David Hume. Rapin de Thoyras. Catherine Macaulay. James Ralph. James Macpherson. Nathaniel Hooke. Adam Ferguson. Edward Gibbon. Robert Orme. Oliver Goldsmith. Charles James Fox. Fragmentary historiansC. Scribner, 1855 - Historians |
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Page 343 - Besides, sir, it is the great excellence of a writer to put into his book as much as his book will hold.
Page 17 - After much study and reflection on this, at last, when I was about eighteen years of age, there seemed to be opened up to me a new scene of thought, which transported me beyond measure, and made me, with an ardour natural to young men, throw up every other pleasure or business to apply entirely to it. The law, which was the business I designed to follow, appeared nauseous to me, and I could think of no other way of pushing my fortune in the world but that of a scholar and philosopher.
Page 343 - Robertson would be crushed with his own weight — would be buried under his own ornaments. Goldsmith tells you shortly all you want to know ; Robertson detains you a great deal too long. No man will read Robertson's cumbrous detail a second time ; but Goldsmith's plain narrative will please again and again. I would say to Robertson what an old tutor of a college said to one of his pupils, l Read over your compositions, and, whenever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike...
Page 47 - His face was broad and fat, his mouth wide, and without any other expression than that of imbecility. His eyes vacant and spiritless, and the corpulence of his whole person was far better fitted to communicate the idea of a turtle-eating Alderman, than of a refined philosopher. His speech, in English, was rendered ridiculous by the broadest Scotch accent, and his French was, if possible, still more laughable; so that wisdom, most certainly, never disguised herself before in so uncouth a garb.
Page 343 - JOHNSON. (His antipathy to the Scotch beginning to rise). " I have not read Hume; but, doubtless, Goldsmith's 'History is better than the verbiage of Robertson, or the foppery of Dalrymple.
Page 17 - I found a certain boldness of temper growing in me, which was not inclined to submit to any authority in these subjects, but led me to seek out some new medium, by which truth might be established.
Page 373 - Dutch and strangers, in their usage towards him, expressed no less respect. The news hereof came blazing and thundering over into England, that the Duke of York was sure alive. As for the name of Perkin Warbeck, it was not at that time come to light, but all the news ran upon the Duke of York ; that he had been entertained in Ireland, bought and sold in France, and was now plainly avowed and in great honor in Flanders.
Page 17 - ... new medium by which truth might be established. After much study and reflection on this, at last, when I was about eighteen years of age, there seemed to be opened up to me a new scene of thought, which transported me beyond measure, and made me, with an ardour natural to young men, throw up every other pleasure or business to apply entirely to it.
Page 70 - My sister has since joined me, and keeps me company. With frugality, I can reach, I find, cleanliness, warmth, light, plenty and contentment ? What would you have more ? Independence ? I have it in a supreme degree. Honour ? That is not altogether wanting. Grace ? That will come in time. A wife ? That is none of the indispensable requisites of life. Books? That is one of them ; and I have more than I can use.
Page 63 - I had been awake, and had scarce dozed again — on a sudden I felt my bolster lift up my head; I thought somebody was getting from under my bed, but soon found it was a strong earthquake, that lasted near half a minute, with a violent vibration and great roaring.