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THE

PREFACE.

A

MIDST the Variety of Compofitions, with which the Learned of this Nation have enriched the Republic of Letters, we ftill want a Treatise upon that Quality, which gives the finishing Touches to the Culture of the Understanding, and diffuses the finest Delights through the Commerce of HUMAN LIFE.

Though in the celebrated Performances of our most elegant Writers, we meet with many mafterly Strokes, and beautiful Obfervations upon it; yet lying widely scattered in various intermitted Speculations, they have not that Efficacy, which refults from a regular Plan and connected System.

But if all that occurs were brought into one entire View, and ranged in the best Order; many Things would ftill be wanting to complete the Work, and give us that Fulness of Satisfaction, which we should have received,

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had they entered profeffedly upon the Subject. Therefore, as it is impoffible not to admire. what they have done; it is natural to wifh they had done more, and anticipated the Neceffity of any farther Enquiries.

This Omiffion, it has been said, was owing to an Opinion, for fome Time too fuccefsfully propagated --- That He only, who had attained the high Accomplishment, was equal to the Tafk; and that to undertake the Subject, carried with it an Air of arrogating the Character. This was an Obftruction not to be furmounted by the cautious Candidate for literary Fame; fince the very Attempt to obtain, must unavoidably frustrate his Hopes of public Approbation.

If the Author of the following ESSAY had been perfuaded, either that this Opinion had any Foundation in Truth, or was still generally received; the fame restraining Confiderations would have kept him in the fame Bounds. But fince he finds it has now no longer the Countenance of Numbers, and is fatisfied it never had the Authority of Reason, he hopes he may endeavour to explain the Nature, and illuftrate the Beauties of DELI?

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CACY,

CACY, without the Imputation of affuming to himself the Glory of the Attainment.

A Man may certainly be qualified to defcribe a Character in his Clofet, though he cannot act up to it in Life: As we often find Men well verfed in the Theory of an Art, and able to point out its feveral Excellencies, who want either Faculties or Attention to reach the Practice. The Talents are founded upon different Principles; and the one may fubfift without the other, in the highest Perfection.

If this be not allowed; the Poet as well as the Historian, must be poffeffed of every great Quality, which he paints with Accuracy, or traces with Difcernment. And when we find him fuccefsful in defcribing the Exploits of an Hero, we must conclude, that he is himself no less expert in the military Art, and endued with equal Magnanimity. But it cannot be denied that there has been many a Writer capable of drawing up an Army, and fighting a Battle in all the Propriety and Vigour of Language, who had confeffedly as little Addrefs to conduct the one, as Courage to attempt the other in the Field of Action.--

-lingua

linguá melior, fed frigida bello

Dextera

And why should the Poffeffion of the Quality be thought more requifite in the Display of DELICACY? This is fo far from appearing evident, that it feems rather to be, in fome Refpects, a kind of difqualifying Circumstance. It is not improbable, that the fine Senfations in the Soul of him, who has attained to this high Refinement, might prevent him from doing full Juftice to his own Accomplishments; for DELICACY is always found to withdraw itself from every thing that has the least Appearance of Vanity. But if this Obftruction could be got over; yet when it is known to be his own Picture, which he exhibits to View, it may be looked upon as the Representation of Features and Lineaments heightened by Self-regard and the Biafs of a partial Judgment.

But though the Attainment of the Quality is not requifite in the Writer; yet it is effentially neceffary that he should be intimately acquainted with thofe, in whom it is found to exist.

This

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