T has fometimes been a subject of reproach to the literary character, and at the fame time of regret, that great acquifitions of knowledge have not been united with correfponding virtues; that great talents have been often blemifhed by eccentricities and irregulari ties which more than degraded the poffeffor below the level of the most uninformed peafant. Much candour, it must be confeffed, is fometimes neceflary in viewing the conduct of literary men, and prejudice and paffion fhould have no voice when their merits or defects are canvaffed or inveftigated. It fometimes, however, happens, that the brighteft genius receives a luftre from the exercife of the domestic virtues; from a conduct directed by morality, and illuminated by the precepts and practice of religion. When fuch is the cafe, how amiable does the poffeffor appear! and fuch, we believe, may be confidently afferted to be the perfon whofe conciliating manners obtained the friendfhip of the rough johnson and the faftidious Gray, and whofe portrait we now prefent to our readers.

DR. JAMES BEATTIE was born, we are informed, in Kincardinethire, in Scotland, and received part of his education at the University of Aberdeen, where he cultivated the Belles Lettres with great affiduity, and as great fuccefs. His firft employment was that of fchoolmatter of Alloa; from whence he was transferred to his native county in the fame fituation. He then went to Aberdeen to affift in the grammarfchool of that place, and during his

refidence there married the daughter of his principal. He was afterwards promoted to the Profefforthip of Moral Philofophy and Logic in the Marifchal College of that University, in which poft he ftill continues, greatly to the advantage of those who are educating at that feminary.

His first publication was in the year 1760, in a volume of "Original Poems and Tranflations," 8vo. : a collection which afterwards he confidered with fo little favour as to declare, that the poems contained in it were in general fo incorrect, that he would not refcue them from oblivion if a with could do it. Accordingly a very few only remain in the last publication of his verfes.

In 1765 he publifhed "The Judgment of Paris," a Poem, in 4to, which has not been preferved from the gene. ral profcription of his juvenile poems. In 1767 he became known to Mr. Gray, from whofe friendship he received fome valuable hints relative to his admirable poem of "The Minstrel," chiefly written the fucceeding year. In 1770 he published his excellent antidote against fcepticism and infidelity, in “An Effay on the Nature and Immutability of Truth in Oppofition to Sophiltry and Scepticifin," 8vo. a work which has received the applaufe of every candid reader. In the last letter he received from Mr. Gray, that Gentleman fays, "I am happy to hear of your fuccefs, because I think you are ferving the caufe of human nature, and the true interefts of mankind; your book is

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read here too, and with just applaufe." Of the writer Dr. Beattie contends against, the fame admirable author gives his opinion in the following words: "I have often thought David Hume a pernicious writer, and believe he has done as much mischief here as he has in his own country: a turbid and fhallow ftream often appears to our apprehenfions very deep. A profeffed fceptic can be guided by nothing but his prefent paflions (if he has any) and interefts; and to be mafters of his philofophy, we need not his books or advice, for every child is capable of the fame thing without any ftudy at all. Is not that naivetè and good humour which his admirers celebrate in him owing to this, that he has continued all his days an infant, but one that unhappily has been taught to read and write? That childish nation the French have given him vogue and fashion; we, as ufual, have learned from them to admire him at fecond hand." On the publication of this work the admirers of Mr. Hume complained of the fevere manner in which he was treated; but in this particular they will be joined by few who confider the nature and tendency of his writings. A few years after, in 1777, this work was repub. lithed in quarto, by fuofcription, at the defire of feveral perfons of diftinction, with the addition of "Effays on Poetry and Mufic as they affect the Mind; on Laughter, and Ludicrous Compofition; and on the Utility of Claffical Learning."

In 1771 he published the first book of "The Minstrel; or, The Progrefs of Genius," in 4to.; and in 1774 the fecond book; both which have been feveral times reprinted, and will be fufficient to establish the Author's reputation as a poet. About this time he was ho

noured with a penfion from the Crown, and had the degree of Doctor of Laws conferred on him. In 1783 he publifhed" Differtations Moral and Criti cal," in 4to.; and in 1786, by the recommendation of Bishop Porteous, he completed, and gave the world, "Evi dences of the Chriftian Religion briefly and plainly itated," 2 vols. 12mo. a performance intended for the ufe of young perfons. In 1788 he republished "The Theory of Language," one of his former Effays enlarged and corrected.

The remaining work of Dr. Beattie muft create a fympathy in every good mind. On the 19th of November 1790, he loft his remaining fon, at the age of twenty-two years, a youth whofe talents and virtues gave promise of doing honour to his country and to human nature. On this occafion, the forrowful father became the editor of his fon's remains, and published a volume which exhibited a maturity of understanding beyond what could poffibly be expected in fo young a perfon, and a propriety of conduct which might be held out as an example to the rifing generation. In this narrative, the forrows of the man are alleviated by the refignation of the Chriftian; and the Author concludes his account in the following affecting terms:

I have lost the pleasanteft, and, for the last four or five years of his short life, one of the most inítructive companions that ever man was delighted with. But-THE LORD GAVE; THE LORD HATH TAKEN AWAY: BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD. I adore the Author of all Good, who gave him grace to lead fuch a life, and die fuch a

death, as makes it impoffible for a Chriftian to doubt of his having entered upon the inheritance of a happy immortality."

own work," he is not far from the truth; and, as phyfical is frequently the effect of moral evil, we may confi. der ourselves not fo much heirs by defcent, as purchasers of both thofe articles of mifery.

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However the fact may be, we are not very ready to allow that the mifchiefs we fuffer are of our own creation on the contrary, there are feafons when the mind bufies itself in the investiga. tion of the nature of evil, merely to find excufes for its defects and deformities, and to catch at any philofophical argument that can place them in a fairer point of view; but this investigation is never fatisfactory; it falls fhort of even. probable demonftration, and leaves us only in greater doubt and anxiety.

I remember to have been engaged in thefe unprofitable difquifitions one gloomy afternoon in the month of November, in my elbow-chair by the fire.fide; after reviewing all the incidents of my own life, and the merits, blemishes, virtues, faults, advantages, drawbacks, profpects, and difappointments belonging individually to the character and condition of my neighbours, "Alas!" cried I," What can equal human wretchednefs? What a poor weak creature is man! How exposed to temptation! How open to the allurements of vice! Look where we will, if he is not addicted to great crimes, we fhall find him hurrying along blindfolded, as it were, by paffion and prejudice, from one abfurdity to another. How many difappointments, perplexities, and misfortunes, have I myfelf met with, that could not be laid to the fcore of negligence, or the want of caution! How many follies have I entertained without making them wel come! and how many faults have I committed without an intention to do wrong! A man ftands no chance with the infirmities of his nature: he is a mere machine, and is acted upon by external circumstances, as much as the mariner's compafs. Let the attraction of virtue be ever fo ftrong, it will not always keep true to the point; there will be yet fome variations, and fome vibrations, that we truft and hope will be allowed for in the last great reckon ing."

Thefe unhappy murmurings continued, till wearied out, and oppreffed by the repetition of the fame ideas, I fell faft afleep when methought I was introduced, not into a drawing-room,

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but up three pair of stairs, into the gar ret of a philofopher. Its fhape was a fcalene triangle; the furniture con-fifted of one folitary chair, and a deal table, upon which was a broken plate, a tin pepper box, a wooden candlestick, and, as I thought, a portable camera obfcura, which feemed to occupy the entire attention of the philofopher, who appeared to be a tall thin man, with a pale face and extremely black beard. I fancied, that at my entrance the old Gentleman accofted me with great civility: "I am already acquainted," faid he, "with the fubject of your late contemplations, and with the favourite doctrine of neceffity, to which you feem fo much to incline and perhaps I may be able to affitt your enquiries. You fee this camera obfcura: I have brought it to fuch perfection, that it faithfully exhibits the road of human life, with all its turnings and windings; and its construction is fuch, that it not only reprefents the objects of nature, but delineates truly the paffions, virtues, and vices of men; you will be able to discover by it their purfuits and inclinations, and the chief caufe of their general ili fuccefs in their purfuit after happiness; you will foon perceive by it what it is that diftreffes, misleads, and annoys man through the journey of life."

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I thought that I very readily accepted the invitation of the philofopher; and, looking through the aperture, I beheld a furrounding landscape, fertile and barren, cultivated and wafte, mountainous and plain, interfected with innumerable roads and paths; fome spots laid out in beautiful gardens, others fpread over with weeds watered with fruitful fprings, and others dry, and without verdure. I obferved edifices of various kinds, towers, cáitles, palaces, and cottages, mingled together, and was expreffing my admiration of the capacity of the inftrument, when I thought the philofopher interrupted me: "You may perceive," faid he, "that the world, take it in the whole, is no fuch bad place to live in; but let us endeavour to difcover what it is that prevents our enjoyment of the bleffings that it affords. Fix your eyes upon a particular obje&t ; felect for your obfervation a youth just fluing forth from one of the great temples of education, and obferve the courfe he takes." Methought I was not long ata lófs for a subject: I obferved a

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fue handfome youth, with the bloom of bealth upon his cheek; but fancied I difcovered a degree of audacity and haughtinefs in his looks, that did not very well correfpond with a proper education; particularly as I faw that the matter of the feminary was a cler. gyman but, upon examining more carefully, I difcovered that the old Gentleman's black coat was patched all over with fhreds of Greek and Latin paffages from different authors; fome fublime and delicate, others vulgar and obfcene; a few of thefe he had ftuffed into the ears of his pupil, but not a fin. gle rule of reafon or precept of religion had he conveyed to him; the truth was, he had but few of them himfelf, and none to fpare. I thought at this mo ment I asked my friend the philofopher, Whether the youth I had noticed fet out alone on his important journey through life. "Certainly not," replied heit would be fomething unufual if he did. It is true, he will not have the companions who ought to accompany youth; you will not fee Virtue with her robes unfullied as the falling fnow,'nor celeftial Piety in her milk white veft; as for Modefty, the is fel dom found in thefe temples of public education, having been ill-treated by the Ancients, and being almoft difowned by the Moderns: but if you will look with attention, you will dif cern two extraordinary personages, extremely proper to accompany a young Gentleman of his family and fortune. Do you not obferve a creature of uncommon figure, a mifhapen mafs, a Jump of wretched deformity; its head finall and fhallow; its eyes inflamed and glaring, its little nofe turned up at the point, and its cheeks inflated? See it is mounted upon ftilts; and, though it is in conftant dread of a fall, will not forfake its uneafy exaltation, That admirable perfon," added the phi Jofopher, "is Pride; and next to him you will notice a fpruce little Gentleman in fuperfine black, with well powdered hair he is the Tutor, who holds his refpectable office upon the exprefs condition that he should not offend the great perfonage on ftilts, who is intended by the parents of the young Gentleman to be his conftant companion through life."-" But, Fray, who is this," cried I, "that appears advancing towards them, a more remarkable figure than either of the other two; I mean that little animal with a pair of

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boots on its legs, that refemble two enormous pillars, a coat with puckered fleeves, a black wig, and embroidered pantaloons? It feems to change its appearance every inftant, and is followed' by a number of people, who appear to be taylors, barbers, and fhoemakers, with anumerous train of little deformed, imps."-"That, Sir," faid the philofopher, "is Fafhion; the urchins behind are its children, and are called Abfurdi-" ties. See how eagerly the youth follows the monster; it will introduce him prefently to fome more good or genteel company." I imagined that this remark of the metaphyfician's was immediately verified; for a Lady now joined the party: fhe had a mask, which the held carefully before her face; was dreffed in a robe of rich filk, and feemed defi rous to please the young traveller prefenting him every inftant with opera and mafquerade tickets, cards, dice, &c. till the wearied herfelf with her polite attention. I prefume you guess who that Lady is," faid the philofopher: "her name is Dilipation; the always wears that mask in company, but is without it at home, where her true countenance is that of chagrin, vexation, languor, and pain in short, the pale unwholefome complexion of a difturbed rest and an unquiet mind."

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I thought that at this moment I beheld another of the acquaintances of Fashion it was a little crooked man, whofe phyfiognomy prefented a mixture of pleafantry and fpleen; he carried a bag in his hand, which, I obferved, as faft as he filled it with gold at the top, ran through a hole at the bottom. He had a conftant convulfive motion in his elbow, and carried his pockets filled with cards and dice, with which Diffipation had fupplied him. I imagined the philofopher told me, that this extraordinary character was Play, "He is," faid he, " intimately acquainted with Ruin: they are almoft always together; you can never be Jong in company with the former with out knowing the latter." I thought that at this inftant I cried out on feeing the Goddess Fortune, who, I imagined, had just arrived to the aid of the youth, emptying, as faft as poffible, her cornucopia among thefe deformities, who were joined by two more; a poor, feeble, wretched being, with flaccid cheeks, funk eyes, and pale unwholefome face, fupported upon crutches; and another, with bloated checks, eyes in

flamed