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diff --git a/14084-0.txt b/14084-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5dc3bad --- /dev/null +++ b/14084-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1258 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14084 *** + +The Augustan Reprint Society + + +Daniel Defoe + +_A Vindication of the Press_ (1718) + + +With an Introduction by Otho Clinton Williams + + +Publication Number 29 + +Los Angeles + +William Andrews Clark Memorial Library + +University of California + +1951 + + + + +_GENERAL EDITORS_ + + H. RICHARD ARCHER, _Clark Memorial Library_ + + RICHARD C. BOYS, _University of Michigan_ + + EDWARD NILES HOOKER, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + + JOHN LOFTIS, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + + + + +_ASSISTANT EDITOR_ + + W. EARL BRITTON, _University of Michigan_ + + + + +_ADVISORY EDITORS_ + + EMMETT L. AVERY, _State College of Washington_ + + BENJAMIN BOYCE, _Duke University_ + + LOUIS I. BREDVOLD, _University of Michigan_ + + CLEANTH BROOKS, _Yale University_ + + JAMES L. CLIFFORD, _Columbia University_ + + ARTHUR FRIEDMAN, _University of Chicago_ + + LOUIS A. LANDA, _Princeton University_ + + SAMUEL H. MONK, _University of Minnesota_ + + ERNEST MOSSNER, _University of Texas_ + + JAMES SUTHERLAND, _Queen Mary College, London_ + + H.T. SWEDENBERG, JR., _University of California, Los Angeles_ + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +_A Vindication of the Press_ is one of Defoe's most characteristic +pamphlets and for this reason as well as for its rarity deserves +reprinting. Besides the New York Public Library copy, here reproduced, +I know of but one copy, which is in the Indiana University Library. +Neither the Bodleian nor the British Museum has a copy. + +Like many items in the Defoe canon, this tract must be assigned to him +on the basis of internal evidence; but this evidence, though +circumstantial, is convincing. W.P. Trent included _A Vindication_ in +his bibliography of Defoe in the _CHEL_, and later bibliographers of +Defoe have followed him in accepting it. Since the copy here +reproduced was the one examined by Professor Trent, the following +passage from his ms. notes is of interest: + + The tract was advertised, for "this day," in the _St. James + Evening Post_, April 19-22, 1718. It is not included in the + chief lists of Defoe's writings, but it has been sold as + his, and the only copy I have seen, one kindly loaned me by + Dr. J.E. Spingarn, once belonged to some eighteenth century + owner, who wrote Defoe's name upon it. I was led by the + advertisement mentioned above to seek the pamphlet, thinking + it might be Defoe's; but I failed to secure a sight of it + until Professor Spingarn asked me whether in my opinion the + ascription to Defoe was warranted, and produced his copy. + +Perhaps the most striking evidence for Defoe's authorship of _A +Vindication_ is the extraordinary reference to his own natural parts +and to the popularity of _The True-Born Englishman_ some seventeen +years after that topical poem had appeared [pp. 29f.]. Defoe was +justly proud of this verse satire, one of his most successful works, +and referred to it many times in later writings; it is hard to +believe, however, that anyone but Defoe would have praised it in such +fulsome terms in 1718. + +The general homeliness and facility of the style, together with +characteristic phrases which occur in his other writings, indicate +Defoe's hand. Likewise homely similitudes and comparisons, specific +parallels with his known work, and characteristic treatment of matter +familiar in his other works, all furnish evidence of his authorship of +this pamphlet. + +Just what motive caused Defoe to write _A Vindication of the Press_ is +not clear. Unlike his earlier _An Essay on the Regulation of the +Press_ (1704), _A Vindication_ does not seem to have been occasioned +by a specific situation, and in it Defoe is not alone concerned with +freedom of the press, but writes on a more general and discursive +level. His opening paragraph states that "The very great Clamour +against some late Performances of Authorship, and the unprecedented +Criticisms introduc'd" make such an essay as he writes "absolutely +necessary." Yet there is no clear indication of just what works +occasion this necessity. The ironic reference to Mr. Dennis at the end +of the first paragraph, taken together with the praise of Mr. Pope's +translation of Homer and the allusion to "the malicious and violent +Criticisms of a certain Gentleman in its Disfavour" [p. 23], might +suggest that Defoe had in mind Dennis' _Remarks upon Mr. Pope's +Translation of Homer_, but even the entire body of writings attacking +Pope's _Homer_ would hardly seem sufficient to give point to this +somewhat omnibus and unfocused essay. + +Equally suggestive, perhaps, are Defoe's references to the Bangorian +controversy and to Bishop Hoadley [pp. 10, 23]. This controversy raged +from 1717 to 1720 and produced a spate of pamphlets (to which Defoe +contributed), many of which were marked by heated argument and +acrimony. Defoe, with his liking for moderation, no doubt intended to +make an oblique criticism of the license of many of the Bangorian +tracts. But these tracts are certainly not advanced as the prime +occasion for _A Vindication_. + +Defoe points out in the first section of his essay how important is +freedom of the press as the foundation of the "valuable liberties" of +Englishmen. I have been unable to find any reference to a specific +threat of regulation of the press at this time that might have +occasioned _A Vindication_. Nevertheless, it is possible that +sentiment for control of the press, perhaps incited by the Bangorian +controversy, was felt in 1718 and may have been a contributing motive +to the composition of this tract. Whatever the immediate motives for +writing it may have been, the variety of its contents suggests that +Defoe saw an opportunity to turn a penny, to express himself on a +number of his pet subjects, and to defend his own position as a +professional writer. + +_A Vindication_ is made up of three clearly marked sections: in the +first the author vindicates the usefulness of writing; in the second +he discusses the usefulness--it would be more exact to say the +harmfulness--of criticism; in the third he expatiates upon the +qualifications of authors. One may admit at once the comparative +worthlessness of the pamphlet as a contribution to criticism or +critical theory. Defoe's comments upon specific writers are thoroughly +conventional and commonplace, as may be seen from a glance at his +remarks about Milton, Chaucer, Spenser, Shakespeare, and others on p. +12. + +Of more interest is his very high praise of Dryden, "a Man for +Learning and universal Writing in Poetry, perhaps the greatest that +England has produc'd" [p. l5], and his comment upon the critical +detraction from which he suffered. He compares Pope, interestingly +enough, with Dryden, remarking that Pope ("a Person tho' Inferior to +Mr. _Dryden_, yet speaking Impartially has few Superiors in this Age") +also is persecuted by envy; and he has generous praise for that poet's +translation of Homer. One may note that Defoe avoids the shortcomings +of the critics whom he condemns for judging according to party. He +distributes his praise indiscriminately between Whig and Tory writers. +In short, his essay hardly does more than confirm the critical +commonplaces of the time and attest to the catholicity of the author's +taste. + +Of particular interest for students of Defoe is the paragraph [p. 2l] +in which Defoe defends the hack-writers who must write for +subsistence. One should not expect their writings, which are +necessarily numerous, to be as correct and finished as they might be. +After comparing their pens to prostitutes because of their venality, +he claims, in a half-ironic tone, for both authors and booksellers the +liberty of writing and printing for either or both sides without +ignominy. After all, they must write and print to live. Such practice +is certainly, he observes, no more unjust or disreputable than other +ways of gaining wealth such as one finds in Exchange-Alley. + +This paragraph gains point when one remembers that Defoe had served +both Whig and Tory governments. In 1718, as letters written to Lord +Stanhope in that very year testify, he was engaged in the perhaps +dubious business of masquerading as a Tory, while actually in the +service of the Whig ministry, to take the "sting" out of the more +violent Tory periodicals; and he was much concerned with the danger of +his ambiguous position. In December of 1717 he had been identified as +a writer for _Mist's Weekly Journal_, the leading Tory paper, and was +subjected to growing attacks in the Whig press. One can hardly doubt +that this paragraph is a thinly veiled defense of his own practice as +a professional journalist. + +It is no surprise to find the author of _A Vindication_, in discussing +the qualifications of writers, advocating the importance of genius and +"Natural Parts" above mere learning. He instances the author of _The +True-Born Englishman_ and Shakespeare, the former "Characteriz'd as a +Person of Little Learning, but of prodigious Natural Parts" and the +latter having "but a small share of Literature." The further example +of the literary achievements of the "Fair Sex," who had, of course, no +university education, reminds one of Defoe's championship elsewhere of +women. The business of a writer is "to please and inform," and the +general implication is that genius is more necessary to this end than +learning. + +Also characteristic of Defoe is his emphasis upon the advantage to an +author of conversation, "the Aliment of Genius, the Life of all airy +Performances" [p.32]. Likewise, his digression upon education [pp. +34f.], his charge that people of quality in England all too often +neglect their children's education, his remarks upon the advantages of +travel and the need of training in the vernacular, all will be +familiar to readers of Defoe. + +_A Vindication of the Press_ is chiefly important for the +corroboration of our knowledge of Daniel Defoe. It presents nothing +that is new, but it gives further evidence of his pride in authorship, +of his rationalization of his actions as a professional journalist, +and of his belief in the importance of a free press. Many of his +characteristic ideas are repeated with his usual consistency in point +of view. Although the critical comments in the essay are thoroughly +conventional, they offer evidence of contemporary literary judgments +and reveal Defoe as a well-informed man of moderation and commonsense, +though certainly not as a profound critic. In the catholicity of his +tastes and interests Defoe is far ahead of his Puritan fellows, and +his essay may be taken as one indication of the growing interest of +the middle-classes for whom he wrote in the greater world of +literature. As Professor Trent remarks in his ms. notes, "Defoe rarely +wrote a tract without introducing something worthy of attention and +comment, and the present pamphlet is no exception to the rule." + +I should like to thank Dr. Henry C. Hutchins for his generosity in +making available to me Professor Trent's ms. notes on _A Vindication_ +and Dr. John Robert Moore for his kindness, criticisms, and +suggestions. + + +Otho Clinton Williams +San Jose State College + + +Vindication of the Press: + +OR, AN ESSAY ON THE _Usefulness of Writing_, ON CRITICISM, AND THE + +Qualification of AUTHORS. + +Wherein is shewn, + +That 'tis for the Advantage of all Governments to encourage Writing; +otherwise a Nation would never be secure from the Attempts of its most +secret Enemies; Barbarous and prejudic'd Criticisms on Writings are +detected, and Criticism is justly stated. With an Examination into +what Genius's and Learning are necessary for an AUTHOR in all manner +of Performances. + +_LONDON_: + +Printed for _T. Warner_, at the _Black-Boy_ in Pater-Noster-Row. +MDCCXVIII. + +[Price Sixpence.] + +[ILLUSTRATION] + + + + +A Vindication of the PRESS: + +OR, AN ESSAY ON THE _Usefulness of Writing_, &c. + +The very great Clamour against some late Performances or Authorship, +and the unpresidented Criticisms introduc'd, render a Treatise on the +Usefulness of Writing in general so absolutely necessary, that the +Author of this Essay has not the least Apprehensions of Displeasure +from the most inveterate, but on the contrary, doubts not an +Approbation, even of the Great Mr. _Dennis_. + +For the Usefulness of Writing in the Church, I shall trace back to the +Annals of our Saviour and his Apostles. Had not Writing been at that +Time in use, what Obscurity might we reasonably have expected the +whole World would have labour'd under at this Day? when, +notwithstanding the Infidels possess such vast Regions, and Religion +in its Purity shines but in a small Quarter of the Globe. 'Tis easy-to +imagine, that without the New-Testament every Person of excellency in +Literature, and compleat in Hypocrisy, either out of Interest, or +other worldly Views, would have taken the Liberty to deny the most +Sacred Traditions, and to have impos'd upon the Populace as many +Religions as they pleas'd, and that the ignorant Multitude would +easily acquiesce, as they do in _Turkey_, and other distant Parts of +the World, which deny the Divinity of our Saviour. + +What fatal Errors, Schisms, and concomitant Evils would have been +introduc'd, must be apparent to all Persons of the least Penetration. +The Quakers might at this Time possibly have been our National Church, +and our present Happiness, with regard to those Considerations, can no +way be more lively and amply demonstrated than in taking a step at +once from Mr. _Penn's_ Conventicle to the Cathedral Church of St. +_Pauls_. + +The Regularity and heavenly Decorum of the latter, give an Awe and +Transport to the Audience at the same time they ornament Religion; and +the Confusion of the former fully shews, that as it only serves to +amuse a Crowd of ignorant Wretches, unless meerly with temporal Views +(Sectarists generally calculating Religion for their Interests) so it +gives a License to all manner of Indecencies, and the Congregations +usually resort thither with the same Regard as a Rake of the Town +would do to Mother _Wybourn's_, or any publick Place of Diversion. + +Whether it be not natural to have expected a Confusion in the Church, +equal to that of the worst Sectaries in the World, had not the Use of +Waiting been early attain'd and practis'd, I appeal to the Breast of +every unprejudic'd Reader; and if so, how infinitely happy are we by +the Use of our Sacred Writings, which clear up the Cloud of Ignorance +and Error, and give a Sanction to our Religion, besides the +Satisfaction we of the Church of _England_ have in this felicitous +Contemplation, that our Religion, since the Reformation, strictly +observ'd, is the nearest that of our Saviour and his Apostles of any +Profession of Faith upon Earth. + +'Tis owing to Writing, that we enjoy the purest Religion in the World, +and exclusive of it, there would have been no possibility of +transmitting down entirely those valuable Maxims of _Solomon_, and the +Sufferings of the Righteous _Job_, in the old Testament; which are so +extensive to all Parts and Stations of Life, that as they are +infinitely preferable to all other Writings of the Kind, so they +afford the greatest Comfort and Repose in the Vicisitudes incident to +Humane Nature. + +How far Theology is improv'd from those inestimable Writings, I need +not to enlarge, since it is highly conspicuous that they are the +Foundation of all Divine Literature; and how ignorant and imperfect we +should have been without them, is no great difficulty to explain; and +who can sufficiently admire the Psalter of _David_, which fills the +Soul with Rapture, and gives an Anticipation of sublimest Joys. + +Besides the Advantages of Sacred Writings in the Cause of Religion; +'tis chiefly owing to Writing, that we have our most valuable +Liberties preserv'd; and 'tis observable, that the Liberty of the +Press is no where restrain'd but in Roman Catholick Countries, or +Kingdoms, or States Exercising an Absolute Power. + +In the Kingdom of _France_ Writings relating to the Church and State +are prohibited upon the severest Penalties, and the Consequences of +those Laws are very Obvious to all Persons of Discernment here; they +serve to secure the Subject in the utmost Obscurity, and as it were +Effect an entire Ignorance, whereby an exorbitant Power is chearfully +submitted to, and a perfect Obedience paid to Tyranny; and the +Ignorance and Superstition of these People so powerfully prevail, that +the greatest Oppressor is commonly the most entirely Belov'd, which I +take to be sufficiently ently Illustrated in the late _Lewis_ the +Fourteenth, whose Arbitrary Government was so far from Diminishing the +Affections of his Subjects, that it highten'd their Esteem for their +Grand Monarch. + +But of late the populace of _France_ are not so perfectly enclouded +with Superstition, and if a young Author can pretend to Divine, I +think it is easy to foresee that the papal Power will in a very short +space be considerably lessen'd if not in a great measure disregarded +in that Kingdom, by the intestine Jarrs and Discords of their Parties +for Religion, and the Desultory Judgments of the most considerable +Prelates. + +The best Support of an Arbitrary Power is undoubtedly Ignorance, and +this cannot be better cultivated than by an Absolute Denial of +Printing; the Oppressions of the Popularity cannot be thoroughly +Stated, or Liberty in general Propagated without the use of the Press +in some measure, and therefore the Subjects must inevitably submit to +such Ordinances as an Ambitious or Ignorant Monarch and his Tyrannical +Council shall think fit to impose upon them, how Arbitrary soever: And +the Hands of the Patriots and Men of Eminence who should Illuminate +the Age, and open the Eyes of the deluded People are thereby tied up, +and the Infelicity of the Populace so compleat that they are incapable +of either seeing their approaching Misery, or having a redress of +present Grievances. + +In _Constantinople_ I think they have no such thing as Printing +allow'd on any Account whatsoever; all their Publick Acts relating to +the Church and State are recorded in Writing by expert Amanuensis's, +so very strict are the Divan and great Council of the Sultan in +prohibiting the Publication of all manner of Writings: They are very +sensible had Persons a common Liberty of stating their own Cases, they +might Influence the Publick so far, that the Yoke of Tyranny must sink +if not be rendred insupportable; and this is regarded in all Kingdoms +and Countries upon Earth Govern'd by a Despotick Power. + +To what I have already offer'd in favour of the Press, there may be +Exceptions taken by some Persons in the World; and as it is my +Intentions to solve all Objections that may be rais'd to what I +advance, as I proceed, I think I cannot too early make known, that I +am apprehensive the following Observations may be made; _viz._ that a +general License of the Press is of such a fatal Tendency, that it +causes Uneasinesses in the State, Confusions in the Church, and is +destructive sometimes even to Liberty, by putting the ruling Powers +upon making Laws of Severity, on a Detection of ill Designs against +the State, otherwise never intended. + +In answer to which, I shall give the following Particulars: In respect +to Uneasinesses in the State, it may not be amiss to premise, that it +is esteem'd by Men of Penetration, no small Wisdom in the present +Administration, to bestow Preferments on the brightest and most +enterprising Authors of the Age; but whether it be so much out of a +Regard to the Service they are capable of to the State in their +Employs, as to their Writing for the Government, and to answer +treasonable Pamphlets, poison'd Pens, _&c._ I do not take upon me to +determine. I must confess, where a Faction prevails, it gives a +sensible Monarch some Pain to see Disafection propagated by the Press, +without any manner of Restraint; but then, on the other Hand, such a +Ruler is thereby let into the Secrets of the Faction, he may with +facility penetrate into their deepest Intrigues, and be enabled to +avert an impending Storm. Upon approach of a Rebellion, he will be +thoroughly sensible from what Quarter his greatest Danger is to be +expected, whereby it will be entirely his own Fault, if he be without +a sufficient Guard against it, which he could not be appriz'd of (with +any certainty) without a general Liberty of Writing: And tho' Slander +must occasion a great deal of Uneasiness to a crown'd Head, the Power +of bestowing Favours on Friends only is no small Satisfaction to the +Prince, and a sufficient Punishment to his Enemies. And it is my +Opinion, that the Grand Sultan, and other Eastern Potentates, would be +in a great deal less danger of Deposing, (a Practice very frequent of +late) if in some measure a Liberty of Writing was allow'd; for the +Eyes of the People would be open, as well for as against their Prince, +and their fearing a worse Evil should succeed, might make them easy +under a present Oppression. + +As for Confusion in the Church, I look upon this to be the greatest +Objection that can be raised; but then it must be allow'd, that +without Writing the Reformation (the Glory of our Religion) could +never have been effected; and in respect to religious Controversies, +tho' I own they are seldom attended with good Consequences, yet I must +beg leave to observe, that as the Age we now live in, is more bright +and shining in substantial Literature than any preceding Century, so +the generality of Mankind are capable of judging with such an +Exactness as to avoid a Bad; not but, I confess, I think many of the +Persons concern'd in the Controversy lately on foot, with relation to +the Bishop of _Bangor's_ Sermon, preach'd before His Majesty, deserve +to be stigmatiz'd, as well for their indecent Heat, as for the +Latitude taken with regard to the Holy Scriptures. And for the last +Objection, I never knew that Writing was any ways destructive to +Liberty, unless it was in a Pamphlet, [entitled King-Killing no +Murder] which 'tis said occasion'd the Death of _Oliver Cromwel_. + +These are the Uses of Writings in the Church and the State, with +Answers to such Objections as may be made against them, not to mention +particularly in respect to the former, the Writings of the Fathers, +and even of some Heathen Philosophers, such as _Seneca_, &c. And +besides the valuable Performances of our most eminent Divines in all +Ages, as Dr. _Taylor_, Bishop _Usher, Tillotson, Beveridge_ &c. and +_The whole Duty of Man_, &c. in our private Devotions. I now proceed +to the Uses in Arts and Sciences. + +How much Posterity will be oblig'd to the Great Sir _Isaac Newton_ and +Doctor _Flamstead_ for their Mathematical Writings, is more easy to +imagine than the Improvements which may be made from thence; there's a +great deal of Reason to believe, that if a future Age produces a +Successor to Sir _Isaac_, (at present I take it, there's none in the +World) that not only the Longitude at Sea will be discover'd, but the +perpetual Motion, so many Ages sought after, found out. + +How much are the Gentlemen of the Law oblig'd to my Lord _Littleton's_ +Institutes and _Coke's_ Commentaries thereupon? Writing in this +Profession is esteem'd so Essential, that there's seldom a Judge quits +the Stage of Life, without a voluminous Performance, as a Legacy to +the World, and there's rarely a Term without some Production of the +Press: The Numbers of these Writings are very much augmented by the +various Reports of Cases from Time to Time made; and these seem to be +entirely necessary by way of Precedent, as a discreet and cautious +Justice will not take upon him to determine a Cause of difficulty +without the Authority of a Precedent. + +And in the Practice of Physick, are not the present Professors +infinitely obliged to the Discoveries and Recipes of _Aristotle_, +_Galen_, &c? How much the World is oblig'd to the Declamations of +_Tully_, _Cicero_, for Oratory; to the famous Writings of _Milton_ for +the Foundation of Divine Poetry; Poetry in general is improv'd from +the Writings of _Chaucer_, _Spencer_, and others; Dramatick +Entertainments perfected by _Shakespear_; our Language and Poetry +refin'd by _Dryden_; the Passions rais'd by _Otway_; the Inclination +mov'd by _Cowley_; and the World diverted by _Hudibras_, (not to +mention the Perfections of Mr. _Addison_, and several others of this +Age) I leave to the Determination of every impartial Reader. + +'Tis by Writing that Arts and Sciences are Cultivated, Navigation and +Commerce (by which alone Wealth is attain'd) to the most distant parts +of the World Improv'd, Geography Compleated, the Languages, Customs +and Manners of Foreign Nations known; and there is scarce any one +Mechanick calling of Note or Signification, but Treatises have been +written upon, to transmit the valuable Observations of Ingenious +Artificers to the latest Posterity. + +There might be innumerable Instances given of the Advantages of +Writings in all Cases, but I shall satisfy my self with the +particulars already advanc'd, and proceed to such Objections, as I am +apprehensive may be made relating to the Writings last mentioned. +First, it may be Objected that the numerous Writings tend more to +confound the Reader, than to inform him; to this I answer, that it is +impossible there can be many Writings produced, but there must be some +valuable Informations communicated, easy to be Collected by a +judicious Reader; tho' there may be a great deal superfluous, and +notwithstanding it is a considerable Charge to purchase a useful +Library, (the greatest Grievance) yet we had better be at that +Expence, than to have no Books publish'd, and consequently no +Discoveries; the same Reason may be given where Books in the Law, +Physick, &c. are imperfect in some Part, and tend to the misleading +Persons; for of two Evils the old Maxim is, always chuse the least. +The only Objection that I do not take upon me to Defend, is, that +against Lewd and obscene Poetry in general; (for sometimes the very +great Wit may make it excuseable) which in my Opinion will admit of +but a slender Apology in its Defence. + +The use of Writing is Illustrated in the following Lines, which +conclude my first Head of this Essay. + + _By ancient Writing Knowledge is convey'd, + Of famous Arts the best Foundation laid; + By these the Cause of Liberty remains, + Are Nations free'd from Arbitrary Chains, + From Errors still our Church is purified, + The State maintained, with justice on its Side._ + +I now advance to my second Particular, _Criticism_. + +The fatal Criticism or Damnation which the Writings of some Authors +meet with thro' their Obscurity, want of Friends and Interest in the +World, &c. is very discouraging to the Productions of Literature: +It is the greatest difficulty immaginable, for an obscure Person to +Establish a Reputation in any sort of Writing; he's a long time in the +same Condition with _Sisyphus_, rolling a heavy Stone against an +aspiring Mount which perpetually descends again; it must be to his +benign Stars, some lucky Subject suiting the Humour of the Times, more +than the Beauty of his Performance, which he will be oblig'd for his +Rise: And in this Age Persons in general, are so Estrang'd from bare +Merit, that an Author destitute of Patronage will be equally +Unsuccessful to a Person without Interest at Court, (and you'll as +rarely find the Friendship of an _Orestes_, as the Chastity of +_Penelope_) When a Man of Fortune has no other Task, than to give out +a stupid Performance to be of his own Composing, and he's immediately +respected as a Celebrated Writer: And if a Man has the good Fortune to +hit the capricious Humour of the Age; after he has attained a +Reputation with the utmost Difficulty, he's sure to meet with the +severest Treatment, from a herd of Malicious and Implacable Scriblers. + +This was the Case of the late Mr. _Dryden_, a Man for Learning and +universal Writing in Poetry, perhaps the Greatest that _England_ has +produc'd; he was Persecuted by Envy, with the utmost Inveteracy for +many Years in Succession: And is the Misfortune at this Juncture of +Mr. _Pope_, a Person tho' Inferior to Mr. _Dryden_, yet speaking +Impartially has few Superiors in this Age: From these Considerations +it is Evident, (tho' it seems a Paradox) that it is a Reputation to be +Scandaliz'd, as a Person in all Cases of this Nature is allow'd some +Merit, when Envy attacks him, and the World might not be sensible of +it in General, without a publick Encounter in Criticism; and many +Authors would be Buried in Oblivion were they not kept alive by +Clamours against their Performances. + +The Criticks in this Age are arriv'd to that consummate Pitch of +ill-nature, that they'll by no means permit any Person the favour to +Blunder but their mighty selves, and are in all respects, except the +Office of a Critick, in some measure ill Writers; I have known an +unnatural Brother of the Quill causless condemn Language in the +Writings of other Persons, when his own has really been the meanest; +to Accuse others of Inconsistency with the utmost Vehemence, when his +own Works have not been without their Æra's, and to find fault with +every Line in a Poem, when he has been wholly at a loss to Correct, or +at least not capable of Writing one single Page of it. + +There are another sort of Criticks, which are equally ill-natur'd to +these I have mention'd, tho' in all other respects vastly inferior to +them: They are such as no sooner hear of a Performance compos'd by a +Juvenile Author, or one not hitherto known in the way of Writing he +has undertaken; but immediately without reading a Line give it a Stamp +of Damnation; (not considering that the first Performance of an Author +in any way of Writing done carefully, is oftentimes the best) and if +they had thoroughly perus'd it, they were no ways capable of Judging +of either the Sense, Language, or Beauty of any one Paragraph; and +what is still worse, these ignorant Slanderers of Writings frequently +take what other Persons report for Authority, who know as little, or +perhaps are more Ignorant than themselves, so little Regard have they +to the Reputation of an Author. + +And sometimes you'll find a pert _Bookseller_ give himself the Airs of +Judging a Performance so far, as to Condemn the Correctness of what he +knows nothing of these there's a pretender to Authorship in the City, +who Rules the young Fry of Biblioples about the _Royal-Exchange_. + +But the _Booksellers_ in general, (tho' they commonly Judge of the +Goodness of Writings, by the greatness of the Sale,) are Very sensible +that their greatest Security in respect to the Performance of any +Work, is the Qualification of the Person that Composes it, the +Confidence they can Repose in him; his Capacity, Industry and +Veracity; And the Author's Reputation is so far concern'd in a +Performance, which he owns that the _Bookseller_ will sooner rely upon +that, than his own Judgment. + +To descend still to a lower Order of Criticks, you'll find very few +Coffee-Houses in this opulent City without an illiterate Mechanick, +Commenting upon the most material Occurrences, and Judging the Actions +of the greatest Councils in _Europe_, and rarely a Victualing House, +but you meet with a _Tinker, a Cobler, or a Porter_, Criticizing upon +the Speeches of Majesty, or the Writings of the most celebrated Men of +the Age. + +This is entirely owing to Party, and there is such a Contagion +diffuses it self thro' the greatest Part of the World at this Time, +that it is impossible for a Man to acquire a universal Character in +Writing, as it is inconsistent for him to engage in Writings for both +Parties at one and the same Time, (whatever he may do alternately) +without which such a Character is not attainable; and these contending +Parties carry Things to that Extremity, that they'll by no means allow +the least Merit in the most perfect Author, who adheres to the +opposite Side; his Performances will be generally unheeded, if not +blasted, and frequently damn'd, as if, like _Coelus_, he were capable +of producing nothing but Monsters; he shall be in all Respects +depress'd and debas'd, at the same time an illiterate Scribler, an +auspicious Ideot of their own (with whose Nonsense they are never +sated) shall be extoll'd to the Skies: Herein, if a Man has all the +Qualifications necessary in Poetry, as an Elegance of Style, an +Excellency of Wit, and a Nobleness of Thought; were Master of the most +surprizing Turns, fine Similies, and of universal Learning, yet he +shall be despis'd by the Criticks, and rang'd amongst the damn'd +Writers of the Times. + +The Question first ask'd is, whether an Author is a Whig or a Tory; if +he be a Whig, or that Party which is in Power, his Praise is +resounded, he's presently cried up for an excellent Writer; if not, +he's mark'd as a Scoundrel, a perpetual Gloom hangs over his Head; if +he was Master of the sublime Thoughts of _Addison_, the easy flowing +Numbers of _Pope_, the fine Humour of _Garth_, the beautiful Language +of _Rowe_, the Perfection of _Prior_, the Dialogue of _Congreve_, and +the Pastoral of _Phillips_, he must nevertheless submit to a mean +Character, if not expect the Reputation of an Illitterate. + +Writings for the Stage are of late so very much perverted by the +Violence of Party, that the finest Performance, without Scandal, +cannot be supported; _Shakespear_ and _Ben Johnson_, were they, now +living, would be wholly at a Loss in the Composure of a Play suitable +to the Taste of the Town; without a promiscuous heap of Scurrility to +expose a Party, or, what is more detestable, perhaps a particular +Person, no Play will succeed, and the most execrable Language, in a +Comedy, produc'd at this Time, shall be more applauded than the most +beautiful Turns in a _Love for Love_: Such are the Hardships a +Dramatick-Poet has to struggle with, that either Obscenity, Party, or +Scandal must be his Theme, and after he has performed his utmost in +either of these Ways, without a powerful Interest, he'll have more +Difficulty in the bringing his Play upon the Theatre than in the +Writing, and sometimes never be able to accomplish it. + +These are the Inconveniencies which Writers for the Stage labour +under, besides 'tis observable, that an obsequious prolifick Muse +generally meets with a worse Reception than a petulant inanimate +Author; and when a Poet has finished his Labours, so that he has +brought his Play upon the Stage, the best Performance has oftentimes +the worst Success, for which I need only instance Mr. _Congreve's Way +of the World_, a Comedy esteem'd by most Persons capable of judging, +no way inferior to any of his other Performances. + +A Choice of Actors, next to Interest and Popularity, is the greatest +Advantage to a new Play: If a Stage-Poet has the Misfortune not to +have a sufficient Influence over the Managers of the Theatres to make +a Nomination, his Performance must very much suffer; and if he cannot +entirely Command his Theatre, and Season for bringing it on, it will +be perfectly slaughter'd; and a certain Theatre has lately acquir'd +the Name of a _Slaughter-House_, but whether more for the Stupidity of +its Poets than its Actors, I do not pretend to determine; but certain +it is, that Acting is the Life of all Dramatick-Performances. And tho' +an indifferent Play may appear tolerable, with good Acting, it is +impossible a bad one can afford any Entertainment, when perform'd by +an incompleat Set of Comedians. + +In respect to Writings in general, there is an unaccountable Caprice +in abundance of Persons, to Condemn or Commend a Performance meerly by +a Name. The Names of some Writers will effectually recommend, without +making an Examination into the Merit of the Work; and the Names of +other Persons, equally qualified for Writing, and perhaps of greater +Learning than the Former, shall be sufficient to Damn it; and all this +is owing either to some lucky Accident of writing apposite to the +Humour of the Town, (wherein an agreeable Season and a proper Subject +are chiefly to be regarded) or to Prejudice, but most commonly the +Former. + +It is a Misfortune to Authors both in Prose and Verse, who are reduc'd +to a Necessity of constant writing for a Subsistence, that the +numerous Performances, publish'd by them, cannot possibly be so +correct as they might be, could more Time be afforded in the +Composure. By this Means there is sometimes just room for Criticism +upon the best of their Productions, and these Gentlemen, +notwithstanding it be never so contrary to their Inclinations, are +entirely oblig'd to prostrate their Pens to the Town, as Ladies of +Pleasure do their Bodies; tho' herein, in respect to Party, it is to +be observ'd, that a Bookseller and an Author may very well be allow'd +occasionally to be of either Party, or at least, that they should be +permitted the Liberty of Writing and Printing of either Side for +Bread, free from Ignominy; and as getting Money is the chief Business +of the World, so these Measures cannot by any means be esteem'd Unjust +or Disreputable, with regard to the several Ways of accumulating +Wealth, introduc'd in _Exchange-Alley_, and at the other End of the +Town. + +It is a common Practice with some Persons in the World, either to +prefix the Name of a _Mecanas_ in the Front of their Performances, or +to obtain recommendatory Lines from some Person of excellency in +Writing, as a Protection against Criticism; and there is nothing more +frequent than to see a mean Performance (especially if it be done by a +Man of Figure) with this Guard. + +'Tis true, the worst Performances have the greatest occasion of these +Ramparts, but then the Person who takes upon him to Recommend, must +have such an absolute Authority and Influence over the generality of +Mankind, as to silence all Objections, or else it will have a contrary +Turn, by promoting a Criticism as well upon the Author as upon +himself; for which Reason it is very hazardous for a Person in a +middle Station (tho' he have never so great a Reputation in Writing) +to engage in the Recommendation of the Writings of others. + +The severe Treatment which the brightest Men of the Age have met with +from the Criticks, is sufficient to deter all young Gentlemen from +entring the Lists of Writing; and was not the World in general more +good-natur'd and favourable to youthful Performances than the +Criticks, there would be no such thing as a Succession of Writings; +whereas, by that Means, and his present Majesty's Encouragement, +Literature is in a flourishing Condition, and Poetry seems to improve +more at this Time than it has done in any preceding Reign, except that +of King _Charles_ II. when there was a _Rochester_, a _Sidley_, a +_Buckingham_, &c. And (setting aside Party) what the World may hope +from a generous Encouragement of polite Writing, I take to be very +conspicuous from Mr. _Pope's_ Translation of _Homer_, notwithstanding +the malicious and violent Criticisms of a certain Gentleman in its +Disfavour. + +In the religious Controversy of late depending, Criticisms have been +carried to that height, that some Persons have pretended to fix false +Grammer on one of the most celebrated Writers perhaps at this Time in +_Europe_, but how justly, I leave to the Determination of those who +have perused the Bishop's incomparable Answer; but admitting his +Lordship had permitted an irregularity of Grammer to pass unobser'd +[typo for "unobserv'd"?], he is not the first of his Sacred Character +that has done it, and small Errors of this kind are easily looked +over, where the Nominative Case is at a distance from the Verb, or a +Performance is done in haste, the Case of the Bishop against so many +powerful Adversaries. Besides, it is apparent and well known, that a +certain Person [_Mr._ Lessey, _now with the_ Chevalier.] in the World, +who has a very great Reputation in Writing, never regards the strict +Rules of Grammer in any of his Performances. + +It is a Satisfaction to Authors of tender Date, to see their Superiors +thus roughly handled by the Criticks; a young Writer in Divinity will +not think his Case desperate, when the shining _Bangor_ has met with +such malevolent Treatment; neither must a youthful Poet be uneasy at a +severe Criticism, when the Great Mr. _Addison, Rowe_ and _Pope_ have +been treated with the utmost Scurrility. + +These Men of Eminence sitting easy with a load of Calumny, is a +sufficient Consolation to Inferiors under the most despicable Usage, +and there is this satisfactory Reflection, that perhaps the most +perfect Work that ever was compos'd, if not so entirely correct, but +there may be some room for Criticism by a Man of consummate Learning; +for there is nothing more common than to find a Man, (if not wholly +blind) over opiniated in respect to his own Performances, and too +exact in a Scrutiny into the Writings of others. + +The ill Nature attending Criticism I take to be greater now than in +any Age past; a Man's Defects in Writing shall not only be expos'd, +but all the personal Infamy heap'd upon him that is possible; his +Descent and Education shall be scandaliz'd, (as if a fine Performance +was the worse for the Author's Parentage) his good Name villified, a +History of the Transactions of his whole Life, and oftentimes a great +deal more, shall be written, as if the were a Candidate setting up in +a Burough for Member of Parliament, not an airy[?] or loose Action +shall be omitted, and neither the Sacred Gown, nor the greatest +Dignity shall be exempted; but there is this Consideration which sways +the sensible part of Mankind, _viz._ a Man of Excellency in Writing +his being generally a Person of more Vivacity than the common Herd, +and consequently the more extraordinary Actions in him are allowable; +yet, nevertheless, I think it consistent with Prudence for an Author, +when he has the good fortune to compose a Piece, which he's assur'd +will occasion Envy and Criticism, to write his own Life at the same +Time with it, tho' it be a little extravagant and the method is +unusual, to prevent an ill-natur'd doing thereof by the Hand of +another Person. + +According to the old Maxim, _Get a Reputation, and lye a Bed,_ not to +mention how many lye a Bed before they can attain it, according to the +humorous Turn of the late ingenious Mr. _Farqubar_; but there's at +this Time a greater necessity for a Man to be wakeful, when he has +acquir'd a Reputation, than at any Time before; he'll find abundantly +more difficulty attend the Securing than the Attaining of the greatest +Reputation; he'll meet with Envy from every Quarter; Malice will +pursue him in all his undertakings, and if he makes any manner of +Defence, he cannot commence it too soon, tho' it is not always +prudential to shew an open Resentment, even to the utmost ill +Treatment. + +If a Man be so considerable as to be thought worthy of Criticism, a +luducrous Reprimand is always preferable to a serious Answer; +returning Scurrility with Comic-Satyr will gaul an ill-natur'd +Adversary beyond any Treatment whatsoever; his Spleen will encrease +equal to any Poison, his Rage keep within no Bounds, and at length his +Passion will not only destroy his own Performance, but himself +likewise: And this I take to be natural in our modern Criticks. + +The Business of these Gentlemen is to set the ignorant Part of Mankind +right, In correcting the Errors of pretending Authors, and exposing of +Impositions, whereby who has Learning and Merit, and who has not, may +be so apparent, that the World may not misplace their Favour; but +unless they do it with more Impartiality, Temper and Candour than of +late, they may, with equal prospect of Success, endeavour to turn the +current of the Thames, as to pervert the Humour of this good-natur'd +Town. + +I presume to present them with these two Verses: + + _The learned Criticks learn not to be Civil, + In Spite and Malice personate the Devil._ + +Having now dispatch'd the two first Subjects of my Essay _(viz.)_ The +Usefulness of Writing, and Criticism, I come to my last Head, the +Qualification of Authors. + +I am not of the Opinion of a great many Persons in the World, that a +Poet is entirely born such, and that Poetry is a particular Gift of +Heaven, not but I confess there is a great deal in natural Genius, +which I shall mention hereafter: + +It is consistent with my Reason, that any Man having a share of +Learning, and acquainted with the Methods of Writing, may by an +assiduous Application, not only write good Poetry, but make a +tollerable Figure in any sort of Writings whatsoever; and herein I +could give numerous Instances of Authors who have written all manner +of Ways with success. Neither can I acquiesce in the common Notion, +that the Person who begins most early in Poetry always arrives to the +greatest Perfection; for, in my Opinion, it is a Matter of no great +difficulty, for a Person of any Age, before his Vivacity is too much +abated, and Fire exhausted, to commence a Poet; the great Mr. _Dryden_ +not beginning to Write 'till he was above the Age of 30; and I doubt +not but a great many Persons have lost themselves for want of putting +their Genius's to the Trial, and making particular Writings their +particular Studies. + +Their is no Practice more frequent than for an Author to misapply his +Genius; and there is nothing more common than for a Man, after +numerous Trials in almost all sorts of Authorship, to make that his +favourite Writing which he is least capable of performing; and too +frequently Authors use their Genius's as Parents do their Children, +place them to such Businesses as make the most considerable Figure in +the World, without consulting their Qualifications. + +There are many other Faults equal to these, as where Authors, through +overmuch Timerity, or too great Opinion of their own Performances, +permit their Writings to pass with egregious Errors; and I take it to +be equally pernicious for a Man to be too diffident of his own +Performances, as it is to be presuming: There are likewise some +Gentlemen, who (by a lazy Disposition, or through over much Haste, an +impatience in dispatch to gain an early Reputation) commit Blunders +almost to their immediate Ruin; but many of these Errors are commonly +excus'd in an Author by a condescending Printer, who is oblig'd to +take the Errata upon himself. + +In Prose a slight Examination of a Performance may suffice, but in +Poetry it cannot be too often repeated; and in this way of Writing, +haste is attended with a fatal Consequence. To compose your Lines in +perfect Harmony, of easy flowing Numbers, fine Flights and Similies, +and at the same Time retain a strong Sense, which make Poetry +substantially Beautiful, is a Work of Time, and requires the most +sedate Perusals: And though some Persons think, giving Poetry the +Character of easy Lines to be a Disgrace, it is rightly considered the +greatest Reputation and Honour they can do it; the utmost Difficulty +attending this easy Writing, and there are very few Persons that can +ever attain it. + +But to leave these general Observations, I proceed to my Point in +Hand, the Qualification of Authors; Though I shall first take Notice, +that the Business of every Author is to please and inform his Readers; +but how difficult it is to please, through the prevalence of Parties, +Envy and Prejudice needs no Illustration, and some Persons in the +World are so very perverse and obstinate, that they will not be +inform'd by a Person they entertain no good Opinion of. For writing +Prose a Man ought to have a tollerable Foundation of Learning, at +least to be Master of the Latin Tongue, to be a good Historian, and to +have a perfect Knowledge of the World; and besides these +Qualifications, in Poetry as I have before observ'd, a Writer should +be Master of the most refin'd and beautiful Language, surprizing +Turns, fine adapted Similes, a sublimity of Thought, and to be a +Person of universal Learning: Though I have often observ'd, both in +Prose and Verse, that some Persons of strong Genius, well acquainted +with the World, and but of little Learning, have made a better Figure +in some kinds of Writings, than Persons of the most consummate +Literature, not bless'd with natural Genius, and a Knowledge of +Mankind. + +The preference of Genius to Learning, is sufficiently Demonstrated in +the Writings of the Author of the _True born English Man_; (a Poem +that has Sold beyond the best Performance of any Ancient or Modern +Poet of the greatest Excellency, and perhaps beyond any Poetry ever +Printed in the _English_ Language) This Author is Characteriz'd as a +Person of little Learning, but of prodigious Natural Parts; and the +immortal _Shakespear_ had but a small share of Literature: It is +likewise worthy Observation, that some of our most entertaining +Comedies, Novels and Romances have been Written by the fair Sex, who +cannot be suppos'd to have Learning in any Degree equal to Gentlemen +of a University Education. And in _North Britain_ where Literature +shines amongst the Persons of middle Station, an Ounce of Natural +Parts, (speaking in a common way of Comparison) is Esteem'd of greater +Value, than a Pound of Learning. + +A Person of Learning without Genius and Knowledge of the World, is +like an _Architect's_ Assistant, whose only Business is to Draw the +Draught or Model of a Pile of Building; he's at a loss in the +Materials necessary for compleating the Structure, tho' he can Judge +of its Beauty when Perfected; and may be compared to a Man that has +the theory in any Art or Science, but wants the Practice. + +And a meer Scholar is the most unacceptable Companion upon Earth: He +is Rude in his Manners, Unpolish'd in his Literature, and generally +Ill-Natur'd to the last Degree; he's Company for a very few Persons, +and Pleasing to None; his Pride exalts him in Self-Opinion beyond all +Mankind: And some of the sucking Tribe of _Levi_, think the Gown and +Cassock alone, Merit a Respect due to the greatest Personages, and +that the broad Hat with the Rose should be Ador'd, tho' it covers a +thick and brainless Skull. + +But these are a few only; there are great Numbers of the Clergy who +deserve the utmost Respect, and are justly paid more than they desire; +and no Person can have a greater Regard for that sacred Body than my +self, as I was not only intended for a Clergyman, but have several +Relations now in being of that venerable Order; Tho' I am oblig'd to +take Notice, that the Authors of the Gown in general, treat the World +with greater Insolence and Incharity, than any Lay-Persons whatsoever. + +There's nothing more frequent, than to find the Writings of many of +our Modern Divines, not only Stiff and Harsh, but full of Rancour, and +to find an easy Propensity and Complaisance in the Writings of the +Laity; a Gentleman without the Gown commonly Writes with a genteel +Respect to the World, abundance of good Temper and a condescension +Endearing; when a brawny Priest, shall shew a great deal of +Ill-nature, give indecent Reflections, and affrontive Language, and +oftentimes be Dogmatical in all his Performances. + +Whether this be owing more to Pride, than a want of an Easy, Free, and +polite Conversation, I do not take upon me to Determine; but I believe +it must be generally Imputed to the Former, as it cannot be suppos'd, +that either of the Universities, are at any time without a polite +Converse; tho' I take leave to observe, that there is a great deal of +difference between a finish'd _Oxonian_, and a sprightly Senator. + +This is Demonstrated in the Speeches from Time to Time, made in the +Senate and the Synod; the Stile and Composure of the one, is no way to +be compar'd to the other, tho' the Sense be equally strong; there's an +Elegancy and Beauty of Expression in the Former, not to be met with in +the Latter, Oratory no where to be exceeded, and an Affluence of Words +not to be met with in any other Speeches whatsoever; and I believe it +must be generally allow'd that there is a very great difference in the +common Conversation, (particularly in point of Manners) of the Members +of those August Assemblies. + +A good Conversation is the greatest Advantage an Author can possibly +Enjoy, by a variety of Converse, a Man is furnish'd with a perpetual +Variety of Hints, and may acquire a greater Knowledge on some Subjects +in the space of a few Minutes, than he can attain by Study, in a +Succession of Weeks, (tho' I must allow Study to be the only +Foundation for Writing) 'twas owing to a good Conversation, that those +Entertaining Papers the _Tatlers_ were publish'd by Sir _Richard +Steel_, the _Examiner_ carried on by Mr. _Oldsworth_; and 'tis +impossible a perfect good Comedy can be written by any Person, without +a constant Resort to the best Conversation, whereby alone a Man will +be Master of the best Thoughts. + +In short, Conversation is the Aliment of the Genius, the Life of all +airy Performances, as Learning is the Soul; the various Humours of +Mankind, upon all Occasions, afford the most agreeable Subjects for +all sorts of Writings, and I look upon any Performance, tho' done by a +Person celebrated for Writing, without the use of Conversation, in +some measure incompleat. + +If an Author be enclin'd to write for Reformation of Manners, let him +repair to St. _Pauls_ or _Westminster-Abbey_, and observe the indecent +Behaviour of multitudes of Persons, who make those Sacred Places +Assignations of Vice; if you are enclin'd to lash the Follies and +Vanities of the fair Sex, retire to the Tea Table and the Theatre; if +your Business be to compose a Sermon, or you are engag'd in +Theological Studies, resort to _Child's_ Coffee-House in St. _Paul's_ +Church-Yard; if you are desirous to depaint the Cheat and the +Trickster, I recommend ye to the _Royal-Exchange_ and the Court End of +the Town; and if you would write a Poem in imitation of _Rochester_, +you need only go to the Hundreds of _Drury_, and you'll be +sufficiently furnish'd with laudable Themes. + +But Converse at home falls infinitely short of Conversation abroad, +and the Advantages attending Travelling are so very great, that they +are not to be express'd; this finishes Education in the most effectual +manner, and enables a Man to speak and write on all Occasions with a +Grace and Perfection, no other way to be attain'd. The Travels of a +young Gentleman have not only the effect of transplation of +Vegetables, in respect to the encrease of Stature, but also the +Consequence of the most beautiful Pruning. How much the Gentlemen of +_Scotland_ owe their Capacities to Travelling, is very obvious, there +being no Person of Quality in that Kingdom but expends the greatest +part of his Fortune in other Countries, to reap the Benefit of it in +personal Accomplishments; and a greater Commendation than this to the +_Scots_ is, the bestowing the best of Literature upon all manner of +Youth educated amongst them. + +Whilst the Men of Quality here very often neglect giving their +Children the common and necessary Learning, and too frequently entrust +their Education with lazy, ignorant, and incogitant Tutors, not to +mention the Supineness of Schoolmasters in general throughout +_England_; the _North-Britains_ labour in this Particular +indefatigably, as they are very sensible that Learning is the greatest +Honour of their Country, and the ancient _Britains_ come so near the +_Scots_, that amongst the common Persons, in some Parts of _Wales_, +you may meet with a Ploughman that speaks tollerable Latin, and a +Mason, like the famous _Ben Johnson_, with his _Horace_ and a Trowel. + +The want of a generous Education is an irretrieveable Misfortune, and +the Negligence of an Inspector of the Literature of Youth ought to be +unpardonable; how many Persons of Distinction have curs'd their aged +Parents for not bestowing on them a liberal Education? And how many of +the Commonalty have regretted the mispending of the precious Time of +Youth? A Man arriv'd to Maturity has the Mortification of observing an +Inferior in Circumstances superior in Literature, and wants the +Satisfaction of giving a tollerable Reason for any Thing he says or +does, or in any respect to judge of the Excellency of others; and, in +my Opinion, a generous Education, with a bare Subsistence only, is to +be preferr'd to the largest Patrimony, and a want of Learning. + +Without Education it is impossible to Write or Read any Thing +distinctly; without a frequent turning of the Dictionary, no Person +can be compleat in the _English_ Language, neither can he give Words +their proper Accent and Pronunciation, or be any ways Master of +Elocution; and a Man without Learning, though he appears tollerable in +Conversation, (which I have known some Persons do by a constant +enjoyment of good Company, and a strength of Memory) is like an +_Empirick_, that takes Things upon trust: And whenever he comes to +exercise the Pen, that the Subject is uncommon, and Study is requir'd, +you'll find him oftentimes not capable of writing one single Line of +Senfe, and scarcely one Word of _English_. And, on the other Hand, I +have known some Persons who could talk Latin very fluently, who have +us'd Phrases and Sentences perpetually in that Language, in +Conversation, vulgar and deficient in the Mother-Tongue, and who have +written most egregious Nonsense; from whence it is evident, that +Writing is the only Test of Literature. + +I have a little deviated from my Subject, in pursuing the Rules and +Advantages of Education, which I take to be of that universal good +Tendency, that they are acceptable in any Performance whatsoever: I +shall offer nothing farther, but conclude this Essay with the +following Particulars; that besides the Qualifications already +mention'd, it is as necessary for a fine Writer to be endued with +Modesty as for a beautiful Lady; that good Sense is of equal +Consequence to an Author, as a good Soil for the Culture of the most +noble Plants; that a Person writing a great deal on various Subjects, +should be as cautious in owning all his Performances, as in revealing +the Secrets of his most intimate Friend; and in respect to those +Gentlemen, who have made no scruple to prostitute their Names, the +following Similie may be judg'd well adapted: + + _As Musick soft, by constant use is forc'd + Grows harsh, and cloys, becomes at length the worst, + The Harmony amidst Confusion lost: + So finest Pens, employ'd in Writing still + Lose Strength and Beauty as the Folio's fill._ + + +_FINIS._ + + + + +William Andrews Clark Memorial Library: University of California + +THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + +_General Editors_ + + H. Richard Archer + William Andrews Clark Memorial Library + + R.C. Boys + University of Michigan + + E.N. Hooker + University of California, Los Angeles + + John Loftis + University of California, Los Angeles + + +The society exists to make available inexpensive reprints (usually +facsimile reproductions) of rare seventeenth and eighteenth century +works. + +The editorial policy of the Society continues unchanged. As in the +past, the editors welcome suggestions concerning publications. + +All correspondence concerning subscriptions in the United States and +Canada should be addressed to the William Andrews Clark Memorial +Library, 2205 West Adams Blvd., Los Angeles 18, California. +Correspondence concerning editorial matters may be addressed to any of +the general editors. Membership fee continues $2.50 per year. British +and European subscribers should address B.H. Blackwell, Broad Street, +Oxford, England. + +Publications for the fifth year [1950-1951] + +_(At least six items, most of them from the following list, will be +reprinted)_ + +FRANCES REYNOLDS (?): _An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Taste, +and of the Origin of Our Ideas of Beauty, &c._ (1785). Introduction by +James L. Clifford. + +THOMAS BAKER: _The Fine Lady's Airs_ (1709). Introduction by John +Harrington Smith. + +DANIEL DEFOE: _Vindication of the Press_ (1718). Introduction by Otho +Clinton Williams. + +JOHN EVELYN: _An Apologie for the Royal Party_ (1659); _A Panegyric to +Charles the Second_ (1661). Introduction by Geoffrey Keynes. + +CHARLES MACKLIN: _Man of the World_ (1781). Introduction by Dougald +MacMillan. + +_Prefaces to Fiction_. Selected and with an Introduction by Benjamin +Boyce. + +THOMAS SPRAT: _Poems._ + +SIR WILLIAM PETTY: _The Advice of W.P. to Mr. Samuel Hartlib for the +Advancement of some particular Parts of Learning_ (1648). + +THOMAS GRAY: _An Elegy Wrote in a Country Church Yard_ (1751). +(Facsimile of first edition and of portions of Gray's manuscripts of +the poem). + + +To The Augustan Reprint Society +_William Andrews Clark Memorial Library +2205 West Adams Boulevard +Los Angeles 18, California_ + +_Subscriber's Name and Address_ +________________________________ +________________________________ +________________________________ + +_As_ MEMBERSHIP FEE _I enclose for the years marked:_ +The current year.......................... $2.50 [ ] +The current & the 4th year................ 5.00 [ ] +The current, 3rd & 4th year............... 7.50 [ ] +The current, 2nd, 3rd & 4th year.......... 10.00 [ ] +The current, 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th year..... 11.50 [ ] +_(Publications no. 3 & 4 are out of print)_ + +Make check or money order payable to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF +CALIFORNIA. + +NOTE: _All income of the Society is devoted to defraying cost of +printing and mailing._ + + + + +PUBLICATIONS OF THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + + +First Year (1946-1947) + + 1. Richard Blackmore's _Essay upon Wit_ (1716), and Addison's + _Freeholder_ No. 45 (1716). + + 2. Samuel Cobb's _Of Poetry_ and _Discourse on Criticism_ (1707). + + 3. _Letter to A.H. Esq.; concerning the Stage_ (1698), and Richard + Willis' _Occasional Paper No. IX_ (1698). (OUT OF PRINT) + + 4. _Essay on Wit_ (1748), together with Characters by Flecknoe, and + Joseph Warton's _Adventurer_ Nos. 127 and 133. (OUT OF PRINT) + + 5. Samuel Wesley's _Epistle to a Friend Concerning Poetry_ (1700) and + _Essay on Heroic Poetry_ (1693). + + 6. _Representation of the Impiety and Immorality of the Stage_ (1704) + and _Some Thoughts Concerning the Stage_ (1704). + + +Second Year (1947-1948) + + 7. John Gay's _The Present State of Wit_ (1711); and a section on Wit + from _The English Theophrastus_ (1702). + + 8. Rapin's _De Carmine Pastorali_, translated by Creech (1684). + + 9. T. Hanmer's (?) _Some Remarks on the Tragedy of Hamlet_ (1736). + +10. Corbyn Morris' _Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, + etc._ (1744). + +11. Thomas Purney's _Discourse on the Pastoral_ (1717). + +12. Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood + Krutch. + + +Third Year (1948-1949) + +13. Sir John Falstaff (pseud.), _The Theatre_ (1720). + +14. Edward Moore's _The Gamester_ (1753). + +15. John Oldmixon's _Reflections on Dr. Swift's Letter to Barley_ + (1712); and Arthur Mainwaring's _The British Academy_ (1712). + +16. Nevil Payne's _Fatal Jealousy_ (1673). + +17. Nicholas Rowe's _Some Account of the Life of Mr. William + Shakespear_ (1709). + +18. Aaron Hilt's Preface to _The Creation_; and Thomas Brereton's + Preface to _Esther_. + + +Fourth Year (1949-1950) + +19. Susanna Centlivre's _The Busie Body_ (1709). + +20. Lewis Theobald's _Preface to The Works of Shakespeare_ (1734). + +21. _Critical Remarks on Sir Charles Gradison, Clarissa, and Pamela_ + (1754). + +22. Samuel Johnson's _The Vanity of Human Wishes_ (1749) and Two + _Rambler_ papers (1750). + +23. John Dryden's _His Majesties Declaration Defended_ (1681). + +24. Pierre Nicole's _An Essay on True and Apparent Beauty in Which + from Settled Principles is Rendered the Grounds for Choosing and +Rejecting Epigrams_, translated by J.V. Cunningham. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Vindication of the Press, by Daniel Defoe + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14084 *** |