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PREFACE.

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 Observations upon it; yet, lying widely fcattered in various intermitted Speculations, they have not that Efficacy, with results 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 still 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 wish they had done more, and anticipated the Neceffity of any farther Enquires.

This Omiffion, it has been faid, 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 Obstruction not to be furmounted by the cautious Candidate for literary Fame; fince the very Attempt to obtain, must unavoidably fruftrate 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 ftill generally received; the fame reftraining 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

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 Hiftorian, muft 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 muft 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.

-linguâ

--linguâ melior, fed frigida bello

Dextera

And why should the Poffeffion of the Qua lity be thought more requifite in the Display of DELICACY; This is fo far from appearing evident, that it seems 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 leaft Appearance of Vanity. But if this Obstruction could be got over; yet when it is known to be his own Picture, which he exibits 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 fhould be intimately acquainted with thofe, in whom it is found to exist,

This is the Source from whence he must draw not only the Materials for his Work, but the Ability of carrying it into Execution. For it is only by frequent Intercourses with Men of Rank, and polite Acquirements, that he can wear himself into that Caft of Sentiment and Expreffion, which the Dignity of his Subject indifpenfably demands.

It has been the Author's Fortune, to be admitted into thofe high Scenes of Improvement, and to have long been honoured with the Acquaintance of Perfons, not lefs diftinguished by the Refinement of their Abilities, than the Eminence of their Station.

On this Foundation he builds his Hopes. On the Encouragement of fuch Advantages he refts his Apology for the Undertaking; neither vainly affuring himself, that he has been able to make a right Ufe of the Opportunities, nor meanly courting the Reader's Favour, by profeffing a very low Opinion of his Performance. He chooses rather freely to confefs, he has here exerted his best Endeavours, and entirely fubmits himself to the Decifion of the Public.

VOL. I.

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