We will not, however, be infulted and fooled out of our existence, or of our understanding. "Our fentence

is for open war," till we can be fafe. England is ftill prepared, and alert, and vigorous, and opulent, and generous, and bold, and undismayed. She has not caft away her confidence. Among the bands and associated energies of England I also, in my degree and very limited capacity, will struggle for the principle of her life. I feel, in common with the wife and reflecting, that the constitution, of Great Britain, even with its real or apparent defects, is worthy of continuance, and I hope of perpetuity. Our ancestors, in 1688, once adopted the words of the aged Patriarch, "We have bleffed it, yea, and it fhall be "blessed.” In this one refponfe, I trust we fhall all be orthodox; and with one heart and voice condemn all the herefies of Gallic policy, in the words of the Alexandrian Liturgy of old; Των αίρεσιων καταλύσον τα φρυάγματα. (d.)

Government and Literature are now more than ever intimately connected. The hiftory of the last thirty years proves it beyond a controverfy. Still it is difficult to roufe the attention of men, and to perfuade them of the fact. But I have attempted it. I thought it juft and right to fet before them excellence oppofed to excellence, (e) as well as error contrafted to error. In the prefent change of manners, opinions, government, and learning, you may remember I gave it as my opinion, in which, after fome reflection, you concurred, that a variation is now required in the mode of conducting satirical writing. I mean, by calling

(d) Liturgia Sancti Gregorii Alexandrina. Liturg. Oriental, Collect. Vol. 1. p. 107. Edit. Paris. 1716.

(e) Ayabuç ayabuıç avrığerage. Dion. Halicarn. ad Cne. Pompeium de Platone Epift. p. 757. Sect. 1. Vol. 6. Ed. Reiske. 1777.

calling in the reciprocal affiftance of poetry and profe in the fame work, for the great end; if it is defigned for general perufal, and an extended application. I think this work is the first attempt of the kind, in the fenfe which I propofe.

(Αρχίλοχος) φωνημα και οφρυοεσσαν αοιδήν

Πύργωσας στίβαξη ΠΡΩΤΟΣ εν ενεπι. ()

:

I know not whether I am mistaken, but as it appears to me, the power of legitimate Satire thus extended, and ftrengthened with the rampart of profe, and fully understood, is the best, if not the only literary fupport left. I am fure it cannot be conftrued into an hired fervice. It has nothing in it of profeffional labour and as to interested views of perfonal profit or promotion, how can they be confiftent with it? It is as true in our time, as in that of Dryden, (I will give you his own words,) that "the "common libellers of the day, are as free from the impu "tation of wit, as of morality." Satire has another tone and another character. All public men, however diftinguished, must, in their turns, fubmit to it, if necessary to the welfare of the ftate. The altar and the throne, the minifter and the ftatefman, may feel and own its influence. I would exprefs myfelf with diffidence of any Satirift; yet of the office itfelf, and of its higher functions, I would Speak as becomes its dignity and the excellency of its ancient character. Magnificabo apoftolatum meum.

In my opinion, the office of a Satirist is by no means pleasant or desirable, but in times like the prefent it is peculiarly neceffary. It is indeed difficult to exercife the talent without an appearance of feverity in the character and difpofition. Even playfulness and humour are called

(Adapted from the Anthologia, p. 393. Ed. Brodei, Fol.

by

by other appellations. Learning is oftentation, cenfure is malignity, and reprehenfion is abufe. There remains a more formidable objection. On a first and partial view, it might deter any man from engaging in Satire; at leaft any man who feels himself (and who does not feel himself, if he examines his own heart?) unworthy and wretched before THE unerring judgment. It is faid to be incompatible, if not with the profeffion, yet certainly with the practice of Chriftianity. I am fure, if that is true, the praife of wit, or learning, or talents, is nothing worth. If private malignity is the motive, it is effentially contrary to the precepts and practice of that religion. It cannot be defended for a moment. But if Satire is an instrument, and a powerful inftrument, to maintain and enforce publick order, morality, religion, literature, and good manners, in those cafes, in which the pulpit and the courts of law can feldom interfere, and rarely with effect; the community may authorize and approve it. The authorised inftruments of lawful war are lawful.

Satire never can have effect, without a perfonal application. It must come home to the bofoms, and often to the offences of particular men. It never has its full force, if the author of it is known or ftands forth; for the unworthiness of any man leffens the ftrength of his objections. This is a full answer to thofe who require the name of a fatirical poet. What I have written is delivered to the publick in this fpirit. If I had any private end or malignity in any part of it, I would have burned the work with indignation before it should have appeared. I make no idle appeal to you, or to any man for the truth of my affertion; it is enough for me to feel that I fpeak truth in the fincerity of my heart. If I am believed, I am believed.

But

But I may ask with confidence; Is there, in this work on the Pursuits of Literature, any fentence or any fentiment, by which the mind may be depraved, degraded, or corrupted? Is there a principle of claffical criticism in any part of it, which is not just and defenfible by the greatest masters of antient and legitimate composition? Is there any paffage which pandars to the vitiated state, or to the polluted affections and paffions of bad men? On the contrary; Are not the heart and the understanding fortified unto virtue, and exalted into independence? Is there any idle, depreciating declamation against the real and folid advantages of birth, fortune, learning, wit, talents and high ftation? Is there any doctrine, which a teacher of morality, I mean Chriftian morality, might refuse to fanction? A moralift and a divine have not the fame office with the fatirift: perfonality is foreign to them. But it is not fufficiently attended to, or believed, that when the understanding is enervated, when it once lofes, what one of the Fathers (g) calls emphatically, the της φρονησεως συννων και πεπυκνωμενον, when that folid, tenacious power of the mind is diffolved, it is then open to all manner of deception, and to the impreffions of fophiftry in literature, government, philofophy and religion. On this account, many works and many actions must be confidered, wholly unworthy of reprehenfion, or notice in any other point of view.

Ignorant men will cry out, it is a vexatious fuit, when it is a juft profecution at the tribunal of public opinion. They who would, confider my reprehenfions of Authors

and

(g) Bafil, Archiepifc. Cæfareæ. Op. vol. 2. p. 698. Ed. Par. 161.

and of the tendency of their writings, as libels, or as libellous matter, are as ignorant of common law, as they are forgetful of common fenfe, or common integrity and candour. With fuch men, every piece of criticism is a fpecies of libel. If they are inclined to indict any part of my work as libellous, it will be incumbent on them to contradi& the great fage of the law, (b) who declares, that "In a CRIMINAL PROSECUTION, the tendency which all libels "have to create animofities and disturb the publick peace,

IS THE WHOLE which the law confiders." I am content to be at iffue with them on this point. If any part of my work is "blafphemous, immoral, treasonable, fchifmatical, feditious, or fcandalous," let it be produced publickly, and publickly punished. But I maintain that, under these reftri&tions, I have an undoubted right to lay my fentiments before the world, on publick books, in any manner I think proper. If I am denied this right, there is an end to the freedom of the prefs, and of the rational and guarded liberty of England. If the matter of my book is criminal, let it be fhewn. I appeal to the Courts and the Sages of the Law. But I will not be intimidated by the war-whoop of Jacobins and democratick writers, or by the feeble fhrieks of witlings and poetafters. While I have power, I will plead in behalf of learning, and in the cause of my country. In this work I have not violated the precepts of Christianity, or the law of the land; and till I have done both or either, it is not in the power of any man to degrade my character and reputation with my country. If I have drawn any fuppofed characters, without a name or defignation, I have done no more than Theophraftus or LaBruyere

(b) Blackstone Comment. B. 4. Chap. 11.