KTİ. Benevolence preferable to genius бg XIV. Economy always the companion of real XV. Beauties of Hall's Satires XVI. Discussion of the merits of Virgil XVII. Obfervations on the manner in which lite- rary reputation is established XVIII. Remarks on the last edition of Shakspere's XIX. Some account of the modern lyric poets 117 XX. The subje&t of the last concluded XXI. On the division of the drama 133 XXII. On that figure of Speech called Utter Ab- XXIII. Discusion of the merits of Virgil con- XXIV. Connection of literature with political XXV. Futility of the notion commonly entertained with regard to the most eminent writers flourisha XXVI. Continuation of the Remarks on the last 190 XXIX. On Farce and Pantomime 193 XXX. ç ON T E N T 8. 220 XXX. Account of Gravina's celebrated treatis. Della Ragion Poetica 205 XXXI. On Truth of Fałt and Truth of Nature, 213 XXXII. Superiority of the modern stage and drama to those of the ancients XXXIII. On the tinsel of Virgil 232 XXXIV, Notices on the English tongue. Prop posal for a reform of it, and of the Greek characters 237 XXXV. Beauties of THE GRAVE, A Poem 276 XXXVI. How far a poet who draws bis subject from antiquity qught to be an antiquary 285 XXXVII. On modern Latin poetry. Praise of the Basia.-Exțracts from Casimir.--Translation of Gray's Alcaic Ode 290 XXXVIII. Conclufion of the remarks on the laft edition of Shakspere 1778 301 XXXIX. The connection of luxury with litera, 316 XL. A succinɛt view of the progress of science' fince the publication of Lord Bacon's work On the Advancement of Learning 324 XLI. On Imitation XLII. Discusion of Mr. Gray's character of Hume.--Cenfure of popular sceptic writers 365 7. XLII, ture 356 CO N T E N T S. XLIII. On the causes and nature of the madness XLV. Estimate of the Latin original writers 387 XLVI. On true and false learning XLVII, On Moral Philosophy and Social Science 494 XLVIII. An apology for such passages in the Gerusalemme Liberata as may lie under the Suspicion of being too figurative XLIX. On the critical errors of Mr. Addison 420 L. With Rousseau's Confessions LI. Inclofing translations of some Apologues from LII. Confideration of the merits of the Gerusa- LETTERS L E T T E R S OF L I T E R A T U R E. L'E T T E R I DEAR SIR, 17 O&t. 17820 OU ask me by what means it comes to pass that a rude poetical production of a barbarous age always affects, and pleases, the heart more than the most finished and artificial effort of a refined composer ? To examine this matter thoroughly might employ much philosophical research. I shall only beg leave to lay before you a few remarks, which may not perhaps have offered themselves to your enquiries. B IN a In the first place, what do you call a barbas rous age, or country? To what period of society may this denomination be properly limited ? The Greeks gave this denomination to the Persians; tho the latter were arrived at more refinement of manners than themselves. We give it to the Chinese: the Chinese with equal propriety to us. BARBARISM, like every other human acci. dent and quality, must be allowed to be merely comparative. If any one said that most of the European kingdoms had not yet emerged from barbarity, nay, that the most polished of them are yet but barbarous, every beau of the æra of George I. would stroke his chin and smile. Yet were an ancient Roman to revisit this globe, and make a tour to Paris, I have no doubt but he would with great justice affirm that the French were very little improved since his own days; that their customs, their dress, their luxuries, were barbarous au dernier point. I say with justice, because, from a comparative view of the Roman manners, every one must allow that they were, in the days of their glory, as much superior to the French in luxury, which is |