hope, think that I have spent too many words in pointing out and unfolding the mafterly use, which the LEARNED CRITIC has made of it.

I had thoughts of giving a body of Canons, drawn out in form, for the benefit of young ftudents in this elegant branch of literature, and of illuftrating them by examples, felected from the writings of the LEARNED CRITIC. But having already fo long engaged your attention, I fufpect that you will not be forry to hail the accuftomèd

Adieu.

LETTER VIII.

I

MY DEAR P.

THOUGHT that I had taken leave, in due form, of the LEARNED CRITIC and the French Annotator; but our friend S. who is, you know, one of the moft zealous amongft the numerous admirers of the former, on perufing what I had written, (which he has the courtesy to fay he always wifhes to do), declares, that I have been guilty of great injuftice towards his favorite author, in fuppofing, as I certainly have done, that he had

feen the annotations of F. Catrou, when he wrote his admired critique. This our friend takes upon him abfolutely to deny, in the most peremptory terms, on proof, as he alleges, incontrovertible.

The LEARNED CRITIC had fuch a rich vein of original thought, and poffeffed within himself fuch inexhauftible ftores, as never to be under the neceffity, or even temptation, of wandering, in search of matter, beyond the confines of his own mind. If, in the course of his extenfive reading, he might now and then catch a fentiment or reflexion, falling in perchance with the fubject on which he was at any time treating, it is impoffible, our friend fays, that one of his known candor, and ingenuous openness of temper-his ' delicacy of honor, in not affuming to himself, or depreffing the merits of others—a point, in which, after the example fet forth fo confpicuoufly, by his revered Friend and Patron, he was always parti

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cularly

cularly nice of his high fenfe of literary: dignity, which he never failed, on a proper occafion, to affert, with equal ability as zeal-it is impoffible that, with this temper, and these feelings, he fhould fupprefs the name of an author, to whom, if he really had feen his works, it cannot be denied, that he was under more than common obligation.

Now it is notorious that the LEARNED. CRITIC no where acknowledges any fuch obligation, which, in the cafe fuppofed, our friend fays pofitively, he would certainly have made a point of doing, not without adding, in his elegant manner, fome expreffion of compliment and respect for an author, whose thoughts were fo congenial with his own. So far from making any conceffion to this effect, he very plainly infinuates, you will obferve, by frequent intimations, the purport of which cannot be misunderstood, that the whole doctrine of the ALLEGORY, as well

as the development of the Poet's wonderful art and management, was entirely, new; what no other critic had ever thought of before; or, as he generally represents thofe, who preceded him in the fame track, had the difcernment to apprehend, the judgment to approve, or the tafte to feel and to admire.

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What adds great weight to this · opinion, it appears beyond all question that the great man, who fo warmly applauded this extraordinary performance on its first appearance, had not the moft diftant notion, that there had ever been any former critic or commentator, who could difpute the honor with his refpected friend.

I do not feem at prefent to have any thing in my mind which may be urged, as fatisfactory, in reply to thofe arguments; nor do I much regret the want. I am more difpofed to concur with our ingenious friend in his liberal fentiments,

than