1

CONTENTS.

No.

Page

20. Reflections on the Character and Conduct of

Julius Cæsar. His Clemency opposed to the cruel

behaviour of Sylla and Augustus.-Mercy rarely re-

commended as a virtue by the Ancients,—but the off-

spring of Christianity.

.....

21. Letter from a Correspondent, containing Re-

fections on a Line of Virgil,-on a Parish Register,

—on the desire of posthumous fame,—and an Eulogy

on Mr. Powel, the fire- eater.

.....

22. Letter from H. Homespun,—containing a com-

plaint against prejudices ill-founded and injurious to

any body of men,—particularly those which are directed

against Taylors and Weavers.-—Analogy between the

Art of Weaving and the Art of Poetry.-Proposals

for drawing all Metaphors of the Loom from our home

Manufactures.-Mr. Griffin's opinion on the letter of

his Correspondent,—and his enforcement of Mr. Home-

spun's advice

......

23. On Government.-The Patriarchal.-The Mo-

narchial-The States of Greece.The Modification of

No.

-

Page:

the Roman Government considered. Remark on some

lines of Virgil.-Folly of too much refinement in tracing

the origin of particular forms of Government.-The

Feudal System. The progress and confirmation of the

English Constitution....

......

24. On Imitation.—Vicious excess of it in Alexander

and Pyrrhus.-Observations on the form of Govern-
ment prevailing in the Republic of Eton.-Character
of Acanthio, an eccentric Genius,—and of Soricius, his
uwkward imitator.

24

34

25. On proverbial expressions, and commonly re-

ceived opinions.-The progress of national refinement

considered as analogous to the improvement of personal

taste.-Ideas of the existence of Countries unknown.-

Milton's opinion that he was born too late to succeed as

a poet, and the prevalent idea amongst our ancestors;

that the climate was too cold for perfection,―considered 40

26. On Novel-Writing.-Parallel between the Novel

and the Romance.-Superiority of the former in the choice

of names and titles, and in painting the scenes of Low-

Life-Strictures on the character of Tom Jones.-

Parallel between it and Sir Charles Grandison.-

Promise of recommending a species of reading to Novel-

readers, preferable to their present studies.....

27. On Genius.-Reflections on the persecution of

illustrious merit,-
-as in Poets, Statesmen, Generals, &c.

Some causes assigned as the probable foundation of
Such a conduct.-Coriolanus,-Cato,-Cicero, Socrates,
-Galileo-The cause why the Great should depress
poetical merit, almost inexplicable.-Reasons why

47

No.

Page.

painters meet with encouragement so superior.-This

depression not to be considered as damping the ardor of

Genius......

55

28. On Translation.-The practice of it recom-

mended, though not always very successfully attempted.

Paterculus and Clarendon, Pliny and Melmoth.-

Detection of a blunder in the translation of a passage

in the Bible, adapted to the recommendation of psalmody 63

29. Letter from Vir Bonus, containing a description

of his figure, dress, and equipage,—and his unlucky ad-

ventures, as a Quiz.-Enumeration of some of the Quiz-

zes of antiquity

30. On Mr. Newbery's Little Books,-recommended

in preference to Novels.-Various opinions of Mr.

Griffin's Correspondents, concerning his intended recom-

mendation. Parallel between the character of Tom

Thumb and that of Ulysses.

31. The Persecution of Authors, a Dream

32. On the Difficulty of choosing an object of pursuit,

and the folly of pursuing more objects than one.-The

unpleasantness of indecision,and the operation of Chance,

Letter from a Correspondent, containing the rules pre-

scribed to him for his conduct in life..

...

33. On Education, on the diversity of abilities, and

the requisiteness of diversity in the methods of culti-

vation

31. Letter from Nobody...

35. On the unpleasant sensations which arise from

the contemplation of the failings incidental to great

69

76

84

89

96

102

No.

Page.

characters. Visit from a literary Projector,—with a

specimen of a plan for a new rhiming dictionary..... 108

36. Letter from an Etonian, containing a vindication,

-and character of Addison's style-Letter from Lepos

Пoλupayos, recommending a mixture of moral reflec-

tions with the common occupations of life........... 114

37. On the Affectation of Philosophy.-The folly

of pretending to despise what the greatest part of man-

kind desires.-The folly of a life of total seclusion from

the world. The example of Scipio recommended.—

Regret of Cowley after retirement.-The hypocrisy of

affected philosophy.—A saying of Phryne,the courtezan 124

38. On the Power of Custom.-Billet from Misoe-

thus.-Account of Mr. Griffin's declining health..... 130 ·

39. Gregory Griffin gives some account of his life.-

Reflections on cruelty to animals.—Mr. Griffin's weak

condition. Intentions of his Editor to publish anec-

dotes of his life. Specimens of them.-Remarkable si-

milarity between the specimens, and some anecdotes

promulgated by the Biographer of a very great man.—

Observations on the office of Biographers, equally ap-

plicable to both......

40. Gregory Griffin's Death,—and Last Will and

Testament..

....

137

145

NOTES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Antisuperbus.-A Barrister

Semicolon:-Quintus

39

123

THE

MICROCOSM.

No. 20. MONDAY, MARCH 26, 1787.

Fratrem facere ex hostibus.-PLAUT,

To make a Brother of a Foe.

HAVING

AVING occasion lately to refer to a chronological epitome, I accidentally cast my eyes on the name of Julius Cæsar; and it was not without some emotion, that I read the following account of so extraordinary a character :

Julius Cæsar, Emperor of Rome, born July 10, 100, invaded Britain, landing at Deal, August 26th, 55, killed in the Senate-house, March 15, 44, A. C. after having fought fifty battles, slain above 1,192,000 men, and taken by assault 1000 towns.

Whether the compiler of this work has thus briefly given this list of destruction, without mentioning its cames, with a VOL. II.

B