World, so these Measures cannot by any means be esteem'd Unjustor Disreputable, with regard to the several Ways of accumulatingWealth, introduc'd in _Exchange-Alley_, and at the other End of theTown. 

It is a common Practice with some Persons in the World, either toprefix the Name of a _Mecanas_ in the Front of their Performances, orto obtain recommendatory Lines from some Person of excellency inWriting, as a Protection against Criticism; and there is nothing morefrequent than to see a mean Performance (especially if it be done by aMan of Figure) with this Guard. 

'Tis true, the worst Performances have the greatest occasion of theseRamparts, but then the Person who takes upon him to Recommend, musthave such an absolute Authority and Influence over the generality ofMankind, as to silence all Objections, or else it will have a contraryTurn, by promoting a Criticism as well upon the Author as uponhimself; for which Reason it is very hazardous for a Person in amiddle Station (tho' he have never so great a Reputation in Writing)to engage in the Recommendation of the Writings of others. 

The severe Treatment which the brightest Men of the Age have met withfrom the Criticks, is sufficient to deter all young Gentlemen fromentring the Lists of Writing; and was not the World in general moregood-natur'd and favourable to youthful Performances than theCriticks, there would be no such thing as a Succession of Writings;whereas, by that Means, and his present Majesty's Encouragement, Literature is in a flourishing Condition, and Poetry seems to improvemore at this Time than it has done in any preceding Reign, except thatof King _Charles_ II. When there was a _Rochester_, a _Sidley_, a_Buckingham_, &c. And (setting aside Party) what the World may hopefrom a generous Encouragement of polite Writing, I take to be veryconspicuous from Mr. _Pope's_ Translation of _Homer_, notwithstandingthe malicious and violent Criticisms of a certain Gentleman in itsDisfavour. 

In the religious Controversy of late depending, Criticisms have beencarried to that height, that some Persons have pretended to fix falseGrammer on one of the most celebrated Writers perhaps at this Time in_Europe_, but how justly, I leave to the Determination of those whohave perused the Bishop's incomparable Answer; but admitting hisLordship had permitted an irregularity of Grammer to pass unobser'd[typo for "unobserv'd"?], he is not the first of his Sacred Characterthat has done it, and small Errors of this kind are easily lookedover, where the Nominative Case is at a distance from the Verb, or aPerformance is done in haste, the Case of the Bishop against so manypowerful Adversaries. Besides, it is apparent and well known, that acertain Person [_Mr. _ Lessey, _now with the_ Chevalier. ] in the World, who has a very great Reputation in Writing, never regards the strictRules of Grammer in any of his Performances. 

It is a Satisfaction to Authors of tender Date, to see their Superiorsthus roughly handled by the Criticks; a young Writer in Divinity willnot think his Case desperate, when the shining _Bangor_ has met withsuch malevolent Treatment; neither must a youthful Poet be uneasy at asevere Criticism, when the Great Mr. _Addison, Rowe_ and _Pope_ havebeen treated with the utmost Scurrility. 

These Men of Eminence sitting easy with a load of Calumny, is asufficient Consolation to Inferiors under the most despicable Usage, and there is this satisfactory Reflection, that perhaps the mostperfect Work that ever was compos'd, if not so entirely correct, butthere may be some room for Criticism by a Man of consummate Learning;for there is nothing more common than to find a Man, (if not whollyblind) over opiniated in respect to his own Performances, and tooexact in a Scrutiny into the Writings of others. 

The ill Nature attending Criticism I take to be greater now than inany Age past; a Man's Defects in Writing shall not only be expos'd, but all the personal Infamy heap'd upon him that is possible; hisDescent and Education shall be scandaliz'd, (as if a fine Performancewas the worse for the Author's Parentage) his good Name villified, aHistory of the Transactions of his whole Life, and oftentimes a greatdeal more, shall be written, as if the were a Candidate setting up ina Burough for Member of Parliament, not an airy[?] or loose Actionshall be omitted, and neither the Sacred Gown, nor the greatestDignity shall be exempted; but there is this Consideration which swaysthe sensible part of Mankind, _viz. _ a Man of Excellency in Writinghis being generally a Person of more Vivacity than the common Herd, and consequently the more extraordinary Actions in him are allowable;yet, nevertheless, I think it consistent with Prudence for an Author, when he has the good fortune to compose a Piece, which he's assur'dwill occasion Envy and Criticism, to write his own Life at the sameTime with it, tho' it be a little extravagant and the method isunusual, to prevent an ill-natur'd doing thereof by the Hand ofanother Person. 

According to the old Maxim, _Get a Reputation, and lye a Bed, _ not tomention how many lye a Bed before they can attain it, according to thehumorous Turn of the late ingenious Mr. _Farqubar_; but there's atthis Time a greater necessity for a Man to be wakeful, when he hasacquir'd a Reputation, than at any Time before; he'll find abundantlymore difficulty attend the Securing than the Attaining of the greatestReputation; he'll meet with Envy from every Quarter; Malice willpursue him in all his undertakings, and if he makes any manner ofDefence, he cannot commence it too soon, tho' it is not alwaysprudential to shew an open Resentment, even to the utmost illTreatment. 

If a Man be so considerable as to be thought worthy of Criticism, aluducrous Reprimand is always preferable to a serious Answer;returning Scurrility with Comic-Satyr will gaul an ill-natur'dAdversary beyond any Treatment whatsoever; his Spleen will encreaseequal to any Poison, his Rage keep within no Bounds, and at length hisPassion will not only destroy his own Performance, but himselflikewise: And this I take to be natural in our modern Criticks. 

The Business of these Gentlemen is to set the ignorant Part of Mankindright, In correcting the Errors of pretending Authors, and exposing ofImpositions, whereby who has Learning and Merit, and who has not, maybe so apparent, that the World may not misplace their Favour; butunless they do it with more Impartiality, Temper and Candour than oflate, they may, with equal prospect of Success, endeavour to turn thecurrent of the Thames, as to pervert the Humour of this good-natur'dTown. 

I presume to present them with these two Verses:

 _The learned Criticks learn not to be Civil, In Spite and Malice personate the Devil. _

Having now dispatch'd the two first Subjects of my Essay _(viz. )_ TheUsefulness of Writing, and Criticism, I come to my last Head, theQualification of Authors. 

I am not of the Opinion of a great many Persons in the World, that aPoet is entirely born such, and that Poetry is a particular Gift ofHeaven, not but I confess there is a great deal in natural Genius, which I shall mention hereafter:

It is consistent with my Reason, that any Man having a share ofLearning, and acquainted with the Methods of Writing, may by anassiduous Application, not only write good Poetry, but make atollerable Figure in any sort of Writings whatsoever; and herein Icould give numerous Instances of Authors who have written all mannerof Ways with success. Neither can I acquiesce in the common Notion, that the Person who begins most early in Poetry always arrives to thegreatest Perfection; for, in my Opinion, it is a Matter of no greatdifficulty, for a Person of any Age, before his Vivacity is too muchabated, and Fire exhausted, to commence a Poet; the great Mr. _Dryden_not beginning to Write 'till he was above the Age of 30; and I doubtnot but a great many Persons have lost themselves for want of puttingtheir Genius's to the Trial, and making particular Writings theirparticular Studies. 

Their is no Practice more frequent than for an Author to misapply hisGenius; and there is nothing more common than for a Man, afternumerous Trials in almost all sorts of Authorship, to make that hisfavourite Writing which he is least capable of performing; and toofrequently Authors use their Genius's as Parents do their Children, place them to such Businesses as make the most considerable Figure inthe World, without consulting their Qualifications. 

There are many other Faults equal to these, as where Authors, throughovermuch Timerity, or too great Opinion of their own Performances, permit their Writings to pass with egregious Errors; and I take it tobe equally pernicious for a Man to be too diffident of his ownPerformances, as it is to be presuming: There are likewise someGentlemen, who (by a lazy Disposition, or through over much Haste, animpatience in dispatch to gain an early Reputation) commit Blundersalmost to their immediate Ruin; but many of these Errors are commonlyexcus'd in an Author by a condescending Printer, who is oblig'd totake the Errata upon himself. 

In Prose a slight Examination of a Performance may suffice, but inPoetry it cannot be too often repeated; and in this way of Writing, haste is attended with a fatal Consequence. To compose your Lines inperfect Harmony, of easy flowing Numbers, fine Flights and Similies, and at the same Time retain a strong Sense, which make Poetrysubstantially Beautiful, is a Work of Time, and requires the mostsedate Perusals: And though some Persons think, giving Poetry theCharacter of easy Lines to be a Disgrace, it is rightly considered thegreatest Reputation and Honour they can do it; the utmost Difficultyattending this easy Writing, and there are very few Persons that canever attain it. 

But to leave these general Observations, I proceed to my Point inHand, the Qualification of Authors; Though I shall first take Notice, that the Business of every Author is to please and inform his Readers;but how difficult it is to please, through the prevalence of Parties, Envy and Prejudice needs no Illustration, and some Persons in theWorld are so very perverse and obstinate, that they will not beinform'd by a Person they entertain no good Opinion of. For writingProse a Man ought to have a tollerable Foundation of Learning, atleast to be Master of the Latin Tongue, to be a good Historian, and tohave a perfect Knowledge of the World; and besides theseQualifications, in Poetry as I have before observ'd, a Writer shouldbe Master of the most refin'd and beautiful Language, surprizingTurns, fine adapted Similes, a sublimity of Thought, and to be aPerson of universal Learning: Though I have often observ'd, both inProse and Verse, that some Persons of strong Genius, well acquaintedwith the World, and but of little Learning, have made a better Figurein some kinds of Writings, than Persons of the most consummateLiterature, not bless'd with natural Genius, and a Knowledge ofMankind. 

The preference of Genius to Learning, is sufficiently Demonstrated inthe Writings of the Author of the _True born English Man_; (a Poemthat has Sold beyond the best Performance of any Ancient or ModernPoet of the greatest Excellency, and perhaps beyond any Poetry everPrinted in the _English_ Language) This Author is Characteriz'd as aPerson of little Learning, but of prodigious Natural Parts; and theimmortal _Shakespear_ had but a small share of Literature: It islikewise worthy Observation, that some of our most entertainingComedies, Novels and Romances have been Written by the fair Sex, whocannot be suppos'd to have Learning in any Degree equal to Gentlemenof a University Education. And in _North Britain_ where Literatureshines amongst the Persons of middle Station, an Ounce of NaturalParts, (speaking in a common way of Comparison) is Esteem'd of greaterValue, than a Pound of Learning. 

A Person of Learning without Genius and Knowledge of the World, islike an _Architect's_ Assistant, whose only Business is to Draw theDraught or Model of a Pile of Building; he's at a loss in theMaterials necessary for compleating the Structure, tho' he can Judgeof its Beauty when Perfected; and may be compared to a Man that hasthe theory in any Art or Science, but wants the Practice. 

And a meer Scholar is the most unacceptable Companion upon Earth: Heis Rude in his Manners, Unpolish'd in his Literature, and generallyIll-Natur'd to the last Degree; he's Company for a very few Persons, and Pleasing to None; his Pride exalts him in Self-Opinion beyond allMankind: And some of the sucking Tribe of _Levi_, think the Gown andCassock alone, Merit a Respect due to the greatest Personages, andthat the broad Hat with the Rose should be Ador'd, tho' it covers athick and brainless Skull. 

But these are a few only; there are great Numbers of the Clergy whodeserve the utmost Respect, and are justly paid more than they desire;and no Person can have a greater Regard for that sacred Body than myself, as I was not only intended for a Clergyman, but have severalRelations now in being of that venerable Order; Tho' I am oblig'd totake Notice, that the Authors of the Gown in general, treat the Worldwith greater Insolence and Incharity, than any Lay-Persons whatsoever. 

There's nothing more frequent, than to find the Writings of many ofour Modern Divines, not only Stiff and Harsh, but full of Rancour, andto find an easy Propensity and Complaisance in the Writings of theLaity; a Gentleman without the Gown commonly Writes with a genteelRespect to the World, abundance of good Temper and a condescensionEndearing; when a brawny Priest, shall shew a great deal ofIll-nature, give indecent Reflections, and affrontive Language, andoftentimes be Dogmatical in all his Performances. 

Whether this be owing more to Pride, than a want of an Easy, Free, andpolite Conversation, I do not take upon me to Determine; but I believeit must be generally Imputed to the Former, as it cannot be suppos'd, that either of the Universities, are at any time without a politeConverse; tho' I take leave to observe, that there is a great deal ofdifference between a finish'd _Oxonian_, and a sprightly Senator. 

This is Demonstrated in the Speeches from Time to Time, made in theSenate and the Synod; the Stile and Composure of the one, is no way tobe compar'd to the other, tho' the Sense be equally strong; there's anElegancy and Beauty of Expression in the Former, not to be met with inthe Latter, Oratory no where to be exceeded, and an Affluence of Wordsnot to be met with in any other Speeches whatsoever; and I believe itmust be generally allow'd that there is a very great difference in thecommon Conversation, (particularly in point of Manners) of the Membersof those August Assemblies. 

A good Conversation is the greatest Advantage an Author can possiblyEnjoy, by a variety of Converse, a Man is furnish'd with a perpetualVariety of Hints, and may acquire a greater Knowledge on some Subjectsin the space of a few Minutes, than he can attain by Study, in aSuccession of Weeks, (tho' I must allow Study to be the onlyFoundation for Writing) 'twas owing to a good Conversation, that thoseEntertaining Papers the _Tatlers_ were publish'd by Sir _RichardSteel_, the _Examiner_ carried on by Mr. _Oldsworth_; and 'tisimpossible a perfect good Comedy can be written by any Person, withouta constant Resort to the best Conversation, whereby alone a Man willbe Master of the best Thoughts. 

In short, Conversation is the Aliment of the Genius, the Life of allairy Performances, as Learning is the Soul; the various Humours ofMankind, upon all Occasions, afford the most agreeable Subjects forall sorts of Writings, and I look upon any Performance, tho' done by aPerson celebrated for Writing, without the use of Conversation, insome measure incompleat. 

If an Author be enclin'd to write for Reformation of Manners, let himrepair to St. _Pauls_ or _Westminster-Abbey_, and observe the indecentBehaviour of multitudes of Persons, who make those Sacred PlacesAssignations of Vice; if you are enclin'd to lash the Follies andVanities of the fair Sex, retire to the Tea Table and the Theatre; ifyour Business be to compose a Sermon, or you are engag'd inTheological Studies, resort to _Child's_ Coffee-House in St. _Paul's_Church-Yard; if you are desirous to depaint the Cheat and theTrickster, I recommend ye to the _Royal-Exchange_ and the Court End ofthe Town; and if you would write a Poem in imitation of _Rochester_, you need only go to the Hundreds of _Drury_, and you'll besufficiently furnish'd with laudable Themes. 

But Converse at home falls infinitely short of Conversation abroad, and the Advantages attending Travelling are so very great, that theyare not to be express'd; this finishes Education in the most effectualmanner, and enables a Man to speak and write on all Occasions with aGrace and Perfection, no other way to be attain'd. The Travels of ayoung Gentleman have not only the effect of transplation ofVegetables, in respect to the encrease of Stature, but also theConsequence of the most beautiful Pruning. How much the Gentlemen of_Scotland_ owe their Capacities to Travelling, is very obvious, therebeing no Person of Quality in that Kingdom but expends the greatestpart of his Fortune in other Countries, to reap the Benefit of it inpersonal Accomplishments; and a greater Commendation than this to the_Scots_ is, the bestowing the best of Literature upon all manner ofYouth educated amongst them. 

Whilst the Men of Quality here very often neglect giving theirChildren the common and necessary Learning, and too frequently entrusttheir Education with lazy, ignorant, and incogitant Tutors, not tomention the Supineness of Schoolmasters in general throughout_England_; the _North-Britains_ labour in this Particularindefatigably, as they are very sensible that Learning is the greatestHonour of their Country, and the ancient _Britains_ come so near the_Scots_, that amongst the common Persons, in some Parts of _Wales_, you may meet with a Ploughman that speaks tollerable Latin, and aMason, like the famous _Ben Johnson_, with his _Horace_ and a Trowel. 

The want of a generous Education is an irretrieveable Misfortune, andthe Negligence of an Inspector of the Literature of Youth ought to beunpardonable; how many Persons of Distinction have curs'd their agedParents for not bestowing on them a liberal Education? And how many ofthe Commonalty have regretted the mispending of the precious Time ofYouth? A Man arriv'd to Maturity has the Mortification of observing anInferior in Circumstances superior in Literature, and wants theSatisfaction of giving a tollerable Reason for any Thing he says ordoes, or in any respect to judge of the Excellency of others; and, inmy Opinion, a generous Education, with a bare Subsistence only, is tobe preferr'd to the largest Patrimony, and a want of Learning. 

Without Education it is impossible to Write or Read any Thingdistinctly; without a frequent turning of the Dictionary, no Personcan be compleat in the _English_ Language, neither can he give Wordstheir proper Accent and Pronunciation, or be any ways Master ofElocution; and a Man without Learning, though he appears tollerable inConversation, (which I have known some Persons do by a constantenjoyment of good Company, and a strength of Memory) is like an_Empirick_, that takes Things upon trust: And whenever he comes toexercise the Pen, that the Subject is uncommon, and Study is requir'd, you'll find him oftentimes not capable of writing one single Line ofSenfe, and scarcely one Word of _English_. And, on the other Hand, Ihave known some Persons who could talk Latin very fluently, who haveus'd Phrases and Sentences perpetually in that Language, inConversation, vulgar and deficient in the Mother-Tongue, and who havewritten most egregious Nonsense; from whence it is evident, thatWriting is the only Test of Literature. 

I have a little deviated from my Subject, in pursuing the Rules andAdvantages of Education, which I take to be of that universal goodTendency, that they are acceptable in any Performance whatsoever: Ishall offer nothing farther, but conclude this Essay with thefollowing Particulars; that besides the Qualifications alreadymention'd, it is as necessary for a fine Writer to be endued withModesty as for a beautiful Lady; that good Sense is of equalConsequence to an Author, as a good Soil for the Culture of the mostnoble Plants; that a Person writing a great deal on various Subjects, should be as cautious in owning all his Performances, as in revealingthe Secrets of his most intimate Friend; and in respect to thoseGentlemen, who have made no scruple to prostitute their Names, thefollowing Similie may be judg'd well adapted:

 _As Musick soft, by constant use is forc'd Grows harsh, and cloys, becomes at length the worst, The Harmony amidst Confusion lost: So finest Pens, employ'd in Writing still Lose Strength and Beauty as the Folio's fill. _

_FINIS. _

William Andrews Clark Memorial Library: University of California

THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY

_General Editors_

 H. Richard Archer William Andrews Clark Memorial Library

 R. C. Boys University of Michigan

 E. N. Hooker University of California, Los Angeles

 John Loftis University of California, Los Angeles

The society exists to make available inexpensive reprints (usuallyfacsimile reproductions) of rare seventeenth and eighteenth centuryworks. 

The editorial policy of the Society continues unchanged. As in thepast, the editors welcome suggestions concerning publications. 

All correspondence concerning subscriptions in the United States andCanada should be addressed to the William Andrews Clark MemorialLibrary, 2205 West Adams Blvd. , Los Angeles 18, California. Correspondence concerning editorial matters may be addressed to any ofthe general editors. Membership fee continues $2. 50 per year. Britishand European subscribers should address B. H. Blackwell, Broad Street, Oxford, England. 

Publications for the fifth year [1950-1951]

_(At least six items, most of them from the following list, will bereprinted)_

FRANCES REYNOLDS (?): _An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Taste, and of the Origin of Our Ideas of Beauty, &c. _ (1785). Introduction byJames L. Clifford. 

THOMAS BAKER: _The Fine Lady's Airs_ (1709). Introduction by JohnHarrington Smith. 

DANIEL DEFOE: _Vindication of the Press_ (1718). Introduction by OthoClinton Williams. 

JOHN EVELYN: _An Apologie for the Royal Party_ (1659); _A Panegyric toCharles the Second_ (1661). Introduction by Geoffrey Keynes. 

CHARLES MACKLIN: _Man of the World_ (1781). Introduction by DougaldMacMillan. 

_Prefaces to Fiction_. Selected and with an Introduction by BenjaminBoyce. 

THOMAS SPRAT: _Poems. _

SIR WILLIAM PETTY: _The Advice of W. P. To Mr. Samuel Hartlib for theAdvancement of some particular Parts of Learning_ (1648). 

THOMAS GRAY: _An Elegy Wrote in a Country Church Yard_ (1751). (Facsimile of first edition and of portions of Gray's manuscripts ofthe poem). 

To The Augustan Reprint Society_William Andrews Clark Memorial Library2205 West Adams BoulevardLos Angeles 18, California_

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Make check or money order payable to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OFCALIFORNIA. 

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PUBLICATIONS OF THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY

First Year (1946-1947)

 1. Richard Blackmore's _Essay upon Wit_ (1716), and Addison's _Freeholder_ No. 45 (1716). 

 2. Samuel Cobb's _Of Poetry_ and _Discourse on Criticism_ (1707). 

 3. _Letter to A. H. Esq. ; concerning the Stage_ (1698), and Richard Willis' _Occasional Paper No. IX_ (1698). (OUT OF PRINT)

 4. _Essay on Wit_ (1748), together with Characters by Flecknoe, and Joseph Warton's _Adventurer_ Nos. 127 and 133. (OUT OF PRINT)

 5. Samuel Wesley's _Epistle to a Friend Concerning Poetry_ (1700) and _Essay on Heroic Poetry_ (1693). 

 6. _Representation of the Impiety and Immorality of the Stage_ (1704) and _Some Thoughts Concerning the Stage_ (1704). 

Second Year (1947-1948)

 7. John Gay's _The Present State of Wit_ (1711); and a section on Wit from _The English Theophrastus_ (1702). 

 8. Rapin's _De Carmine Pastorali_, translated by Creech (1684). 

 9. T. Hanmer's (?) _Some Remarks on the Tragedy of Hamlet_ (1736). 

10. Corbyn Morris' _Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, etc. _ (1744). 

11. Thomas Purney's _Discourse on the Pastoral_ (1717). 

12. Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch. 

Third Year (1948-1949)

13. Sir John Falstaff (pseud. ), _The Theatre_ (1720). 

14. Edward Moore's _The Gamester_ (1753). 

15. John Oldmixon's _Reflections on Dr. Swift's Letter to Barley_ (1712); and Arthur Mainwaring's _The British Academy_ (1712). 

16. Nevil Payne's _Fatal Jealousy_ (1673). 

17. Nicholas Rowe's _Some Account of the Life of Mr. William Shakespear_ (1709). 

18. Aaron Hilt's Preface to _The Creation_; and Thomas Brereton's Preface to _Esther_. 

Fourth Year (1949-1950)

19. Susanna Centlivre's _The Busie Body_ (1709). 

20. Lewis Theobald's _Preface to The Works of Shakespeare_ (1734). 

21. _Critical Remarks on Sir Charles Gradison, Clarissa, and Pamela_ (1754). 

22. Samuel Johnson's _The Vanity of Human Wishes_ (1749) and Two _Rambler_ papers (1750). 

23. John Dryden's _His Majesties Declaration Defended_ (1681). 

24. Pierre Nicole's _An Essay on True and Apparent Beauty in Which from Settled Principles is Rendered the Grounds for Choosing andRejecting Epigrams_, translated by J. V. Cunningham.