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to guess. There appears, however, to me, nothing more absurd in supposing abilities hereditary, than bodily strength. The mind, while in union with the body, may most probably be effected by its organization. The same corporeal conformation therefore, (which will be allowed to be descendible,) may give an opportunity for the same mental exertions. The children of men of genius are often undoubtedly of parts by no means pre-eminent to the herd of mankind. But this may be owing to several causes. Marriages are in this respect unequally sorted. One parent may be of distinguished endowments: the child may derive his understanding from the other. Even if both the parents be wise, a thousand bodily defects may yet prevent the wisdom of the child, equally as they may his strength, though both the parents be strong. But I never will believe that the issue of sensible and healthy parents has not a better chance of being sensible and healthy, than that of those who are foolish and sickly.

How absurd it is said "the notion that to be a poet, a man must be born with a genius for poetry."--" Thus," it is added, "we are told

VOL. II.

that Pope was born a poet, Pascal a geometrician, and Vandyke a painter. We might as well maintain that Whitbread was born a brewer, Young a farmer, and Lackington a bookseller." Here is a strange jumble of names, and rather an unfortunate selection of instances; because Pope and Vandyke were comparatively artificial poets and painters, and therefore not very apposite proofs of the general non-existence of genius. But, notwithstanding, I assert that Pope was born with a genius for poetry, as Vandyke for painting. By this I do not mean that he was born with English verses in his head, and the rules of prosody at his fingers' ends.

I do not believe the doctrine of innate ideas any more than Mr. Locke; but I believe that one man is born with a better capacity for the reception of ideas than another; and that the mind of one is better formed for ideas of abstraction and ratiocination, and of another for those of imagination: that one, therefore, is capable of making a philosopher, the other a poet, &c.---Philosophers and poets are formed upon natural science

and natural passions. Brewers, farmers, and book

sellers, besides that they are occupations open to contemptible abilities, are artificial and political employments. I do repeat, therefore, that no early and continued application to the art of making verses could have enabled Pope to have written the Rape of the Lock, the Eloisa to Abelard, or some other of his compositions, without the natural endowment of a strong imagination.

A judicious application, a judicious conduct of the mind, will undoubtedly invigorate natural talents. But no labour, no learning, will supply the place of genius. And a memory overloaded with a heavy sail of knowledge, without a sufficient ballast of judgment, is both contemptible and dan

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No XXIV.

The following Paper is rescued from the same publication as the last.

On the Charms of Nature.

Nov. 8, 1816.

"Hail, Nature, patroness of health and ease,
And contemplation, beart-consoling joys,
And harmless pleasures, in the throng'd abode
Of multitudes unknown; hail, rural life!
Address himself who will to the pursuit

Of honours, or emolument, or fame;

I shall not add myself to such a chase,
Thwart his attempts, or envy his success."

COWPER'S TASK, B. v.

THERE are times when minds of fancy and sensibility wish to forget the world and its intercourses; when the coarser speculations of politics, when the studied amusements of Arts appear insipid, dry, or disgusting to them. Often as I have wandered in the solitude of the country, as my senses have been touched with the beauty, the harmony, and

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the fragrance of every sight, and sound, and smell, I have felt

"A sacred and home-felt delight,

A sober certainty of waking bliss,"a

that has seemed in truth to "lap me in Elysium." This is a mood which the history of wars, the vices of governments, the records of human follies, and human operations, would soon put to flight; a mood, which calls for congenial subjects of contemplation; and such as that social spirit, which makes us double all our pleasures by communicating them, frequently induces the man of genius to furnish. I know too well how exposed these descriptions are to the ridicule of the dull and the hardhearted, to whom they are as incomprehensible, as an unknown language. All the cant terms of contempt, by which affected elevation of sentiment, or tenderness of feeling, are expressed, are ever ready on their lips: and thus with the random raillery of a parrot, they console their own stupidity, and are puffed up with their own supposed wit. Yet when images of delight are pressing on the fancy of those who have been in the habit of

■ Comus.

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