us for confidence; we admire more, in a patron, that judgment which,
instead of scattering bounty indiscriminately, directed it to us;
and, if the patron be an author, those performances which gratitude
forbids us to blame, affection will easily dispose us to exalt.

To these prejudices, hardly culpable, interest adds a power always
operating, though not always, because not willingly, perceived. The
modesty of praise wears gradually away; and perhaps the pride of
patronage may be in time so increased that modest praise will no
longer please.

Many a blandishment was practised upon Halifax which he would never
have known had he no other attractions than those of his poetry, of
which a short time has withered the beauties. It would now be
esteemed no honour, by a contributor to the monthly bundles of
verses, to be told that, in strains either familiar or solemn, he
sings like Montague.



PARNELL.



The life of Dr. Parnell is a task which I should very willingly
decline, since it has been lately written by Goldsmith, a man of
such variety of powers, and such felicity of performance, that he
always seemed to do best that which he was doing; a man who had the
art of being minute without tediousness, and general without
confusion; whose language was copious without exuberance, exact