1 you poets, poetasters, and pseudò-critics; but if will go, beware of contagion, for the Cacoethes scribendi is, I am told, as infectious as the Scotch itch, and not medicable by the Edinburgh ointment. If you should unfortunately turn versifier, or romancer, it will disqualify you for the countinghouse, and you will find that the muses are miserable bankers," "That may be, Sir, but I am as little disposed to study the belles lettres as yourself, yet I own, I am somewhat desirous to see and hear this damnatory fraternity.". Oh, you certainly ought to keep your engagement, Sir," said his host, sarcastically; 66 you seem far gone in the disease of criticism, and I'm apprehensive a promising young merchant will be lost to our community." 66 Edmund joined the laugh against himself, and rising with the utmost good humour, wished his companions a good evening, stepped into a hackney coach, and in a few minutes arrived at the Belle Sauvage Inn. THE LITERARY DISSECTORS, OR THE VANITY OF HYPER-CRITICISM. On presenting his card, he was conducted by a waiter into a remote apartment, where he found about a dozen individuals seated at an oblong table, with lights and wine before them. Mr. Baersil, who had prepared the company to expect a stranger, introduced him to his consociates as his friend, and the friend of humanity, a man of elevated sentiments and a generous heart, and as such, worthy of the confidence and esteem of the Dissectors. The chairman nodded graciously from his elevated seat at the head of the table. His chair was surmounted by a skyblue canopy, inscribed in front with the following appropriate lines, in letters of burnished gold: "Let's carve him like a dish for the gods, Not hew him like a carcase fit for hounds.” Edmund took his seat next his friend Buersil, and while the company joined in some desultory conversation, of which 'the news of the day formed a part, he had time to make a few observations. The chairman was a tall well-proportioned man, about fifty, with an intelligent countenance, and strong voice, a qualification which was peculiarly suitable to his situation. Near him sat a little well-dressed man, who by his broad Caledonian accent, proved his descent from the Land of Cakes, and directly opposite to him sat an athletic, talkative, and humorous Hibernian. Another Milesian, who sat near Mr. Buersil, praised the claret, which he swore was the real water of Hippocrene, or table-beer of the Muses, and that no man could pretend to be a critic without its enlivening aid, which not only improved the organs of vision, for the detection of typographical errors in a book, but actually improved the mental, while it gratified the corporeal taste. Another Dissector, who preferred Madeira wine, extolled its exhilarating effects, and the probability that most of our best writers on criticism used it for their common beverage. "I have no doubt, Sir," said he, addressing the chairman, "but Dryden wrote his prefaces and dedications under the inspiring influence of this vinous cordial. It seems to me to be the Pierian spring to which Pope alludes, though I suspect the little fellow was in jest, when he asserted, that drinking largely of it was friendly to sobriety." "Is. Mr. Mawman yet such a novice in the noble art of criticism," exclaimed the Hibernian who extolled claret," as to suppose Pope literally meant what he said? The passage is finely figurative, and justly applicable to the principles of taste. The poet evidently meant by his illustration, that a superficial knowledge of the art of poetry, had a tendency to inflame the imagination to an extravagant and irrational degree of enthusiasm, ever productive of false taste; but that a more comprehensive knowledge enabled the student to acquire attainments approved by rea-, son, rectified by judgment, and in short, the acme of the art." He then vociferated, 1 "A little learning is a dangerous thing, "Here," vociferated he, filling a bumper, "Here's to the memory of that prince of critics, Pope." "Well, Mr. Kennedy," said the chairman," you are certainly in the right; Mr. Mawman had made an erroneous conclusion, which I trust you have corrected." Mr. Mawman bowed. "At the same time, Kennedy, you seem inclined to follow the advice of Shakespeare in your illustrations, and to suit the action to the word, and the word to the action;' but for the sake of the information which we may obtain from your knowledge of literature, I request in the name of my brother dissectors, that you will not o'erstep the modesty of nature,' by too frequent an-application to your bottle, till the business of the evening is over." "I'm all obedience, Sir," replied Kennedy, casting however a longing, lingering look at his bottle," and as you promised the Society a critical lecture on the popular poets of the day, we shall all be properly attentive." There was now a pause of about five minutes, during which, the President arranged a few notes, which he held in his right hand for occasional reference. He then delivered his promised lecture in the following words. Some of our modern poets have obtained temporary celebrity by their power of description, and if the public taste is so low as to approve of those productions, "Where mere description holds the place of sense,' such poets as Lord Byron, Walter Scott, and John Wilson Croker, may fairly claim poetical distinction. But a nation accustomed to receive instruction from the sublime and harmonious compositions of Milton, Pope, Dryden, and Cowper, will not long endure descriptive pieces devoid of morality. Most of our modern rhymsters write to gratify their own avarice or vanity, while they certainly amuse the public; but as their best productions are only descriptive of beautiful imagery or strong passions, they soon satiate popular taste. Such poets resemble a buffoon, who, while he exhibits his activity, excites a smile or laugh of approbation. To the disgrace of our national taste, those poets have for a short time been most admired, who tickled the ear and gratified the fancy, without improving the heart. Thus the legendary ballads of Walter Scott, were in conse |