were attained. The fpirit of enquiry, diffufing itfelf to a multitude of objects, weakened the reign of ignorance, bigotry, and fuperftition.

The "Examination into the Miracles of the Primitive Church," by Dr. Middleton, one of the finest writers of the age, was far from being hoftile to christianity. On the con trary, it was ferviceable to it in a high degree, by introducing the proper line of diftinction, and fetting the fubject on its right foundation. The debate which it occafioned, contributed, with other liberal controverfies and difcuffions, to promote a rational and manly turn of fentiment.

The attention of the age, and even of the clergy, was not wholly confined to questions in which revelation was immedi ately concerned. Moral fubjects were ftudied with great and particular ardour. The nature, the foundation, and the obligations of virtue, were very closely examined, and a large number of treatises appeared on thefe topics. Different hypothefes were formed concerning them, and were maintained with eminent ingenuity and ability. Whether virtue was founded on the reafon and fitness of things, on a moral infinct, or the will of God; whether it arofe from a difinterested principle of benevo lence alone, or a well-regulated self-love; whether wisdom, or rectitude, or benevolence, were the fprings of action in the Deity, were queftions greatly agitated. It was fashionable to write fyftems of morality, to form delineations of natural religion, and to fhew its connection with revealed. Scarcely ever was there a period in which the science of ethics was more dili gently inveftigated, or in which the knowledge of it was carried to higher perfection. Butler, and, after him, Hartley, excelled all their cotemporaries in explaining the principles of the human mind, and in the folution of moral queftions.

Nor could the objects we have mentioned excite the attention of the ftudious part of the nation, without a confiderable regard being paid to metaphyfical enquiries. Befides not a few. publications concerning the old and interminable difputes about liberty and neceffity, and the origin of evil, the question whether the existence of the Deity can be proved a priori, was much difcuffed. In general, the metaphyfics of the times were lefs favourable to materialism and fatalism than hath lately been the cafe. The effential difference between the foul and body, the freedom of the human will, and the conclufiveness of the natural arguments in fupport of a future ftate, were the prevailing opinions among divines and men of letters.

In the midst of the numerous objects which so much employed the attention of our countrymen, it will not be deemed

furprizing

furprizing that erudition, ftrictly fo called, fhould be rather on the decline. There were fewer perfons who had either inclination or leifure to apply to the examination of antient manufcripts, the fettlement of various readings, the illuftration of the claffics, and the other laborious, and, in their kind, very useful purfuits, in which the learned had formerly been engaged. The important and interefting fubjects of debate which the age prefented, reasonably and neceffarily gave a different direction to the exertions of the human mind, There was, likewife, another circumftance that leffened the ardour of men for the studies of which we are fpeaking. The scholars that were devoted to them, were represented as people of no taite, as piddling critics,

"As word catchers, that lived on fyllables."

The ridicule, though in many refpects groundlefs, was not without effect; and the effect was the greater, as ignorance and idlenefs hence found an opportunity of concealing themfelves under the femblance of an averfion to pedantry. Still, however, the purfuit of antient literature, in this mode of it, was not wholly neglected. Bentley, amidst all the oppofition he met with, amidst all the unmerited contempt with which he was loaded, continued to maintain, in this view, the honour of his country. He was the Atlas, whofe fingle fhoulders were equal to the burthen: but others were not wanting, who were attached to the like ftudies. Hare and Pearce were confiderable authors in the fame walk of learning. Warburton diftinguished himself by his multifarious reading, as well as by his bold and vigorous imagination; and Jortin added an excellent critical acumen to an enlarged understanding and a liberal mind. In a furvey of things, fo concife as this, it is impoffible not to omit fome other names that might deserve to be mentioned.

But though enquiries into antient manufcripts and various readings, and the corrections and illuftrations of corrupted paffages, were now lefs ardently purfued, there was another respect in which the Greek and Roman writers were by no means difregarded. The debates concerning the divine perfections and government, the nature and obligation of virtue, the expedience and neceffity of revelation, and the truth of the christian religion, occafioned a moft diligent investigation into the opinions and practices of the pagan world. In this view, therefore, the authors of antiquity were clofely examined, and much light was thrown upon them in many valuable works.

Of all the fpecies of literature, that which was most neglected, during the former part of this period, was the oriental.

From

From the death of Pococke and Hyde, it had gradually declined, 'till, at length, it was too generally forgotten.

In George the Firft's reign, there were few who diftinguished themselves in this department of learning. At length, however, a better spirit prevailed. The ftudy of the eastern languages, under the aufpices of the excellent Dr. Thomas Hunt, revived at Oxford; and it probably was not a little promoted by Dr. Lowth's admirable lectures on the poetry of the Hebrews. Nor was the revival of it confined to that celebrated univerfity, but extended to Cambridge, and to perfons who refided in other places. Before the deceafe of George the Second, oriental literature was in a flourishing ftate; and it has fince been cultivated to a degree which will call for very particular notice hereafter.

With refpect to philofophical and mathematical science, Sír Ifaac Newton had raised the glory of the nation to the highest pitch, and none could expect to equal him in renown. He had, however, feveral illuftrious followers, fuch as Halley and Bradley, Maclaurin and Smith, who eminently diftinguished themselves by their knowledge, difcoveries, and writings. Under fach men, geometry, aftronomy, and optics, affumed no fmall degree of fplendor. The enquiries of the Royal Society were continued; experiments were fuccefsfully made; magnetism became better understood; natural history advanced in cultivation; and the improvements of the microscope opened new wonders in the world of infects. Nevertheless, during part of the period referred to, the fociety did not seem to maintain the luftre it had formerly done. But if, for a time, its reputation appeared to decline, this diminution of its honour was not of a long duration. The ardour of research was revived by the discoveries in electricity; the Franklinian fyftem was completed and established; and henceforward a rapid and surprising improvement was made in an acquaintance with the powers and properties of nature. It belongs to the reign of George the Third to fet this matter forth in all its glory.

With regard to the ftate of poetry, it has been already obferved, that Pope continued to thine in it long after the acceffion of the houfe of Hanover. He was, indeed, the chief or nament of this divine art; and fo far was any man from being able to be mentioned as his equal, that there was not one who could pretend to approach him in excellence and reputation. Young, nevertheless, fuftained an honourable rank in his peculiar walk of compofition. His Night Thoughts, in particular, amidst all their faults, contain the moft ftriking proofs of a fruitful imagination, and of a bold and fublime genius; which, VOL. I. 2.

E

if

if it had been refined by elegance, corrected by tafte, and regulated by judgement, might have claimed a high station in the temple of poetical fame.

Thomfon's exquifite defcriptive powers, not to mention his moral and fentimental beauties, will render his Seasons the object of eternal admiration; and his Caftle of Indolence will, perhaps, prove him to have been the most successful and pleasing of all the imitators of Spenfer.

There were many others who aimed at attaining the character of poets, but the generality of them did not rife above mediocrity. This is true, with refpect only to the early part of this period; for, towards the end of it, the poetical genius of EngÎand revived in an eminent degree. A new race of men arofe, who again brought poetry into deferved reputation. Mason, in his Monody, fprung up another phoenix out of the ashes of Pope. Gray, befides his beautiful Elegy in a Country Churchyard, carried the lyric ode to the highest point of grandeur. Akenfide and the Wartons breathed a truly poetical spirit; and Johnfon gave to fatire the feverity and ftrength of Juvenal. But of all thefe it is the less needful to speak at prefent, as they will be the fubject of future confideration.

A TUTOR's Account of the Family in which he was engaged, and of his PUPIL's Courfe of Studies.

I

[Continued from page 11.]

NOW begin with a faithful narrative of the progress of our fludies in Mr. Flint's family, from Monday morning to Saturday at bed-time, carefully diftinguishing the proficiency made in each day.

MON D A Y.

Mrs. Flint had previously informed me, that her fon's conftitution did not agree with much study before breakfast, and that, whenever he read on an empty ftomach, he was apt to be dif turbed with uneafy yawnings. We therefore refolved that he fhould have a fhort leffon only at eight in the morning.

After waiting in the parlour 'till near nine, I learned from Mrs. Flint, that her fon had been obferved to turn himself twice or thrice during the night, and that he feemed to be threatened with a fort of ftuffing and wheefing; and that, by the way of prevention, fhe judged it beft to give him a little fenna, and confine him to his chamber for a few hours; but

that,

that, in the evening, we might profecute our ftudies without farther interruption.

Accordingly, at fix, my pupil and I prepared to read the tenth fatire of Juvenal. After having explained to him the general scope and method of the fatirist, I began,

Omnibus in terris quæ funt a Gadibus ufq;

Auroram et Gangem.

At that moment I heard a gentle tap at the door, and then entered Mifs Juliana and her fifter, with Mr. Flint and the captain a little behind, walking on tiptoe. "You must pardon our femelle curiofite," faid Mifs Juliana; "we come to fee Jemmy take his first leffon from you. What have you got here? I fancy, from my knowledge of French, that I could pick out the meaning of fome part of it. Oh! I understand; there is auroram: does not that mean "break of day?"

Que l'aurore

Nous tron-ve encore.

"What is that

I learned it in a French chanfong, a boar. boar fong?" demanded captain Winterbottom: "Is it a hunting one "Oh fye, no," said Mifs Juliana," it is a drinking fong." "And who taught you drinking fongs, fifter Juddy; did you learn them from your outlandish ladies of honour?"-A tremendous affault on the knocker announced the approach of a perfon of quality, the Countess of M. On this joyful news the ladies hurried to the drawing-room.

Mrs. Flint prefently returned. "I must make an apology (faid fhe) for thus interrupting the courfe of my fon's ftudies; but the countess has made a flying vifit, to tell me that there is a meeting of young people at her houfe this evening, and that there will be a dance and a little fupper, and she infifts on having Jemmy of the party; but I would not engage for any thing, without afking your leave, as you have the whole charge of his education. There will be many rich folks, and many fine folks ; and there will be Mifs Punaife, the great heiress; fhe has a vaft improveable eftate, hard by the borough of Ayno, and who can teli ?"-The good woman was bufy in weaving the web of futurities, when I reminded her that her fon had taken a medicine that morning, and that, poffibly, he might catch cold. At another time, the mention of catching cold would have awoke all her feelings; but, at prefent, Mrs. Flint was elevated above the region of alarms. "Never fear," faid fhe," we are going to a close warm house, without a breath of air in it. Come away, Jemmy, and put on a pair of white filk ftockings as fast as you can; the countefs waits for us."