Page:Modern literature (1804 Volume 2).djvu/62

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that seeks literary distinctions, without great powers and acquirements, an obvious tract is singularity. Scribble is a great controverter of established opinions: He does not gainsay them by any ingenuity of hypothesis, but by simple contradiction. He is also a great exclaimer against established, or rising characters, especially in literature; that springs, partly from envy, but chiefly from vanity and self-conceit, or rather from an envy proceeding from vanity and self-conceit." "What kind of books does he write?" said Mr. Mortimer, "I never heard of his name."—"He is not eminent, but still he is noted."—"But his books," rejoined Mr. Mortimer, "what are they? scissars and and paste, I suppose."—No; that they ought to be: scissars and paste is the resource of book-manufacturers, without invention or wisdom; but