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malicious, to dazzle and astonish the less informed, or, in other words, the greater portion of their readers. They have employed by turns the florid, the prurient, and the obscure style, each of which is calculated to impose upon a pretty numerous class. The first, we are told, in MARTINUS SCRIBLERUS, is gaudy, like the lowest vegetables which abound at the bottom of ponds and ditches. The second is greatly honoured by persons of quality, (of which a good specimen is given in the article on the Madonna at Dresden;) and the third, obscurity, "bestows a cast of the "wonderful, and throws an oracular dig"nity upon a piece which has no meaning." But in this predicament will be found, by the aid of a slight analysis, the whole of the glary dashing articles of this publication. In these compositions the design seems to be, like that recommended in the art of sinking in poetry, to form a labyrinth out of which nobody can get clear but the authors themselves. Another great aim is, "to glare by strong op"position of colours, and surprize by contrariety of images." " Choice and distinction "are disregarded, not only because they curb

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"the spirit, and limit the descriptive faculty, "but also because they lessen the book, which

"is often the worst consequence of all to writers "FOR BREAD."

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The whole of their compositions, indeed, have much the air of prose run mad

"All noise and empty pomp, a storm of words, Lab'ring with sound that little sense affords."

And, but for one circumstance to be noticed hereafter, might at once be set down to any minor poet, whose intellects have become deranged in a wild attempt to seize upon one of the higher niches in the Temple of Fame. Something like this seems almost to be acknowleged by one of themselves: "Woe to

him," he exclaims, "in whom the love of fame "precedes genius, or bears an undue propor"tion to its power. His Sun, light, Guardian, "Guide is gone. He is a slave driven by blind "and erring forces. The love of fame has become an anxious, uneasy, fearful, and pain"ful passion ;-and SELF-ADMIRATION, growing up a monster in the heart, oppresses, disturbs,

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"or overpowers genius." This may have been stated from experience, or, though really operating in this manner in themselves, may only have been observed by them in others; for a true Poet has observed, that,

"Where men of judgment creep and feel their way,
"The positive pronounce without dismay;
"Their want of light and intellect supplied,

"By sparks absurdity strikes out of pride.

"Without the means of knowing right from wrong,

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They always are decisive, clear, and strong.

"Where others toil with philosophic force,
"Their nimble nonsense takes a shorter course;
Flings at your head conviction in the lump,
"And gains remote conclusions at a jump.
"Their own defects, invisible to them,
"Seen in another, they at once condemn ;

"And tho' self idoliz'd in every case,

"Hate their own likeness in a brother's face."

We do not, therefore, pay our Editors any compliment, when, upon their own theory, we would ascribe their presumption, and their abuse of all men greater than themselves, to the disappointed and frenzied ambition of a mad poet. But, as we hinted before, this theory does not explain the whole. There is too

frequently exhibited in this Magazine a deep and settled malignity, which is hardly reconcileable with a poetical temperament. There is a method in this madness, that is quite in. consistent with the ravings of a poet. We must therefore hold, that the cool hostility so often evinced to the whole human race,-in attacks upon the lame, the diseased, and unfortunate, the innocuous and unoffending,--proceeds from a baser and more deeply rooted misanthropy than could arise from disappointed ambition.

The miserable author of the worst articles must have been pinched in his cradle until the milk of human kindness was turned into gall and wormwood; he must have been so maltreated in his youth, as to be unable afterwards to cherish any feeling but that of hatred to his species; and that hatred must have been nourished in manhood, until it acquired such a strength of passion, as to bestow upon his demoniacal compositions their present semblance of genius. We cannot, at least, account for the malevolent phenomena upon any other hypothesis.

"Even Satan's self with him might dread to dwell, "And in his skull discern a deeper hell."

We have said already, that these Editors have set up the most arrogant pretensions to learning, taste, and genius; but in what manner have these been supported by their conduct? Have they made any discoveries in science, or contributed any thing worthy of being named to the advancement of letters? Have they promulgated or illustrated any one truth useful to society? Have they either unfolded or strengthened any sound principles in politics, in general morals, or even in taste? Have they done any thing,

* In their politics they seem to have followed the advice given by Martinus Scriblerus: " All great ministers, with"out either private or economical virtues, are virtuous by "their posts, liberal and generous upon the public money; σε provident upon the public supplies,-just, by paying pub"lic interest; courageous and magnanimous by the fleets and ૮ armies; magnificent upon the public expense, and PRUDENT

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BY PUBLIC SUCCESS. The reverse of these precepts will

serve for satire, wherein we are ever to remark, that "whoso loses place, or cannot find it, or becomes out of "favour with the government, hath forfeited his share in pub"lic praise and honour. Therefore, the truly public spirit"ed writer ought in duty to strip him whom the govern "ment hath stripped."

Those who desire a specimen of their general talents, may peruse an "Essay on Truth," in their 14th Number.

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