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I beg leave to detain him a few minutes, whilft I make an apology for this undertaking against an obvious objection.

Many are the books already extant upon the subject; Fabricius bas reckoned up fome hundreds, and doubtless feveral treatifes might be added which have escaped even his diligence. What occafion is there for any more, in a country which has produced fo many excellent writers in the cause, and where learned perfons are continually appointed to difcourfe profeffedly upon it?

As to the number of treatifes, it may be replied, that fome of them are grown very scarce, and others are fallen into oblivion, for which reafon an Author may be permitted

to

to step in and take a place made vacant by one who is now gone to reft. And though it be prefumption to think of equalling the great men who have laboured before us, and whofe reputation is established, yet fince there are many who had rather perufe a new book than a good book, their humour should not be totally difregarded.

The fame truths may be placed in various views; and amongst men whofe tafte and fancy differ fo widely, an argument shall feem perfuafive, and a remark pertinent to one, which by another is flighted and rejected. It seems therefore convenient that

a Nunc placida compoftus pace quiefcit.

» Τὴν γὰρ ἀοιδὴν μᾶλλον ἐπικλείεσ ̓ ἄνθρωποι,
"Ητις ἀκόνεωςι νεωτάτη ἀμφιπέληται.

Homer. Odyff. A. 351.

Several

feveral perfons fhould try their skill, and propofe their thoughts upon a matter of fuch importance, fince every one may reasonably hope to gain over, or confirm, or Secure Some reader of a correfponding turn of mind. Even the weakest contriver of a foolish and forlorn fyftem must be very unlucky, if he finds not a few approvers and followers: be poffeffes at least a quality fomewhat like electricity, which attracts chaff and fraws; and what the old Greek Poet obferved in his days is as true

now;

Ὡς ἀιεῖ τὸν ὁμοῖον ἄγει Θεὸς ὡς τὸν ὁμοῖον.

Some overruling Pow'r

Ever delights to couple like to like,

The understandings of men are as the chords of mufical inftruments:

when

when a fring founds, the frings which are unifons to it, if within proper diftance, will vibrate.

None then ought to be difcouraged, though his abilities be no more than common, from appearing in defence of truths in which all are interested. Invention, Wit, Sagacity, Eloquence, when they offer their fervice on this occafion, merit a kind reception. Behind thefe follows modeft and flowpaced Induftry, willing to take the lowest place, and yet sometimes more useful than fome of the former, and verifying the proverb, Claudus viator omnia refert certiora, A lame traveller brings the best intelligence.

If, amidst fome imperfections, an argument, which is not new, be fet in a new light, if an objection be removed,

removed, if a fentiment be so expreffed as to leave a good effect upon the mind, if an ingenious, or ufeful, or remarkable passage, not commonly known, be produced from an ancient Writer, if fomewhat be fuggefted worthy of confideration, and the Reader be put upon thinking, and the Author perform the humble office of an Index which points out the roads to the passenger, the work ought not to be treated with contempt.

Shall I add yet farther, that fuch perfons deferve fomething beyond a bare permiffion to utter their thoughts? When the intention feems upright, and the end proposed is to make men better and wifer, what is not ill executed should be received with approbation, with good words and

good

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