says the same writer, "to discover from what cause the acrimony of a scholiast can naturally proceed." "The various readings of copies, and different interpretations of a passage, seem to be questions that might exercise the wit, without engaging the passions. But, whether it be, that "small things make mean men proud," and vanity catches small occasions; or that all contrariety of opinion, even in those that can defend it no longer, makes proud men angry; there is often found in commentaries a spontaneous strain of invective and contempt, more eager and venomous than is vented by the most furious controvertist in politics against those whom he is hired to defame."

Though the temper, or at least the language, of verbal critics, has been, in our own days, much improved by the examples of Markland, Wesseling, Hemsterhusius, Valkenaer, Ruhnken, Heyne, and other illustrious scholars, too many traces may yet be found of that spirit which is so extremely offensive to every well-regulated mind.

The Vannus Critica of D'Orville abounds with recondite criticism; and the severity of the writer has been sometimes excused, on the plea of retaliation, against Pauw, whose coarseness and petulance are quite intolerable. But I must confess that the perpetual recurrence

of illiberal and savage reproach in that celebrated work is wearisome to me, and I remember with pleasure that, in his notes upon Charito, D'Orville has not fallen into this odious way of writing.

No man admires more sincerely than I do the genius and learning of Herman. But I can never read without indignation the arrogant and contemptuous terms in which he speaks of the late Mr. Heath-a man, whose good sense, good manners, and most meritorious labours ought to have protected him from such indignities. Vid. Herman. Obser. Crit. pag. 59, and his note on verse 1002 of the Hecuba, pag. 153.

The manner in which Mr. Brunck speaks of Vauvilliers is by no means warranted by Brunck's great and indisputable superiority; and I suppose that other readers, as well as myself, have observed numerous instances, in which Brunck has slyly stolen the emendations of his insulted predecessor, and meanly endeavoured to disguise his plagiarism.

Perhaps the great erudition, the wonderful sagacity, and the useful discoveries of such men as Joseph Scaliger, Bentley, and Salmasius, may now and then induce us to forgive the insolence of their temper, and the asperity of their invectives. But, when better exam

ples have been set before us by the most distinguished critics of our own times, little or no apology remains for men whose abilities are not of the highest class, if they select their models from periods, when the happy effects of civilisation were less diffused, and when the value of it, on controversial subjects, was less understood.

In the ardor and impetuosity of youth, our friend had met with those terms of reproach, which critics employ against each other. He might have been pleased at the moment with the appearance of vivacity and acuteness in some favourite writer: he found it easy to use the expressions which custom seems to have established among his predecessors; and perhaps the natural soreness of his mind, under provocations which he thought unmerited, increased his disposition to adopt them. This failing, however, we should deplore, rather than justify; and we should, also, remember that he shared it in common with other writers, who were inferior to him in diligence, in knowledge, in rectitude of intention, and in holiness of life.

The warmest of Mr. Wakefield's admirers must acknowledge that, in taste, erudition, and ingenuity, the celebrated Ruhnken was

superior to him. But they will recollect with satisfaction that one praise which Wyttenbach has bestowed upon Ruhnken, may be justly claimed by Wakefield. "Nec ipse unquam aliter loquebatur, quam sentiebat, nec eos qui secus facerent, ferre poterat."-See the Life of Ruhnken, page 245.

Many of the errors, which occur in his emendations, and many of the imperfections which have been imputed to his Latin style, may, I think, be traced to the following causes.

The first, and perhaps the most powerful, which presents itself to my memory, is, that he had not received his education in one of our great public schools, where his taste would have been early and correctly formed; where a traditionary stock of principles would have been ready for his use in the opinions and compositions of his schoolfellows; where the conjectures and arguments of commentators, unaccompanied by their rude disputes, would have been first conveyed to his mind; and where a judicious instructor, by his own remarks, would not only have assisted the judgment of Mr. Wakefield, but would have taught him to smile at the self-importance, and to avoid the acrimony, of the most eminent critics. Dr. Warton of Winchester, and Dr. John Foster of Eton, carried into their writings the same

candid and liberal spirit which pervaded their oral instructions; and their examples, I am sure, were equally favourable in their literary and moral effects on the minds of their scholars.

Mr. Wakefield was himself very sensible of the inconveniences to which he was exposed from another circumstance, which I am now going to mention; and in his letters to me, he has more than once lamented them most ingenuously and most feelingly. In consequence of his habits of retirement, of his separation from the English church, and the English universities, of his residence in places far remote from the capital, and of his numerous and honourable employments, when he came into the neighbourhood of it, he seldom had access to the conversation of such among his countrymen, as are most distinguished for philological learning. But, from my own personal experience, I can say with justice of those who take the lead among them,

that Mr. Wakefield would have derived the greatest advantage from their friendly communications; and would have met, not only with more wisdom, but with more candour, than the generality of the world is prone to ascribe to verbal critics. If much intimacy had fortunately subsisted between these ex