which must be placed in a class by itself, in oppofition to that of Ariftophanes, whofe manner is likewife peculiar to himself.

But fuch is the weaknefs of the human mind, that when we review the fucceffions of the drama a third time, we find genius falling from its height, forgetting itfelf, and led aftray by the love of novelty, and the defire of ftriking out new paths. Tragedy degenerated in Greece from the time of Aristotle, and in Rome after Auguftus. At Rome and Athens comedy produced Mimi, pantomimes, burlettas, tricks, and farces, for the fake of variety; fuch is the character, and such the madness of the mind of man. It is fatisfied with having made great conquefts, and gives them up to attempt others, which are far from anfwering its expectation, and only enables it to discover its own folly, weaknefs, and deviations. But why fhould we be tired with standing still at the true point of perfection, when it is attained? If eloquence be wearied, and forgets herself a while, yet fhe foon returns to her former point: fo will it happen to our theatres if the French Mufes will keep the Greck models in their view, and not look with difdain upon 2 ftage whofe mother is nature, whofe foul is paffion, and whofe art is fimplicity: a ftage, which, to speak the truth, does not perhaps equal ours in fplendor and elevation, but which excels it in fimplicity and propriety, and equals it at leaft in the conduct and direction of thofe paffions which may properly affect an honeft man and a chriftian.

For my part, I fhall think myself well recompenfed for my labour, and fhall attain the end which I had in view, if I shall in fome little measure revive in the minds

of

of those who purpofe to run the round of polite litera-· ture, not an immoderate and blind reverence, but a true taste of antiquity: fuch a taste as both feeds and polishes the mind, and enriches it by enabling it to appropriate the wealth of foreigners, and to exert its natural fertility in exquifite productions; fuch a tafte as gave the Racines, the Molieres, the Boileaus, the Fontaines, the Patrus, the Pelefons, and many other great geniuses of the last age, all that they were, and all that they will always be; fuch a tafte as puts the feal of immortality to those works in which it is difcovered; a tafe fo neceffary, that without it we may be certain that the greatest powers of nature will long continue in a state below themselves; for no man ought to allow himself to be flattered or feduced by the example of fome men of genius, who have rather appeared to defpife this taste than to, defpife it in reality. It is true that excellent originals have given occafion, without any fault of their own, to very bad copies. No man ought feverely to ape either the ancients or the moderns: but if it was neceffary to run into an extreme of one fide or the other, which is never done by a judicious and well-directed mind, it would be better for a wit, as for a painter, to enrich himself by what he can take from the ancients, than to grow poor by taking all from his own stock; or openly to affect an imitation of thofe moderns whofe more fertile genius has produced beauties peculiar to themfelves, and which themfelves only can difplay with grace beauties of that peculiar kind, that they are not fit to be imitated by others; though in thofe who first invented them they may be juftly efteemed, and in them only.

A C

ACCOUNT

OF A

BOOK,

ENTITLED,

An historical and critical Enquiry into the Evi dence produced by the Earls of MORAY and MORTON, against MARY Queen of Scots*; With an Examination of the Rev. Dr. ROBERTSON'S Differtation, and Mr. HUME'S Hiftory, with respect to that Evidence†.

WE

E live in an age in which there is much talk of independence, of private judgment, of liberty of thought, and liberty of prefs. Our clamorous praises of liberty fufficiently prove that we enjoy it; and if by liberty nothing else be meant, than fecurity from the perfecutions of power, it is so fully poffeffed by us, that little more is to be defired, except that one fhould talk of it lefs, and use it better.

But a focial being can scarcely rife to complete independence; he that has any wants, which others can

Written by Mr. Tytler, of Edinburgh. E.

↑ Printed in the Gentleman's Magazine, October 1760. E.

fupply

fupply, must study the gratification of them whofe affiftance he expects; this is equally true, whether his wants be wants of nature or of vanity. The writers of the present time are not always candidates for preferment, nor often the hirelings of a patron. They profess to serve no interest, and fpeak with loud contempt of fycophants and flaves,

There is, however, a power, from whofe influence neither they nor their predeceffors have ever been free, Those who have fet greatnefs at defiance, have yet been the flaves of fashion. When an opinion has once become popular, very few are willing to oppofe it. Idlenefs is more willing to credit than enquire; cowardice is afraid of controverfy, and vanity of anfwer; and he that writes merely for fale, is tempted to court purchasers by flattering the prejudices of the public.

It has now been fashionable for near half a century, to defame and vilify the houfe of Stuart, and to exalt and magnify the reign of Elizabeth. The Stuarts have found few apologifts, for the dead cannot pay for praife; and who will, without reward, oppofe the tide of popularity? Yet there remains ftill among us, not wholly extin guifhed, a zeal for truth, a defire of establishing right, in oppofition to fashion. The author, whofe work is now before us, has attempted a vindication of Mary of Scotland, whofe name has for fome years been generally refigned to infamy, and who has been confidered as the murderer of her husband, and condemned by her own letters.

Of these letters, the author of this vindication confeffes the importance to be fuch, that if they be genuine, the

queen

queen was guilty; and if they be fpurious, he was innocent. He has, therefore, undertaken to prove them fpurious, and divided his treatife into fix parts.

in

In the first is contained the hiftory of the letters, from their discovery by the earl of Morton, their being produced against Q. Mary, and their several appearances England before Q. Elizabeth and her commiffioners, until they were finally delivered back again to the earl of Morton.

The fecond contains a short abstract of Mr. Goodall's arguments for proving the letters to be fpurious and forged; and of Dr. Robertfon and Mr. Hume's objections by way of answer to Mr. Goodall, with critical obfervations on these authors.

The third contains an examination of the arguments of Dr. Robertson and Mr. Hume, in fupport of the authenticity of the letters.

The fourth contains an examination of the confeffion of Nicholas Hubert, commonly called French Paris, with obfervations fhewing the fame to be a forgery.

The fifth contains a fhort recapitulation or fummary of the arguments on both fides of the question. And, The last is an hiftorical collection of the direct or pofitive evidence ftill on record, tending to fhew what part the earls of Murray, and Morton, and fecretary Lethington, had in the murder of the lord Darnley.

The author apologifes for the length of this book, by obferving, that it neceffarily comprises a great number of particulars, which could not easily be contracted: the fame plea may be made for the imperfection of our extract, which will naturally fall below the force of the

2

book,