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Pausanias, Plutarch: Of the Poets, Simonides, Euripides, Lucretius, Ovid: to whom others to a large amount might be added. These are all spoken of by me as Writers of consequence; and to their authority I continually appeal: nor can there be shewn an instance, in which they have been misrepresented. The Author therefore is again at unnecessary trouble to defend, where there is no censure, nor opposition. His zeal and humanity are needless; for he tries to justify, what was never disputed. At the same time it will be worth while, as we proceed, to observe his mode of Vindication; for I fear, that it will be sometimes found very little removed from abuse. But of this I shall say more hereafter.

ANSWER

TO THE

VINDICATION, &c.

IN

my

Observations upon Mr. MORRITT's Vindication of Homer, I shall not professedly enter into any considerations concerning the War, with which it is connected: but only consider if his strictures are well founded and his conclusions just. He prefaces this Vindication with a remark, which is so abstruse and elaborate, that I am not sure, that I perfectly understand it. It begins in the following manner. P. 1. It is a misfortune attending on old, and established truths, that whilst they are received in the world, as matters of general notoriety, or undoubted authority, we are contented to take them upon trust: and, not irrationally, give credit to the opinions of those, who had better opportunities than ourselves to judge of their truth or falsehood. Here is an unlucky circumstance mentioned, and it is not easy to find out in what it consists. We are told, that it is a misfortune attending upon old and established truths, that they are taken upon trust. But how can any ancient fact be taken otherwise? Whatever is not intuitively known, W. Battell.

must

must be received in this manner. contented to take them upon trust. mentioned. For we must necessarily be contented, where there is no choice. What adds to the misfortune is faid to be, that we, not irrationally, give credit to the opinions of those, who had better opportunities than ourselves to judge of their truth or falsehood. There seems to me to be here, what we call, a paralogism: for how can it be a misfortune to act rationally and to give credit to those, who are better informed? In fhort how can there be loss, or grievance, in admitting evidence upon undoubted authority? The Author says, that we are contented to give this affent: and well contented we may be for what more can be desired than moral certainty? The Author adds, that Sceptics have appeared upon this subject before Mr B.-Sed omnes illacrymabiles urgentur, ignotique, longâ nocte jacent (so it should be expressed.) To this I can only say, it is a pity that this mark of contempt was introduced so early; or that it was introduced at all. It is an unfortunate prelude.

It is farther added, that We are But this is a truth too plain to be

P.

3. The Author of the Vindication says, that he disclaims all ill will to Mr. B. This would appear very liberal and fair, if he had not immediately subjoined, that though there is an appearance of candor, yet be (Mr. B.) does not seem to have considered the affirmative with indifference. Hence we find, that, notwithstanding this plausible appearance of candor, Mr. B. has but little share of it, and has viewed things with a very partial eye. After this come some very

1

severe intimations.

The Reader will judge, whether his (Mr. B's.) statements are always perfectly fair. And, if he finds, that interpretations are given by him to classical passages, wholly unwarranted by the context; translations materially differing from their originals; and erroneous transcripts from the originals themselves; he will be apt to smile at the fervour of that zeal, which has stepped forward under the mask of inquiring for literary truth, to defend a favorite Egyptian system. The Author seems already greatly aggrieved, and betrays much disquietude: and, we fear, some intimations of more ill will than he owns.

Vestibulum ante ipsum, primisque in faucibus Orci

Luctus, et ultrices posuere cubilia Curæ.

He indeed sets out with only saying, that the Reader should consider, and judge, whether the statements of Mr. B. are always perfectly fair. This is mild and gentle; and like that calm which comes before a storm. But he is afterwards less moderate: and speaks of passages wholly unwarranted, false translations, erroneous transcripts; and as we shall find in the course of the Treatise, wilful perversion of the truth. So far from smiling at a mistaken zeal, the World must detest a man under such a mask, who is guilty of so much perfidy and baseness; who, whatever his parts may be, has prostituted them to so vile a purpose. But it is to be hoped, that we shall find things more favourable; and that the character of the person alluded to, will not be affected by these severe allegations. As to truth being sacrificed for a favourite Egyptian system, the insinuation is disin

B 2

disingenuous; and no such prejudice is to be found. It is very unworthy the person, from whom it proceeds. It is open to the Reader to judge, whether there be the least truth in this censure: and he may farther consider, whether he can here see, or whether he ever in his life saw,-Fervour of Zeal under a mask of inquiry, stepping forward to maintain an Egyptian system. It affords a strange and complex phænomenon, totally past my comprehension.

P. 4.

Mr. B. is here charged with unfairness in his version of a passage in Justin Martyr. The Author accordingly says, Justin is asserting the higher antiquity of Moses: and he does not say, that the Grecians had no history, upon which they could depend; but that they had none, which was accurately detailed, like the records of the Pentateuch. But, when the Author brings this accusation, and charges both the version and application of the sentence with unfairness, (p. 5.) which is a severe censure; why does he not bring the original immediately before the eye of the Reader in the text, and afford himself a better version, and prove wherein Mr. B. has failed? The words of the learned Father are as follow. Αλλως τε δε τετο ύμας αγνοειν προσήκει, ότε εδεν Έλλησι προ των Ολυμπιάδων ακριβες ισορηται. Ουδ' εςι τι συγγραμμα παλαιον Ἑλληνων η Βαρβαρων σημαινον πράξιν. Just. Mart p. 16. Α, Besides you ought to be well apprised, that the Grecians have no history,

upon which they can depend, antecedent to the Olympiads. They have no written evidence of any antiquity relating either to themselves or any other nation. This is the true purport of the passage. How then

can

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