The Microcosm: A Periodical Work - Google Books

Books

CONTENTS.

1. Introduction.-Pursuits and Intentions of the

Author.-Invitation to Correspondents..

2. On Swearing.-Its extensive influence and use

in common conversation, and in the common occurrences
of life.-Scheme for teaching the Art of Swearing, re-
commended to any projector.....

3. Billet from Narcissus, a Dead Lounger.- Re-

flections on Apathy.-Sunday's Diary of Narcissus.
-Vacancy in the Lounging Club.-The Seat offered
to Gregory Griffin.-His Introduction....

4. The Love of Fame.-Unjust distribution of

praise.-Actions of splendid success gain more admira-
tion than those of useful benevolence.-Different effects
of the Love of Fame at different periods of time.-
Cursory Remark on cyphers.-Irregular Ode.

......

5. Speculation on History.—The Rise and Fall of

Empires. Possibility of England's downfall.-Reflec-

tions on the probable consequences of it.-Poem on the

Slavery of Greece.

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17

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6. Letter from Musidorus on the Government of the

Passions, and on silly peculiarities of behaviour.-
From Octavius, a candidate for the vacant seat in the
Lounging Club, with an account of a Society of Idlers.
-From Observator, giving an account of the various
opinions formed concerning the Microcosm...

7. Letter from a fellow-citizen, complaining of cer-

tain waggaries of an old gentleman,―ridiculousness of

pointless jests, and witticisms duly expected, and dis-

gusting as well from the awkward merriment as fre-

quency of repetition.-Cautions against the use of such.

-Reflections on the Nature of Wit.-Proposals for

opening a Warehouse for all the branches of that com-

8. On Family Pride.-Moderation of Gregory

Griffin in not boasting of his Ancestors.-Different

Notions of Pride as conceived by different persons.--

Folly of the Opinion that Mankind degenerates.- Mis-

application of the word Antediluvian.—Antiquity of a

British Family certainly not honourable.-Particular

duty of Men of Family.-Equitable treatment of the

Citizens of the lesser World.

9. Unity of Design in the Structure of a Poem.-

Allusion to Local Circumstances censured.-Poetry

being defined to be an universal language.—Blackmore

not inferior in his Designs to the Poets of Antiquity.

Remark on Dryden.-Examples of locality, Homer,

10. On Genius.-Complaints of its paucity ill-
founded, as proceeding from want of cultivation.-

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Genius to be discovered even in the dark ages.—The land

of liberty, the land of Genius.-Decay of eloquence and

temporary duration of Poetry after the enslavement

of Rome by Augustus.—A series of learned men pro-

duced by Greece. Some remarks on an unfair position

in the 127th paper of the Adventurer.-The falsehood

of a maxim very generally received.

11. Gregory Griffin proposes a display of his cri-

tical abilities.-Critique on the Heroic Poem of the

Knave of Hearts.....

12. Conclusion of the Critique.-Admonition to the

Author's fellow-citizens on the subject of the orna-

mental devices to be prefixed to their Poems on the

13. Reflections on the folly of supposing gradual

degeneracy in Mankind,-fiction of the Golden Age.-

Civilization by no means so injurious to the Virtue of

Mankind as it is represented. The love of pleasure

conducive to Civilization.-Conduct of Agricola in the

reduction of Britain, and of the first subduers of

America contrasted.-Change of Manners in Sparta,-

in Rome, in the English, after the Restoration..... 108

11. Letter from Cameterius on Epitaphs-From a

Country Girl on loud Whisperers.-Resolutions of Mr.

Griffin's Committee.

15. Letter from Alfred on true and false Glory.

From Christopher Cutjoke, on the Miseries consequent

on being Witty.-From Ironiculus, a Poem on the Art

16. On Language, the causes which contribute to

the improvement or alteration of it. The progress of

the English Language.

17. Letter from a correspondent, on the nature and

extent of Politeness.-From Arthur Cassock,-his

miserable situation as private Tutor in a Gentleman's

Family described.-From Etonensis, a Poem on taking

18. On the universal curiosity to know what others

think of one.-Disagreeable consequences of indulging

that curiosity.-Danger of speaking our sentiments of

other people too freely to those whom we do not know.-

Instance of the effects of such a conduct.-The advan-

tage Gregory Griffin enjoys, by being able, himself un-

discovered, to find out the sentiments of his fellow-citi-

zens, with regard to himself and his work.- Various

opinions on the subject.-Various conjectures about the

Author.-Specimen of Letters of advice from different

correspondents.-Story of Apelles.

19. History of Frederic....

NOTES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Translaticus.-Obadiah Meanwell.

Octavius.-Musidorus.-An Etonian.

Telemachus Absalom Thoughtful.-Dorothy Tear-

The Author's Address to his Readers, previous to the

Christmas Vacation

No Novelist.-Two Senex's.-The Country Girl.-

Confutation of a Report respecting Gregory Griffin as

Numa.-Alfred.-Christopher Cutjoke.

Togatus.-Simon Snubnose.

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