to be nimble and ftrong enough for hunting down large game. For it hath been obferved, both among ancients and moderns, that a true critic hath one quality in common with a whore and an alderman, never to change his title or his nature; that a grey critic has been certainly a green one, the perfections and acquirements of his age being only the improved talents of his youth; like hemp, which fome naturalifts inform us is bad for fuffocations, though taken but in the feed. I efteem the invention, or at leaft the refinement of prologues, to have been owing to these younger proficients, of whom Terence makes frequent and honourable mention, under the name of malevoli.

Now, it is certain the inftitution of the true critics, was of abfolute neceffity to the commonwealth of learning. For all human actions feem to be divided, like Themistocles and his company: One man can fiddle, and another can make a fmall town a great city; and he that cannot do either one or the other, deferves to be kicked out of the creation. The avoiding of which penalty, has doubtlefs given the first birth to the nation of critics; and withal, an occafion for their fecret detractors to report, that a true critic is a fort of mechanic, fet up with a ftock and tools for his trade at as little expence as a taylor; and that there is much analogy between the utenfils and abilities of both: That the taylor's hell is the type of a critic's common-place-book, and his wit and learn

ing

ing held forth by the goofe; that it requires at least as many of these to the making up of one fcholar, as of the others to the compofition of a man; that the valour of both is equal, and their weapons near of a fize. Much may be faid in anfwer to those invidious reflections: And I can pofitively affirm the firft to be a falfehood: For, on the contrary, nothing is more certain, than that it requires greater layings out to be free of the critic's company, than of any other you can name. For, as to be a true beggar, it will cost the richest candidate every groat he is worth; so, before one can commence a true critic, it will cost a man all the good qualities of his mind; which perhaps for a lefs purchase would be thought but an indifferent bargain.

Having thus amply proved the antiquity of criticism, and described the primitive state of it; I fhall now examine the present condition of this empire, and fhew how well it agrees with its ancient felf. A certain author, whofe works have many ages fince been entirely loft, does, in his fifth book, and eighth chapter, say of critics, that their writings are the mirrors of learning *. This I understand in a literal fenfe; and fuppofe our author muft mean, that whoever defigns to be a perfect writer, muft infpect into the books of critics, and correct his invention there, as in a mirror. Now, whoever confiders, that the mirrors

of

* A quotation after the manner of a great author. Vide Bentley's differtation, c.

of the ancients were made of brass, and fine mercurio, may presently apply the two principal qualifications of a true modern critic; and confequently muft needs conclude, that these have always been, and must be for ever the fame. For brafs is an emblem of duration, and, when it is skilfully burnished, will caft reflections from its own fuperficies, without any affistance of mercury from behind. All the other talents of a critic will not require a particular mention, being included, or eafily reducible to these. However, I fhall conclude with three maxims, which may ferve both as characteristics to distinguish a true modern critic from a pretender, and will be alfo of admirable use to thofe worthy fpirits who engage in fo useful and honourable an art.

The firft is, That criticism, contrary to all other faculties of the intellect, is ever held the truest and best, when it is the very first result of the critic's mind: as fowlers reckon the first aim for the fureft, and feldom fail of miffing the mark, if they stay for a fecond.

Secondly, The true critics are known by their talent of fwarming about the nobleft writers, to which they are carried merely by instinct, as a rat to the best cheese, or a wasp to the fairest fruit. So when the king is on horfeback, he is fure to be the dirtieft person of the company; and they that make their court beft, are fuch as befpatter him moft.

Laftly, A true critic in the perufal of a book, is

like a dog at a feaft, whose thoughts and ftomach are wholly fet upon what the guests fling away; and confequently is apt to fnarl most when there are the fewest bones.

Thus much, I think, is fufficient to ferve by way of addrefs to my patrons, the true modern critics; and may very well atone for my past silence, as well as that which I am like to obferve for the future. I hope I have deferved fo well of their whole body, as to meet with generous and tender ufage from their hands. Supported by which expectation, I go on boldly to pursue thofe adventures already fo happily begun.

SECT. IV.

A TALE

O F A TUB.

I

HAVE now with much pains and ftudy con

ducted the reader to a period, where he must expect to hear of great revolutions. For no fooner had our learned brother, fo often mentioned, got a warm houfe of his own over his head, than he began to look big, and take mightily upon him; infomuch that, unless the gentle reader, out of his great candour, will please a little to exalt his idea, I am afraid he will henceforth hardly know the hero of the play, when he happens to

meet

meet him; his part, his dress, and his mien being fo much altered.

He told his brothers, he would have them to know that he was their elder, and confequently his father's fole heir; nay, a while after he would not allow them to call him brother, but MR PETER; and then he must be ftyled FATHER PETER, and fometimes MY LORD PETER. To fupport this grandeur, which he foon began to confider could not be maintained without a better fonde than what he was born to; after much thought, he cast about at last to turn projector and virtuofo; wherein he fo well fucceeded, that many famous discoveries, projects, and machines, which bear great vogue and practice at present in the world, are owing entirely to LORD PETER's invention. I will deduce the best account I have been able to collect, of the chief amongst them; without confidering much the order they came out in; because, I think, authors are not well agreed as to that point.

I hope, when this treatife of mine fhall be tranflated into foreign languages, (as I may without vanity affirm, that the labour of collecting, the faithfulness in recounting, and the great ufefulness of the matter to the public, will amply deferve that juftice), that the worthy members of the feveral academies abroad, efpecially those of France and Italy, will favourably accept these humble offers for the advancement of univerfal knowledge. I do also advertise the most reve

rend