sight was imperfect, and his sensibility to the beauties of nature obtuse. It was in intellectual distinctions that he was pre-eminently strong and ready.

But it was in later life that these powers grew and improved upon him, as he was thrown more into society, and was stimulated by the collisions of conversation. He had, when unexcited, a morbid indolence and stagnant gloom.

66

In answer to these censures of Johnson's Lives," I am aware that many will be ready to object that nothing is more fulsome than exaggerated praise and high-flown admiration. But why go from one extreme to another? I do not oppose severe criticism where it is just; but I oppose uncandid severity grounded on false principles. Why withhold praise where it is deserved? Even some small over-measure is an error on the generous side. The world are enough inclined to decry :-intellectual eminence wants some cheers and some shield. There is a favourite couplet of Pope on every one's lips:

A wit's a feather, and a chief a rod,

An honest man's the noblest work of God!

It is one of those unmeaning flourishes thrown out ad captandam vulgus. An honest man, unless he be intellectual, is not only not the noblest, but not even a noble work of God. And why should a wit or a chief be less honest than a meanerminded or meaner-conditioned man?

CHAPTER VII.

Author's pursuit of French and Italian bibliography-New ideas from a fixed residence on the Continent-English herd too much with each other abroad-Pride of the English-This offends other nations-Mere change of scenery soon loses its effect-Outward differences soon disappear from notice-National characteristicsAn independent mind fitted for all countries-Distinction between love of country and bigotry-Inconveniences of a distance from England-Removal from English literature-Present time abused, but not unfavourable to literature-Forgetfulness of friends-Difficulty of detaching one's affections from one's native spot-Hasty travellers-Mont-Blanc and Vesuvius-The value of power of thinking-Powers enlarge as the field of observation enlarges-Author's "Recollections of Foreign Travel "-His poem of "The Lake of Geneva "-Occupations at Paris-" Stemmata Illustria "—" Anglo-Genevan Journal "-Idleness intolerable to the author-His health and dangerous illnesses—His walks-His seclusion-Regrets at misapplication of time-Self-knowledge-Submission to blights -Qualities calculated for success-Ridicule-No one can please all-Johnson's detracting spirit-Gray-Anecdote of Gray and Johnson-Geniuses need not jostle each other-Unequal distributions of Providence-Genius ought to come forth-The author fell on unpropitious times- Native powers have a decisive bent -Some deny talents where there is a want of practical prudenceCraft and disguise reprobated—Wickedness not finally successfulTalents not calculated for show-Author's irritability and frankness -A man of business-We cannot command among whom our lot shall fall-There is wickedness and fraud from which no prudence can escape-Author's ill-luck in this respect-The detail of private affairs must not be indulged-Necessity of firmness-Success, a proof of merit with the world.

At one time I amused myself with French literature, and at another with Italian, and made my

self tolerably acquainted with the bibliography of each country, as I had formerly done of Englishbut I have given over all those things now; and, as my memory is very fugitive, I remember but little about them. Innumerable trains of new ideas have of course passed my mind during the twelve or thirteen years I have lived upon the Continent. It will be strange indeed if it has produced no enlargement of mind and novelty of observation. Habits and manners to which one was wedded, have given way; and local prejudices, which darken the opinions, have been entirely obliterated.

It is the fault of the English, however, when they come abroad, still to live too much with one another. As islanders, it is long before we entirely abandon our strong peculiarities, and our conceit of the exclusive superiority of all our own modes and customs and ideas. The English are only esteemed proud by other nations, but really are

so. The consequence is, that though they are feared, they are little loved by them. At first the mere change of scenery pleases the English traveller; but when the freshness goes off he tires, till a second habit, if he stays long enough, reconciles him.

These little differences of appearance and etiquette which strike at first, soon cease to attract notice; and I have been accustomed to see individuals of so many nations congregated, that they

no longer excite my attention. There are, no doubt, moral and natural characteristics, mental and bodily, which belong to every country. For instance, the Italians have certainly more poetical imagination than the French; and the French more esprit than the Italians. They have moral differences equally marked. The Swiss are distinct from both, and have less imagination or sentiment than either. They have more sang froid, and perhaps more laboriousness. They love the sciences rather than the belles-lettres, and are accurate in matters of fact. I believe the Cantons differ from one another. The upper Cantons are, indeed, half German. The Genevans are a mixed race of French, Germans, Italians, &c., and even some small infusion of English, Scotch, and Irish ; but notwithstanding the settlement of the English refugees, when they fled from the restoration of poperý by Queen Mary, I find no English name here; nor any family confessedly descended from a male English stock.

A man of an independent mind, who frees himself from little passions, and has a competence to support him, can live in any country where the climate is good; and, in flying from one's native soil, one flies from many pangs of torn affections and broken friendships. The thoughts thus expatiate like the wings of a caged bird when turned into the free air. In one sense it is good to be a citizen of the world, though not to have lost all

patriotism.

Between love of country and bigotry to it, there is a clear interval. For instance, the laws of England have not the superiority we attribute to them. If in a great part the principle is good, the machinery is complex and corrupt, and the expense not only destructive of the ends of justice but ruinous. The judges are able, skilful, and honest; but the lower classes of practitioners the very worst and most heartless members of society. The acuteness and manliness of the Bar is excellent, and calculated to keep the Bench in order, were they willing to stray.

With regard to political opinions and political constitutions, all the chief countries of Europe are now in such communication, that on these topics intelligent minds are every where approaching to each other. No one defends despotism in the abstract; and every one advocates liberty in the abstract, though he may differ from another about the means. But it would be quite impossible to enter here into the wide ocean of general politics.

One of the evils to me of a distance from England has been the inconvenient removal from its literature of the day, in which I always took an intense interest. I cannot immediately get at modern publications; and not at all, but at an enormous

expense.

It is man's nature always to complain of the present time; but I do not believe that more