these shackles of cowardice, how I may rise to a level with my fellow beings, recall myself from this languor of involuntary subjection to the free exertion of my intellects, and add to the power of reasoning the liberty of speech. I am, Sir, &c.
I am, Sir, &c.
Verecundulus.
Numb. 158. Saturday, Sept 21, 1751.
Grammatici certant, et adhuc sub judice lis est. |
Hor. |
Criticks yet contend, |
Francis. |
CRITICISM, though dignified from the earliest ages by the labours of men, eminent for knowledge and sagacity, and, since the revival of polite literature, the favourite study of European scholars, has not yet attained the certainty and stability of science. The rules hitherto received, are seldom drawn from any settled principle, or self-evident postulate, or adapted to the natural and invariable constitution of things; but will be found upon examination, the arbitrary edicts of legislators, authorised only by themselves, who, out of various means by which the same end may be attained, selected such as happened to occur to their own reflection, and then, by a law which idleness and timidity were too willing to obey, prohibited new experiments of wit, restrained fancy from the indulgence of her innate inclination to hazard and adventure, and
