when the clouds of prejudice pafs away, the merits of the work will be confidered. By its intrinfic value alone will it rife or fall. So true is the remark of Cicero :"Time overthrows the illufions of opinion, but eftablishes the decifions of nature."

Ariftotle and Longinus are the two mafter critics of antiquity. From their writings have been derived thofe rules of judging which have suffered little or no aitera. tion by the lapfe of ages. The former, in particular, has by the comprehenfivenefs of his mind, and by the acuteness of his genius, traversed the whole circle of human knowledge. Into almoft every fubject has he pryed with an eagle eye. Few topics has he left untouched. The very recent tranflation of his writings by Dr.Gillies, merits from every ftudious mind particular attention.

Pope's Effay on Criticifm fhould not be unnoticed in the difcuffion of the prefent fubject. With its contents moft of our readers, we doubt not, are acquainted. The young writer will derive confiderable advantage from the attentive perufal of it. "It is a work," laid Dr. Johnfon, which difplays fuch extent of comprehenfion, fuch niceties of diftinction, fuch acquaintance with mankind, and fuch knowledge both of ancient and modern learning, as are not often attained by the matureft age and longest experience." Yet was it among his early compofitions.

We conclude this Reflector by remarking, that true Criticism, and an amiable candour, are clofely allied.— Lorenzo de Medici, an eminent genius of modern times, being prefent when the character of a celebrated mufician was the fubject of cenfure, obferved to his detractors :—“ If you knew how difficult it is to arrive at excellence in any fcience, you would fpeak of him with more refpect.' Severity is abhorrent from the nature of the genuine critic. With the difficulty of producing what is really excellent he is not unacquainted. Over the midnight lamp has he ruminated for the acquifition of knowledge, and with a tremulous hand has he marked VOL. IV.

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the beauties of the authors paffing beneath his review. For young writers he therefore makes due allowance, fevere only to arrogant ftupidity, or difgufting conceit. The amiable youth he takes by the hand, and leads him gently on to the attainment of his wishes. Such a mode of Criticifm begets love wherever it is exercifed. It enlarges the human mind, invigorates its best powers, and prepares it for its nobleft exertions.

In our next Volume (each of which confifts of FOUR Numbers) the Reflectors will contain a Survey of Homer's Iliad, Virgil's Eneid, Milton's Paradife Loft, and Thompson's Seafons.

ON INNOCENCE.

Sweet INNOCENCE! Thou ftranger to offence
And inward ftorm! He who yon fky involves
In frowns of dark nefs, ever fmiles on thee
With kind regard.

TH

THOMSON.

HE greatest bleffing of which man can be poffeffed, is Innocence. In every fituation, in every condition of life, it poffeffes the most attractive charms, and produces the moft cordial fatisfaction. Its pleasures are lafting and stable. The man who feeks happiness in any other way, muft in the end feel himself fatally dif appointed. A tranfient glow of fatisfaction, while engaged in his favourite pursuits, he may indeed feel; but no fooner does he allow himself an hour of calm, fober reflection, than difappointment and forrow arife in his bofom, as the effects of his perverted choice.

The pleasures of fenfuality are more violent and pointed, but thofe of Innocence more tranquil and folid. The former, on this account may be expected to find a greater number of votaries, among grofs and vulgar minds, who poffefs not fortitude to perform the duties

of

of Innocence, and cannot be expected to tafte its pleafures. To enjoy them indeed, in their full extent, requires no little delicacy of tafte and fentiment. We muft not only know, but feel. Our heart must glow with affection towards what is generous, excellent, and praife-worthy. Our whole foul must be dedicated to the interefts of virtue. There must be no fort of wavering between the choice of a vicious and a virtuous course, whatever allurements the former may poffefs. The leaft fimple compliance effectually leads on to a greater, and undermines the ftrong hold of virtue. Our conduct muft be regular, and conftant, if we would not forfeit the pleafures of Innocence. Happy the man, who by fuch a courfe of action, fecures the friendship and complai. fance of the Great Author of his being! Nothing can annoy his repofe, or deftroy his pleasure. He looks upon the ills incident to this life, only as a field for the exer

cife of his virtue.

If to thefe motives to a virtuous courfe, any other need be added, does not the voice of confcience urge a moft powerful plea in its favour? The voice of God himself, fpeaking in the heart of man, admonishes and remonftrates with the most stubborn of his rational creatures. He condefcends to fpeak, in a language, plain, Simple, and understood by all. Its general dictates are the fame, in the breaft of every individual, of every nation; however debafed by ignorance, or distorted by fanaticifm in particular inftances of conduct. Does not then man, by a vicious courfe of action, thwart the noble defigns, and expofe himself to the just punishment of

his Creator?

The votaries of vice may indeed frame excufes for their condu&t, and lull themselves into a vain fecurity, when age or fickness fhall have brought them to their fenfes, confcience will again resume her feat, and bring their actions before them in awful review. They will then regret that ever they departed from the paths of

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virtue to tread in the perplexing mazes of vice. They must look forward with dread to that great day of retribution, when every man shall receive his final award.

But how different are the feelings and conduct of the man, whofe actions have been regulated by uniform rectitude and integrity! He can look forward with fatisfaction and compofure to the day of his death;-that day when a period fhall be put to all his trials and afflictions. Who then would hefitate in his choice of a virtuous courfe? Can any one be fo foolish as to exchange the happiness of Innocence, for the painful reproaches of a confcience ftained with guilt, and tortured by remorfe?

I fhall conclude this fhort effay with an excellent obfervation of Sterne's. "Happiness," fays he, " is only to be found in religion-in the confcioufnefs of virtue and the fure and certain hope of a better life, which heightens all our prospects, and leaves no room to dread difappointments because the expectation of it is built upon a rock, whofe foundations are as deep as thofe of heaven and hell.”

Glasgow.

R. R. J. C.

GOSSIPIANA.

[No. XX.]

THE INSULTED DERVIS.

HE favourite of a fultan threw a ftone at a poor

charity him.

iniulted ecclefiaftic did not dare to fay a word: he took up the ftone and kept it, with the refolution of returning the compliment fooner or later to this man of pride and cruelty. Some time after, the news came that the favourite was difgraced, and that the fultan's officers were leading him through the ftreets on a camel, expofed to the infults of the populace. The dervis, hear

ing this, ran for his ftone; but after a moment's reflection caft it from him. "I now feel," fays he, "that we must never avenge ourfelves. When our enemy is powerful, it is imprudence and folly: when he is unhappy, it is bafenefs and cruelty."

THE SILENT ACADEMY, OR THE EMBLEMS. THERE was at Amadan a celebrated academy, whose firft law was conceived in the following terms:-Let the academicians think much, write little, and fpeak as little as poffible. It was called the filent acadeiny; and there was not a real man of fcience in all Perfia, who was not anxious to be a member. Dr. Zeb, the author of an excellent little work entitled the Broom, learned at the extremity of his province, that there was a vacancy in the academy. He inftantly repaired to Amadan, and prefenting himself at the door of the hall, where the academicians were affembled, requested the porter to give the prefident this note: "Dr. Zeb humbly folicits the vacant place." The porter difcharged his commiffion; but the doctor and his note came too late, for the vacancy was filled up.

The academy was in the utmoft diftrefs at this misfortune. It had reluctantly received a courtier wit, whofe lively and volatile eloquence was the admiration of the drawing-room; and it now faw itself obliged to refuse Dr. Zeb, the fcourge of babblers, a man of the deepest erudition and foundest judgment. The prefident, charged to announce the difagreeable news to the doctor, knew not how to undertake the office. After a fhort reverie, he ordered a large bafon to be fo filled with water, that the addition of a fingle drop would fpill the liquor; then he gave a fign for the introduction of the candidate, who made his appearance with that fimple and modest air, which almost always announces true merit. The prefident rose, and, without uttering a word, fhowed him with marks of the deepest regret the emblematical bafon, the bafon fo completely

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filled.