ungifted with fuperior capacities-rather, men of mean conceptions, whatever the villainy of their actions might incur, efcape the deteftation of others when compared with the unprincipled philofopher.

That there is fuch a quality as genius, and different gradations of that quality, however cafuifts may difpute the contrary, has ever been admitted by the most eminent of our race. Granting then the exiftence of genius, let us enquire, whether it be adequate to those effects which Chatterton has attributed to it? may be well to fay fomething of genius itself.

Here it

Perhaps no difquifitions have more agitated the philofophic world than thofe concerning the properties of genius. Reafoners, (too often wranglers,) of every defcription, in love with their own marvellous difcoveries, venture any thing to maintain their positions, however falfe or fuperficial. They cannot, or they will not, be erroneous. It is this difpofition which has generated fo many unhappy diffenfions in the circle of letters; given rife to half the contentions of private, and much of the difafters of public life. We muft ceafe to wonder then, that genius has been fo oppofitely defined; and if we are in any degree aftonished, it will be-that truth fhould ever have been seen, amid fo many attempts to conceal it.

Suppose a man whose every paffion is tranfcendently ftrong-Whatever he purfues, he purfues unremittingly; whatever be his object, he encounters every difficulty that warps his purpose, and encounters it with an ardour which stops at nothing less than conqueft. He is alternately fwayed by virtue and by vice, and he will be impelled by each, as truth fhall have illumined his courfe. Such a man is a genius. And this character, according to the maxims he has imbibed, will benefit or scourge fociety! What is genius but an individual energy fuperior to millions of its cotemporaries? and what the man whofe actions wear the refolve of immortality, but a genius? How does this, it may be objected,

objected, agree with that fentiment fo finely expreffed by Gray

"Perhaps in this neglected fpot is laid

Some heart once pregnant with celeftial fire,
Hands, that the rod of empire might have sway'd,
Or wak'd to ecftafy the living lyre."

Poffeffing fuch talents, why has genius remained unknown? The reply treads on the enquiry. Education has ever been confidered as the framer of man; and it is now confeffed that genius has no original bent: these, never formed by information to the path of true excellence, could therefore never attain the fummit to which it conducts. Yet were they not wanting in diftinguishing features. From the fame class as it refpected their ftation in the community, they were eafily to be remarked. Thofe who will not, either from disgust or indolence, examine for themselves, muft live in ignorance of their fellow creatures. They may go over the beaten tracks of philosophy, investigate anew the principles which it has attributed to human nature, and terminate that investigation by adding a few fanciful reveries to those with which their mafters are already encumbered: but, if they look not without "the spectacles of books" into that informing volume the world, they can never underftand the motives that actuate its fubjects. There it is we must seek the confirmation of our conjectures on genius.

Enter an affembly of the illiterate, and mark their difcuffions. Congregated men are never without a leader. Among their difputes, fome are ever more eminent than others; and one ftill fuperfedes the reft, though feldom elevated by the dint of authority. His converfation only procures him notice. Is a remark on fome recent tranfaction ftarted, or does the intelligence of a newspaper occupy attention, you will perceive the deference which is paid to his opinion. His readiness in narrative entertainment, and his smartness on palling occurrences,

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occurrences, have procured him this unanimous fame : he is the genius of his little abode. Directed to the arts or the fciences, he had rifen above common competition: wanting that direction, he has lived a comparative nothing. So important is mental cultivation. Such perfons, however, if they do not improve, cannot be faid to injure fociety.

Let us view them in altered circumstances.

With the native fire of genius, inveft the fame character with all the discoveries of science, verfe him in the history of his race, and thus, giving his underftanding full play, by enabling it to cherish or to blast the happiness of men, let us note the exertions of his ambition. He is now calculated for a daring fublimity: he may be immortal in virtue, or in vice. Think you his portrait unnatural? The long galleries of history, facred and profane, are crowded with fimilar exhibitions.

Complying with the general verdict of logicians, I fhall not offend my reader with the ridiculed notion of innate ideas; hoping, nevertheless, that he will permit me to contend for what may be termed innate fense; and attach this fenfe as the perfuafion of the existence of Deity. Unless this fenfe of Deity (which I believe to be inhaled with the breath of life) affects alike the Savage and the Chriftian, man, in a natural ftate, is deftitute of moral guidance. We are not led to this melancholy conviction. Heightened or blunted by the influence of cuftom, men, in some effential feelings, appear to differ: but, in the leading principles of ftrict juftice they are fcarcely diffonant. All have the conviction of the power of God, though they differ in their acknowledgments of his providence; and all have the conviction of immortality, though different in their ideas of it. Confequently, genius muft fhare in these convictions.

But, has a genius the ability, by affuming the grand features of virtue, while really vicious in himself, to

induce the world not only to remark the fervour of his piety, but to place that piety to the influence of Divine Infpiration? Examples are not wanting of vitiated men who have been accredited for their extraordinary rectitude. Balaam ftands on the record of revelation an inexplicable mixture of prophecy and baseness. In later times the Chriftian Church has been defpoiled by fo many "wolves in theep's clothing," that hypocrify in the profeffors of religion, is become a proverbial taunt in the mouth of infidelity. Such men cannot be efteemed as Chriftians. All are not, but a few of them have been men of genius. Men whofe quick understandings and vigorous imaginations fitted them for the fervour of affumed holiness. They fhone for awhile as new conftellations in the horizon of Christianity :-Alas! they were erratic meteors. They mifled numbers who followed them with the pureft intentions, and confounded thoufands who were fixed in the fame belief! Could fuch characters be morally fincere? They might be geniuses. It appearing that the genius is a participant in the innate fenfe of deity and immorality-warmer in him, from the uncommon ftrength of his intellectual powers; and that perfons have exifted, famed for their extenfive fanctity, though deftitute of virtuous principle; the inference arifes-that fuch men may feign the moft exalted of characters, to the injury of our deareft interefts.

A few remarks attach to this inference.

Let not those who difbelieve the page of revelation exult in this statement. They may turn it to the injury of truth; we perceive a different conclufion. One fact here merits attention. The writers of the prophecies were men of piety and reputation. Their lives evinced their calling. They adorned the doctrines which they taught; and differ in these respects, as well as in others, from the numberless pretenders to infpiration. Prophecy, as delivered by them, is proved to be no idle and cunningly devised fable. Experience may do much : aided

by

by an acquaintance with hiftory, it may predict the probable refult of any fyftem of politics. But fuch experience cannot be paralelled with the prophetic writings. They apply to all countries and all times. The effects which they delineate have long affected, and still affect our race: hence they rank of the first magnitude in the grand scale of Christianity.

The uses to be drawn from this estimate of the properties of genius are obvious and important. If the man of genius, by the application of his talents, may either profper or injure his fellow-mortals, is it not incumbent on those whom genius prompts to enterprize, to confider the confequences which their purfuits may produce? Certainly-they are accountable to the world for the mode in which they have exerted the influence of their abilities. Our Creator and our country demand the beft fervices we are enabled to perform: true ambition fhould urge us to the performance of thofe fervices; but diffipation and indolence, vice and error, benumb or pervert the faculties of the foul. Yet there may be a day when our Creator will enforce the eluded indignation of our country.

C.

MRS.

THE PHILOSOPHER.

A TALE.

(Concluded from page 119).

RS. De Cleves looked thoughtful. Upon my word, mother," faid the interefting Euphemia, "I don't know what to think of the conference that has paffed between you and Mr. Acid."—" Nor do I, Euphemia."-" Why, furely, he has not propofed a marriage with my mother !". "No, my dear (fmiling) he has not indeed: but (feriously) I don't know what to think of the conference. Tell me your opinion of Mr. Acid."-" My opinion is very short, my dear mo

ther.