Inque ACADEMIA umbriferâ nitidoque LYCEO Fuderunt claras foecundi pectoris artes. SUCH was the addrefs, or fancy at leaft, of the wife ANTIENTS. THE MODERNs, on the contrary, have appeared to reverence themfelves or their caufe, too much, to think that either stood in need of this oblique management. No writer has the leaft doubt of being favourably received in all companies, let him come upon us in what fhape he will: And, not to ftand upon ceremony, when he brings fo welcome a prefent, as what he calls Truth, with him, he obtrudes it upon us in the direct way of Differtation. No body, I fuppofe, objects to this practice, when important truths indeed are to be taught, and when the abilities of the Teacher are fuch as may command refpect. But the cafe is different, when writers prefume to try their hands upon us, without these advantages. Nay, and even with them, it can do no hurt, when the fubject is proper for familiar difcourfe, to throw it into this gracious and popular form. I HAVE faid, where the fubject is proper for familiar difcourfe; for all fubjects, I think, cannot, or fhould not, be treated in this way. IT is true, the inquifitive genius of the Academic Philofophy gave great great scope to the freedom of debate. Hence the origin of the Greek Dialogue of which if PLATO was not the Inventor, he was, at least, the Model. : THIS fceptical humour was prefently much increased; and every thing was now difputed, not for PLATO's reafon (which was, also, his master's) for the fake of expofing Falfhood and difcovering Truth; but, because it was pretended that nothing could be certainly affirmed to be either true or falfe. And, when afterwards CICERO, our other great master of Dialogue, introduced this fort of writing into Rome, we know that, befides his profeffion a 4 profeffion of the Academic Sect, now extended and indeed outraged into abfolute fcepticism, the very purpose he had in philofophizing, and the rhetorical ufes to which he put his Philofophy, would determine him very naturally to the fame practice. THUS all fubjects, of what nature and importance foever, were equally difcuffed in the antient Dialogue; till matters were at length brought to that pafs, that the only end, propofed by it, was to fhew the writer's dexterity in difputing for, or against any opinion, without referring his disputation to any certain ufe or conclufion at all. SUCH SUCH was the character of the antient, and especially of the Ciceronian Dialogue; arifing out of the genius and principles of those times. BUT for us to follow our masters in this licence would be, indeed, to deferve the objected charge of fervile Imitators; fince the reasons, that led them into it, do not subsist in our cafe. They disputed every thing, because they believed nothing. We should forbear to dif pute fome things, because they are fuch as, both for their facredness, and certainty, no man in his fenfes affects to disbelieve. At least, the ftoic BALBUS may teach us a decent reserve in one inftance, Since, as he obferves, it is a wicked and impious |