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It is fomewhat difficult to fettle the exact limits betwixt genius and tafte: that genius cannot exist without taste, that is, without a relish for its peculiar exercifes, cannot be called in queftion *; but whether we can completely difcern the excellencies of an author, without poffeffing an equal portion of his genius, is perhaps a matter of doubt. There is however a pleasure which attends the invention or fabrication of a work, diftin&t from an after furvey of its beauties; and the first of thefe, one would think, is peculiar to the author alone; the laft, in common with his readers. It may indeed be replied, that we cannot be faid completely to enter into the views of an author, if we cannot follow him in all his progrefs; if we do not go back with him in his effort, view along with him the materials as they lie rudely fcattered through nature, and arrange them with him into that goodly fabric which we mutually furvey with fo much delight. But whether we can follow him in this progrefs, and enter fully into his conceptions, without that force, that grafp, and that activity of mind which the author poffeffes, is not fo evident; certain it is that we cannot do juftice to any work of merit, without completely comprehending it; and that we can be faid completely to comprehend it, without viewing it in every refpect, as the author has done, I do not fee; and this operation we know cannot be performed without the fame powers of mind, and the fame fenfibilities of enjoyment.

As a very conclufive proof of what has been mentioned above, it may be obferved, that the number of eminent critics has been as few, perhaps fewer, than the number of eminent poets: the reafon is obvious; to that fenfibility and ardour which is requifite to catch the flame of high genius, there must be fuperadded dif

*We fufpect the author here may be in a mistake. tal power, which we thould imagine conftitutes the certainly exift, where that peculiar modification of it found.

Great compafs of meneflence of genius, may called tafle is no: to be

Edit.

cernment of judgement, and coolhefs of attention; and thefe qualities are not to be often expected united among mankind. An accomplished critic is then a higher, and more refpectable character than that of a poet; he must have the imagination of the poet, and that judgement which diftinguishes himself.

Completely to relish the beauties of poetry, is then the lot of a few; but to view them at a distance, to have a glimmering profpect, is diffufed through a multitude; and those who have this incomplete knowledge, are generally of that clafs denominated people of tafte; though incapable of difcerning what is high in invention, or all that is beautiful in execution, they fee enough to please, part they can entirely comprehend, part faintly and dimly; and for what is beyond their reach, they are compenfated with the pleasure of being fuppofed capable of following the opinion of the few who can decide with precifion, on thefe high subjects.

Thefe obfervations cannot apply to ftatuary and pain-. ting, as a great fhare of merit in thefe arts, depends upon mechanical operation..

Towards the latter part of this effay, the ingenious writer feems not to have been fufficiently guarded in the ufe of his terms other fubjects than thofe oftafte, may be the objects of criticism; and in judging of these, or in other words, properly criticiúing them, thofe faculties that have been fuppofed to conftitute a fine tafte, feem as little required in the critic, as in the writer whose works he examines. Edit.

SIR,

To the Editor of the Bee.

AMIDST the multiplicity of applications fimilar to the prefent, fhould you think the following worthy a place in your mifcellany, an infertion of it will oblige a reader. Having fometime ago projected a history of the lives of the ministers of state, from the revolution to the prefent time, I find that my progress has been but fmall, as I am too frequently attracted by other and indifpenfible

avocations. If what is annexed, is held to merit public attention, I may be induced to methodise my materials, and send you the work complete. At prefent I tranfmit you the abridged characters of a few eminent statefmen, as a fpecimen of my manner and stile. T. R.

I am, Sir, Your Servant,

Sir Robert Walpole.

SIR ROBERT WALPOLE had a great fluency and readiness of language, though deftitute of nervofity or elegance. He poffeffed a certain eafinefs of foul and callousness of sentiment, which made him proof against all attacks, and raifed him fuperior to every embarraffe ment. By an unwearied attention to figures and calculation, he had acquired a little knowledge in the fubject of finance. The maxim which he uniformly purfued, and fhamefully avowed, was, that every man had his price. He ridiculed the very ideas of patriotifm and public fpirit, thought felf intereft the wifeft principle by which a man could be actuated, and bribery, the most elevated and comprehenfive fyftem that ever entered into the human mind.

Lord Carteret.

THIS statesman was poffeffed of the fineft abilities, the moft elegant tafte, the moft fplendid eloquence; all the treafures of polite literature were his own, and he perfectly understood the interefts and the politics of every court in Europe. Had his integrity kept pace with his talents, he was formed to be the brightest ornament of the court in which he lived. His patronage might have given new vigour to the republic of letters, and his political fkill, new luftre to the annals of Britain.

T. R.

The Bee.

A Bee, the bufieft thing alive,
The most induftrious of the hive,
Had toil'd for many hours;
Had rifled gardens, lawns, and fields,
Or what the fpicy fhrub'ry yields,
Of balmy herbs and flow'rs.

Each hill and dale well knew his fong;
To him their honied stores belong;
Then why new fcenes explore?
Ambitious of a nobler prize,
He through my Anna's window flies,
To crown his plunder'd ftore.

There, buzzing round her beauteous lips,
Which did the blooming rofe eclipfe,

Their tempting fweets to spoil;
Eager he whirls round the fair,
'Till 'tangled in her lovely hair,
He's feized amid the toil.

Ye fwains, take warning from the Bee,
Flee the enticing fnare, ah! flee;
By him and me be taught:
Avoid thofe dear bewitching charms,
Nor hope to gain her to your arms,
Or, like us, you'll be caught.

Edinburgh,
January 19. 1791. S

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FESSA annis, morboque gravi, mitiffima felis
Infernos tandem cogor adiere lacus :
Et mihi fubridens, Proferpina dixit, "Habeto
Elyfios foles, Elyfumque nemus.”

Sed, bene fi merui, faciles regina filentum

Da mihi faltem una nocte redire Domum : Nocte redire domum, dominoque hæc dicere in aurem, “Te tua fida etiam trans Styga felis amat."

Imitated, and applied to a Lady.

Epitaph on a Cat.

DEATH, that fell tyrant, to one end who brings
Cats, dogs, and lords, and minifters, and kings,
Has feized my cat; with age and pains oppreft,
She mewed, the licked my face and funk to reft.
Farewell, thou mildeft of the taby race,
Ah! ne'er fhall fuch a puffy fill thy place.

11

Stern Pluto's queen received my favourite Pufs
With fmiles benignant, and addreffed her thus:

"In bleft Elyfium's bow'rs of deathlefs green,
"Where never mastiff foe to cat was feen;
"With endlefs joys, Squalina, thou shalt dwell,
"For thou on earth did'ft fill thy ftation well;
"Did'ft well perform great Jove's allotted task;
"From Cats, from Men, 'tis all that heaven can ask !"

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