I marked with particular attention the feveral offer. ings of the most eminent English writers. Chaucer gave up his obfcenity, and then delivered his works to Dryden, to clear them from the rubbish that incumbered them. Dryden executed his task with great addrefs, "and," as Addison fays of Virgil in his Georgics, "toffed about his dung with an air of gracefulness:" he not only repaired the injuries of time, but threw in a thousand new graces. He then advanced towards the altar himfelf, and delivered up a large packet, which contained many plays, and fome poems. The packet had a label affixed to it, which bore this infcription, "To Poverty." Shakespeare carried to the altar a long firing of puns, marked "The Taste of the Age," a fmall parcel of bombaft, and a pretty large bundle of incorrectness. Notwithstanding the ingenious air with which he made this offering, fome officiates at the altar accused him of concealing certain pieces, and mentioned the London Prodigal, Sir Thomas Cromwell, The Yorkfhire Tragedy, &c. The poet replied," that as those "pieces were unworthy to be preserved, he should fee "them confumed to ashes with great pleasure: but "that he was wholly innocent of their original." The two chief priests interpofed in this difpute, and difmiffed the poet with many compliments; Longinus obferving, that the pieces in queftion could not poffibly be his, for that the failings of Shakespeare were like those of Homer, "whofe genius, whenever it fubfided, might be compared to the ebbing of the 66 ocean, which left a mark upon its fhores, to fhew to "what a height it was fometimes carried." Aristotle concurred in this opinion, and added, "that although "Shake "Shakespeare was quite ignorant of that exact econo 66 my of the ftage, which is fo remarkable in the "Greek writers, yet the mere ftrengh of his genius "had in many points carried him infinitely beyond "them." Milton gave up a few errors in his Paradife Loft, and the facrifice was attended with great decency by Addifon. Otway and Rowe threw their comedies upon the altar, and Beaumont and Flecher the two laft acts of many of their pieces. They were followed by Tom Durfey, Etherege, Wycherley, and feveral other Dramatic writers, who made fuch large contributions, that they fet the altar in a blaze. Among thefe I was surprised to fee an author with much politeness in his behaviour, and spirit in his countenance, tottering under an unwieldly burden. As he approached, I discovered him to be Sir John Vanburgh, and could not but smile, when, on his committing his heavy load to the flames, it proved to be " His skill "in Architecture." Pope advanced towards Addifon, and delivered with great humility thofe lines written exprefsly against him, fo remarkable for their excellence and their cruelty repeating this couplet : "Curft be the vorfe, how well foe'er it flow, The ingenious critic infifted on his taking them again: "for," faid he, " my affociates at the altar, "particularly Horace, would never permit a line of so "excellent a fatirift to be confumed. The many 66 compliments paid me in other parts of your works, "amply 5 "amply compenfate for this flight indignity. And "be affured, that no little pique or misunderstanding "shall ever make me a foe to genius." Pope bowed in fome confufion,and promised to substitute a fictitious name at least, which was all that was left in his power. He then retired, after having made a facrifice of a little packet of Antithefes, and fome parts of his tranflation of Homer. During the course of these oblations, I was charmed with the candour, decency, and judgment, with which all the priests discharged their different functions. They behaved with fuch dignity, that it reminded me of those ages, when the offices of king and prieft centered in the fame perfon. Whenever any of the affiftants were at a lofs in any particular circumstances, they applied to Ariftotle, who fettled the whole bufinefs in- an inftant. But the reflections which this pleafing scene produced, were foon interrupted by a tumultuous noife at the gate of the temple; when fuddenly a rude illiterate multitude rushed in, led by Tindal, Morgan, Chubb, and Bolingbroke. The chiefs, whofe countenances were impreffed with rage which art could not conceal, forced their way to the altar, and amidst the joyful acclamations of their followers threw a large volume into the fire. But the triumph was fhort, and joy and acclamation gave way to filence and astonishment; the volume lay unhurt in the midst of the fire, and, as the flames played innocently about it, I could difcover, written in letters of gold, the words, THE BIBLE. At that inftant my ears were ravished with the found of more than mortal mufic accompanying a hymn fung by invifible beings, of which I well remember the following verfes: VOL. III. G * The "The words of the Lord are pure words: even as "the filver, which in the earth is tried, and purified "feven times in the fire. "More to be defired are they than gold; yea, than "much fine gold: fweeter also than honey, and the 66 honey-comb." The united melody of inftruments and voices, which formed a concert fo exquifite, that, as Milton fays, "it might create a foul under the ribs of death,' threw me into fuch ecstafies, that I was awakened by their violence. &. I am, Sir, Your humble fervant, CRITO. No. No. XCI. Tuefday, September 18. 1753. Facto pius et fceleratus eodem. Thus was the father pious to a crime. OVID. ADDISON. Ir is contended by thofe who reject Christianity, that if revelation had been neceffary as a rule of life to mankind, it would have been univerfal; and they are, upon this principle, compelled to affirm that only to be a rule of life which is univerfally known. But no rule of life is univerfally known, except the dictates of confcience. With refpect to particular actions, opinion determines whether they are good or îll; and confcience approves or difapproves, in confequence of this determination, whether it be in favour of truth or falfehood. Nor can the errors of confcience be always imputed to a criminal neglect of inquiry; |