that a good work must be that with which remarked the fate of books must have 1 by other causes than general consent eral conviction. If a new performance fall into the hands of some who have d authority to propagate their opinion, it g in obscurity, and perishes unknown and few, a very few, commonly constitute the ; the judgment which they have once e are too lazy to discuss, and some too radict: it may however be, I think, obpower is greater to depress than exalt, as = credulous of censure than of praise. Adventurer, No. 138. by their allure ting and detain in which the r who keeps th mparing line with line that the merit of great are perused w re are perused ed with an eye departing day. mend. Works of imagination nd delight; by their power of attention. That book is good rows away. He only is the din pleasing captivity; whose gerness, and in hope of new and whose conclusion is perow, such as the traveller casts Works, vii. 337. rupt society has many laws; I equally true, that an ignorant the treasures of ancient knoworiginal authors are neglected plagiaries are encouraged who before, and grow great by setting h had hidden from our view. Idler, No. 85. cause it pleases cannot be pro en found to please. Works, vii. 252. excellence is not absolute and Brandy: ngued upon the qualities of different ke with great contempt of claret as so would be drowned by it before it made was persuaded to drink one glass of it, ge, not from recollection which might be mediate sensation. He shook his head, stuff! No, Sir, claret is the liquor for en; but he who aspires to be a hero k brandy."" Boswell's Life of Johnson, iii. 381. Brentford: d Johnson that when Dr. Adam Smith was beauty of Glasgow, he had cut him short Sir, have you ever seen Brentford ?' and to add, 'My dear Sir, surely that was then, Sir, (he replied,) you have never Building: Ib. iv. 186. of building lasted but a little while, for pend, I hate to be cheated; and I soon is to be robbed. Idler, No. 62. ners as to hea ember something gh Tom's head each says upo der how so young as a new feast understo sproportion is unnatural; and can derive only the pleasure e admire it a while as a strange Longer strange, we perceive its artifice which by frequent repee reader, learning in time what is book, as the spectator turns on of those tricks of which the can be played. Works, vii. 155. f Idleness: s he goes into a coffee-house, o men whom he takes to be discourse, and endeavours to , when it has been strained near to nothing, that what it wered. This he carries round gh a circle of visits, till, hearing question, he becomes able at elf; and as every great genius Inferiors, meets with some who n can talk so wisely. At night d for his intellects; he always or a speaking club, where he heard the whole, he would but ay sp _ccusation must certainly fly faster than a greater part of mankind are base and ects of a false report cannot be deterscribed. It may check a hero in his romotion of the happiness of his country, deavours for the propagation of truth. Works, ix. 449. this manner; it think foolishly. Cant: C We are either bor nation, or recei the state of F and cares of sy, folly, arm its cant of la ded by none but easinesses whi miserate. wish much to be in Parliament, Sir.' Sir, unless you come resolved to support n, you would be the worse for being in ase you would be obliged to live more SWELL. Perhaps, Sir, I should be the ng in Parliament. I never would sell my 1 be vexed if things went wrong.' JOHNt, Sir. It would not vex you more in the he gallery: public affairs vex no man.' : not they vexed yourself a little, Sir? een vexed by all the turbulence of this t absurd vote of the House of Commons, ence of the Crown has increased, is inght to be diminished?" JOHNSON. 'Sir, t an hour less, nor eat an ounce less meat. an |