i mAZ ^^tY\^ LIBRARY '^T^\'^ ^^ ¥t#- cfr^.gjtt LITERARY and CHARACTERISTICAL LIVES ^ OF JOHN GREGORY, m. d. HENRY HOME, LORD KAMEG. DAVID HUME, ^s^i^ AND ADAM SMITH, l. l. d. f TO WniClI ARE ADDED /> DISSERTATION ON PUBLIC SPIRIT; VVND THREE ESSJTS. BY THE LATE WILLIAM SMELLIE, JiEMBER X)F THE ANTIQUARIAN AND ROYAL SOCIETIES OF EDINBURGH. EDINBURGH: PRINTED AND SOLD BY ALEX. SMELLIE, ANCHOR CLOSL?, BELL y BRADFUTE, J. DICKSON, W. CREECH, E. DALFOUR, P. HILL, J. SIMPSON, W. LAING, A. LAWRIE, MANNERS il}' MILLER, J. OGLE, J. GUTHRIE, A. CONSTABLE, R.JACK, AND G. GRAY, EDINBURGH ; G. G. CJ" J. ROBINSON, CADELL fo' OAVIESj T, KAY, AND R. OGLE, LONDON. 1800, r TO Tllli RIGHT HONOURABLE ROBERT DUNDAS OF ARNISTON, LORD ADVOCATE OF SCOTLAND. My Lord, I HAVE prefumed, without alking permiffion, to Dedicate this Work to your Lordfhip. Though men, like you, who are engag- ed in the important bufmefs and a£live icenes which your High and Honourable Office in a great nation neceflarily requires, have little leifure either of time or of mind for abftracSt ftudies, an Account of the Lives of four of your eminent Countrymen, may find. lir DEDICATION. find, amldft your more ferious occupations, a vacant hour which it may interefl: or amufe. My Father's defign, had he lived to exe- cute it, was to have written Literary and Charaderiftical Accounts of Scottifh Au- thors with whom he was perfonally ac- (jUaicted, and to have pubUllicd them after the manner of Biographical Dictionaries, in an Alphabetical Arrangement.— -Among thefe were, Arnot (Hugo), Efqi Ad- vocate. Alfton (Dr) Profeffor of Botany in the Univer- {ity of Edinburgh. Blair (Dr Hugo) one of the minifters of Edin^ Beattie (Dr). Blacklock (Dr). Black (Dr). Campbell (Dr) ProfeiTor at Aberdeen. Cullen (Dr). Dalrymple (Sir David jj Bart. Lord Hailes. • Erlkine, ProfefTor of Scot- tifla Law. Elibank (Lord). FerguiTon (ProfefTor). Garden (Francis), Efq; one of the Senators of the College of Juftice. Gardiner (Dr John). Gregory (Dr John). Home, DrEDICATIOlT. Home, Lord Karnes Hume (David). Hutton (Dr). Monboddo (Lord). Monro (Dr Alex.) Plummer (Dr). Robertfon (Principal). Smith (Adam), L. L. D. Stuart (Dr Gilbert). Stuart (Dr Matthew). Tytler (William), W. S. of Woodhoufeiee. Wilfon (Dr) Pi-ofefTor of Aftronomy at Glafgow, Wilkie (Dr). White (Dr). The Author's intention, befide the par- ticular information and remarks which he meant his Work to convey, was to encou- rage in his native country a tafte for bio- graphical writing, which never fails to ex- cite a fpirit of inquiry, and, of courfe, to expand the views of men with regard t-o fcience and every thing that contributes to a2;grandife, or to adorn a nadon. Biography befides affords that reward moft valued by generous minds which the gratitude of pofterity beftows on patriotifm and virtue. The intereft, My Lord, which this VI DEDICATION. , this circiimftance might induce you to feel in it, your Countrymen will acknowledge much more readily than yourfelf. But truth, not panegyric, is equally the objedl of this Addrefs as it was of my Father's "Work, to which I take the liberty of pre- fixing it. Allow me, therefore, only to add the aflurance of that fmcere refpect and attachment with which I have the honour to be, My Lord, Your Lordfhip's mofi: Humble Servant, Edinburgh, > Nov. 20. 1799.3 ALEX. SMELLIE. CON- CONTENTS. Page. The Life of John Gregort, M. D, i ' Henry Home, Lord Kames - - 119 . j9^ yiii Hume, Es^, 149 = Adam Smith, L» L, D, 211 jl Dijfcrtatioti on the Means of Promot- ing and Supporting Public Spirit - 299 PART I. Origin of Selfifldnefs - - 313 PART II. Of the "Education of Children with re- gard to Public Spirit - - 327 Sect. II, Of Infants, i. e. that par licit' lar Stage of Life before Chil- dren Acquire the TJfe of Ar- tificial Language - 339 Sect. Vlll CONTENTS. Sect. III. Of Cultivating Public Spirit in Children^ from the In~ fantitie Stage, till they ar- rive at the Reafoning Pc" riod of Life - - 3^14 PART III. Means of Promoting Public Spirit, a- dapted to the Prefent Situation of Mankind - - - ' 2>1^ Sect. I. Of Gaming - - 394 ' II. Contempt of the Vulgar - 397 III. Scandal ; or Falfe fudgment of Anions - - 399 •= IV. Marriage - - - 401 V. Profanity \ or Contempt of P^c- ligion - - - 403 ESSAY L Whether are all Animate and Inanimate Bodies Made for the Immediate life and Conveniency of Mankind ; or, is that only a Secondary End of their Exijlence - - - - 413 ESSAY CONTENTS. IX ESSAY II. Page, Whether Oratory^ upon the whoky has been ofUfeto Mankind - - 43^ ESSAY III. %f Poverty - - - - 439 ADVERTISEMENT. A Small Addition to the Price mention- ed in the Profpedus of this Book is made on Account of the Work being Larger than what was originally intended. THE THE LIFE OF JOHN GREGORY, M. D. F. R. S. '.ATE PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE IN THE UNIVER- Sirr OF EDINBURGH, AND FIRST PHYSICIAN TO HIS MAJESrr IN SCOTLAND. Dr John Gregory was the fon of Dr James Gregory, ProfefTor of Medicine in King's College, Aberdeen, and grand Ton of James, the inventor of the Gregorian Te- lefcope. His father was lirll married to Catharine Forbes, daughter of Sir John Forbes of Monymuik, by whom he had fix children, but mod of them died in in- fancy ; fometime afterwards, he married Anne Chalmers, daughter of the Rev. Mr George Chalmers Principal of King's Col- lege, by whom he had two fons and a A daughter. 2 ^HE LIFE OF daughter. John, the youngeft of the three, was born at Aberdeen June 3. 1724. When only feven years of age, his father died ; and his education was fuperintended chiefly by his grandfather Principal Chambers. At the grammar fchool of Aberdeen, he re- ceived the rudiments of his claffical educa- tion, which he afterwards improved and extended by ftudying the antient authors with whofe writings he was greatly de- lighted ; and, under the infpedion of his grandfather, he fmifhed, in King's College, his fludies in the Latin and Greek langua- ges, as well as in the fciences of Ethics, Mathematics, and Natural Philofophy. Mr Gregory, in the year 1742, went to Edinburgh, where, at that time, the now fo celebrated fchool of medicine was rif- ing into high reputation. Ke attended the Anatomical Lectures of Dr Alexander Monro the elder, of Dr Sinclair on the Theory of Medicine, and of Dr Ruther- ford on the Pradiice. Ke like wife attended the Preledions of Dr Alfton on the Materia Medica and Botany, and thofe of Dr Plum- mer DR JO. GREGORY. 3 mer on Chemiftry. The Medical Society of Edinburgh was inflituted for the pur- pofe of difcuffing with freedom all fubjedts conneded with Medicine and Philofophyo Mr Gregory, it appears, was a member of that focicty in the vear 1742, when the fa- mous Dr Mark Akenfide, his fellow ilu- dent and intimate companion, belonged to that ufcful inftitution. In 1745, Mr Gre- gory went to Leyden, where he ftudied un- der the celebrated Gaubius, Albinus, and Van Royen. While refiding at Leyden, he had the honour of receiving, from the King's College of Aberdeen, an unfollicited degree of Dodor of Medicine; and, foon af- ter his return from Holland, he was eleded Profeflbr of Philofophy in that Univeriity, Agreeably to the nature of his employment, in the years 1747, 1748, and 1749, he de- livered ledlureson Mathematics, Natural Phi^ lofophy, and Moral Philofophy. Towards the end of the year 1 749, however, he chofe to refignhis Profeflbrihip of Philofophy, hav- ing directed his views chiefly tO' the Prac- tice of Phyfic. But, previoufly to his iettling as a phyfician at Aberdeen, he went for fome 4 THE LIFE OF lome months to the Contment, both, per- haps, to enlarge his ideas and to procure amufement. After his return to Scotland, Dr Gregory in the year 1745, married EUfa- beth daughter of Lord Forbes, a beautiful and accompllfhed young lady, with whom he received a confiderable addition to his for- tune. During the period of their union, which was nine years only, they mutual- ly enjoyed a high degree of domeftic feli- city. At that period, the chief medical prac- tice was pre-occupied by his elder brother, Dr James Gregory. This circumftance in- duced Dr John to try his fortune in London; to which city he repaired in the year 1 754, ivhere his reputation as a man of genius foon procured him the countenance and in- timate intercourfe of many of the firft li- terary charafters in England. In the fame' year, he was made a member of the Royal Society in London ; and he w^ould unquef- tionably, if he had remained in that me- tropolis, foon have acquired an extenfive practice. DR JO. GREGORY. 5 pradice^ But the death of his brother Dr James Gregory, in November 1755, oc- cafioned a vacancy in the Profeflbrfhip of Medicine in King's College, Aberdeen. To this chair, in his abfence, he was eieifled, and folicited to perform the duties of that office. For this purpofe, in the beginning of the following year, he returned to his native country. The philofophical opinions and writings of Reid, of Campbell, of Beattie, of Gerard, and of Gregory, eflablifh virtue on a firm and unalterable bafis, give ftability to mo- rals, and vindicate the fupremacy of what is denominated common fenfe. Many of the mod celebrated works of thofe and other Philofophers derived their origin from a li- terary fociety, v;hich held its meetings, in Aberdeen, once every week. A part of the entertainment for the evening v/as the reading of fhort effays, which were com- pofed, in rotation, by the members. Dr Reid and Dr Gregory were the inftitutors of this Society. It confifted chiefly of fome of 6 THE LIFE OF of the Profeflbrs of the King's and Marif- chal Colleges of Aberdeen, but admitted other literary gentlemen of the place. In this Society, Dr Gregory read occafionally thofe Eflays which he afterwards methodifed and publifhed in the year 1764, under the title of A Comparative View of the State and Faculties of Man with thofe of the Animal World, To convey fome idea of this book, I ihall give a ihort iketch of its plan. — The condition of man, in a ilate of fociety, may be viewed in three different afpeds. Iii his favage ftate, he is diftinguiflied by the higheft improvement of his coi'poreal pow- ers, and, of courfe, by a proportional ne- glect of his intelledual faculties. As focie- ty advances in its progrefs, the focial affec- tions begin to appear; the heroic virtues are difplayed ; war is, in fome meafure, regu- lated by the principles of honour ; and the fpirit of patriotifm produces high exertions of generofity and courage. Succeeding ages behold the fame people extending their ter- ritory ; holding intercourfe with diftant na-* tions 5 DR JO. GREGORY. 7 tions ; acquiring wealth by means of com- merce ; and gradually advancing to the pe- fiod of refinement and luxury. In this ftage of fociety, the heroic virtues are ob- literated, and are fucceeded by a paflion for the objedts of Tafte in produdlions of the fine arts. Invention is excited and induf- try ilimulated by the artificial wants created by luxury. Extenfion of intercourfe re- fines the manners of mankind, and leifure and eafe invite them to improve their un- derftandings and their genius. The pof- fibility of any nation being capable of unit- ing the advantages peculiar to each of thofe ftages of fociety, is perfedly chimerical ; but it appeared to our author, that, though it was impoflible for large aiTociations of men to realife this idea, ftill it was pra(Sti- cable for individuals to attain this mod de- firable end. To him, it feemed not irratio- nal to think, that men endowed with the moft perfedl ufe of their bodily powers, might alfo reach the higheft improvement of their mental faculties ; that the heroic virtues might be united with a tafte for ele- gance and of beauty ; that they might, to fimplicity » THE LIFE OF fi'mplicity and inoffenfive manners, add ge- nuine politenefs, and, at once, cultivate the virtuous feelings of the heart and the facul- ties of the mind. Dr Gregory's obfervations, in the firfi: fe(5lion of this fmall but ingenious and ufe- ful book, on the management of infants, and their education, merit the particular at- tention of ail parents. Here he lliews, that moft human calamities derive their ori- gin, not from Nature, but from mens own caprice, inattention, and folly. Of this kind are the innumerable evils which arife from the mifmanagement of infants, and the abfurd feverity in the mode of educat- ing them. Thefe evils the remarks and re- monilrances of Dr Gregory, foon contri- buted, in a great meafure, to eradicate. But with regard to the too common fyfteni of early education, his obfervations, thougli extremely juft, have not obtained equal fuc- cefs. Every man muft regret, v/ith our author, that "the happieft period of human life, the days of health, chearfulnefs, and innocence, on which we always refled: with pleafure, DR jo. GREGORY. pkafure, not without fome mixture of re- gret, are fpent in the midft of tears, punifh- ment, and flavery ; and this to anfwcr no other end, but to make a child a man fome vears before Nature intended he fliould be 5> one. In treating more diredlly of the compa- rative ftate of man and the inferior animals, he remarks, that, by the moft accurate cal- culations, one half of the human fpecies die before they arrive at their eighth year. This mortality is greateft among the opu- lent and luxurious part of mankind. It gradually diminiflies as the diet becomes fimpler, the exercife more frequent, and the manner of living more hardy. Among wild animals no fuch calamity takes place. From thefe fads, the general foundations of this mortality among the olTspring of men are, in fome meafure, apparent. The great havock made by difcales ariles chiefly from the unnatural treatment they receive. Their own inftindls, and the conduct of Nature in rearing other animals, are ne- ver regarded. When farther advanced in B life, 10 THE LIFE OF life, the inflindls of Nature become ifre- fiftible. The great mortahty among chil- dren has been confidered as a natural evil, and, therefore, an unavoidable one, and, of courfe, is fubmitted to without examination. Why the (late of infancy is the moO: fickly, and vv'hy fo great a proportion of mankind is cut off at that early period, phyficians have afcribed to feveral caufes ; as, the dangers arifing from the fudden and almoft total change of the animal oeconomy which takes place immediately at birth j the dan- gers produced by the free admixTion of the external air to their bodies ; the high de- gree of irritability in their nervous fyftem ; the delicacy of their whole frame, and the acefcency of their food. This account of the matter, though feemingly plaufible, is by no means fatisfad:ory. It (hould be con- fidered, that all theie fuppofed caufes of the difeafes of infants are not confined to the hum.an fpecies, but extend to many other animals, without producing thofe or fimilar cfTeds ; that the difeafes mofl fatal to chil- dren have no exiftence among favage na- tions J and that their prevalence is propor- tioned DR JO. GREGORY. II tioned to the progrefs of luxury and of ef- feminate manners, joined to the negle£t of the plain didates of infiind and of Nature. During infancy, children, in general, en- joy a greater luxuriancy of life and health than in any other period. Inf;inrs, it is true, are more delicately fenfible of injury than thofe advanced in life. But, as a com- penfation, their fibres anrl veilels are more capable of diftention, and their whole fyf- tern more flexible ; their fluids are Id's acrid, and lefs liable to afliime a putref- cent quality; they can fupport every eva- cuation more eafily, except the lois ot blood ; and, wliat is much in their favour, they are entirely emancipated from the of"- ten injurious confequences of imaginary ter- rors. Their animal fpirits,. if not blunued by the preflure of difeafe, are always viva- cious ; they foon forget pad fufferings, and never anticipate future. Theie, and fimilar advantages, enable children to recover from difeafes vvhich are always fatal to adults. All aniinals, except the females of the human 12 THE LIFE OF human fpecles, bring forth their young with^ out affiftance, except fome which we have corrupted and debilitated by forcing them. from a natural to a domeftic ftate. But we moft abfurdly think Nature unqualified for this important office ; and, to fupply that tlefe£l, call in the affiftance of ignorant and ' often dangeroully blundering midwives. It is too well known, that numbers of infants, as well as mothers, fall daily victims to the prepoftercus management of thofe pretend- ed artifts. A well inftrudled widvv^ife, it mud be acknowledged, is, for many rea- fons, preferable to an accoucheur. Wo- men have generally more patience than men ; bcfides, men are often fo occupied with buiinefs as furgeons, &c. tliat they tire, cannot wait the flow but fure opera- tions of Nature ; and, for thefe reafons, not unfrequently employ force when no force is neceffary. The moil Ikilful praditioners allow, that, in all common cales, Nature alone is perfectly fufficient, and that it is their bufmefs only to affift her elTorts Vvlien the motlier is v/eak, or the child prefents itfeif in an unfavourable poution. An in- fant DR JO. GREGORY. I3 fant no fooner comes into the world than it is crammed with phyfic. At their birth, the bowels of infants, and of many other animals, contain a vifcid kind of liquor, which it is neceflary to have difcharged. Nature has prepared a medicine that pro- duces this falutary effed: ; this medicine is the fir (I milk of the mother. But pradti- tioners abfurdly think that fome drug forced down the child's throat will anfwer tlie pur- pofe much better. On this fubjed, it is worthy of remark, that calves, the only animals generally under our immediate care and management, when brought forth, are treated in the fame manner as infants. The fame kind of phyfic is adminiftered to them, which is followed by the fmie efiecl, for many of them either die under the opera- tion, or of its confequences. The natural inPdnfl: of an infant, fome hours after birth, induces it to cry, in order to procure the milk of the mother. But the common praSice is very generally to deny that falutary gratification till after the third day. By this prepcfterous fuppreffioii of 14 THE LIFE OF of the natural evacuation of the miik, a fe- ver is ufually brought on ; the confequences of which are not unfrequently fatal to the mother : At any rate, it prevents her, for fome time, from giving fuck to her child. Another bad confequence of this delay is a fudden fwelling of the breads, which gene- rally happens about the third day. When the breads are thus fuddeniy and greatly diftended, a child is unable to fuck, and, by flruggling and crying, fatigues and heats both the mother and itfelf. This is another caufe which ofter prevents maternal nurling. Here it is worthy of notice, that the gentlemen, who fuperintended the Ly- ing-in Hofpital of London, were the firft who had the honour, in this mo- mentous and jinterefiing bufmefs, of bring- ing us back to Nature and common fenfe^ and of preferving the lives of thoufands. They made the cliiidren be put to the breaft of the mother as foon as thev difcovered any defire for it, which gene- rally happened ten or twelve hours after birth. This management rendered the ufual dofe of phyfic perfectly unneceiTary : and the DR JO. GREGORY. 15 the milk flowed gradually, and -with eafe, into the breafts. It is much to be regretted, however, that this mod fenfible and faluta- ry prad:ice has been but very partially fol- lowed. If a mother, from weaknefs, or other caufes, is refolved not to nurfe her own child, fhe ought, for her own fake, to fuckle it for fome weeks before flie transfers it to the charge of a flranger. By purfuing this condudt, Ihe, in all probabili- ty, will prevent the dangers arifing from repelling the milk. Mothers who are able, and do not nurfe their own children, violate one of the ftrong- eft laws of Nature. This violation is com- mitted by none of thofe inferior animals which were deftined, by the ftrudture of their organs, to fuckle their young. This unnatural prad:ice is unknown among bar- barous nations ; and was equally unknown in the polilhed nations of Greece and Rome. A woman, whatever be her condition in life, by not nurfmg her child, is in immi- nent danger oi lofmg her life by a milk-fe- ver, befide the rifk of inducing fwellings and i6 THE LIFE Gl- and impoRumes in the brcaRs, and fucli obftrudlions in their veflels as frequently give rife to cancers. — In the Lying-in Hof- pital of London, of 4,400 women, who brought forth chiklren, four only had milk- fores ; and even thefe had either very fmall nipples, or formerly fore breads. Children fhould be fuckled from nine to twelve months. Several circumftances indicate the propriety of weaning them about that time. In many parts of Europe, and in the whole of the Levant, children are allowed nothing but the milk of the mothers till they com- plete their firfl: year. By giving children food of more difficult digeftion at a more early period, many diforders are often pro- duced in their tender frames. Infants, re- cently after birth, often fuiTcr by giving them particular kinds of nourifliment which are thought to be perfeClly mild and agreea- ble to their conilitution, fuch as gruels, milk and v/atcr, v^/ine-whey, &c. At this time, however. Nature requires very little food, but a great deal of rcpofe. During fome Vv'eeks after birth, infants lleep almoil perpetually. Children fliould be weaned by DR JO, GREGORY. 17 by degrees, and every fubfequent alteration in their diet fhould likewile be gradual ; for too iiidden tranfitions often produce very bad eifedis. We are afloniilied at the abfurdity, and even cruelty, of fome nations exhibited in the management of children, and of the various modes of drefs in diffe- rent nations and regions of the globe. The Chinefe, from fome capricious fancy, think that the feet of their females, if not fqueezed, from the earlieft infancy, into one fourth of the fize which Nature intended, are un~ handfome. The Africans have a hmilarlv abfurd pradice of flattening the nofes of their offspring, with a viev^ to make them more beautiful. But we feldom think of an equally abfurd and more pernicious prac- tice in our own and many other nations of Europe. We think, that the natural {hape of a woman's body is not {o elegant as when compreffed with ilays, which, by the deep infedion of the lower part of the abdomen, makes her refemble an ci/iL Diforders in the ftomach, and even con- fumptions, are often the effeds of this hurt- G ful X8 THE LIFE OF fill prad:ice. Nature refents this pradice in a moft remarkable manner, by rendering more than one half of the women of fafliion, in one degree or other, deformed. Dcfor- mitv, except from accidental caufes, is pe- culiar to civilized nations. The Turkilh, the Afiatic women, as well as thofe who inhabit the numerous iilands of the fouthern ocean, who arc diftingui(hed by the ele- crance of their form and the eracefulnefs of their movements, wear no drefs but what is perfectly loofe. The flrength, hue pro- portions, and agility of Savages, are the natural refults of their hardy education, of their living chiefly in the open air,, and of their mxembers having never fullered any confinement. The remainder of this feclion * is occuy pied with judicious and pertinent remarks concerning the general management of chil- dren, with regard to food, clothing, exer- cife, &c. till they arrive at their fourth or fifth vear. The fecond leclion treats of tncie powers or * The book confilb of five. ^DR JO. GREGORY. I9 or faculties which give man a fiiperiarity over other animals. Thofe powers are de- rived from reafon, from the ftrong ailbciat- inc; principle, from what is called tajle^ and from religion. How far each of thefe con- tributes to the happinefs and cOmfort of mankind, Dr Gregory confiders at fome lenR JO. GREGORY. 43 iliffer in acutenefs. The mere conimuni-' cation of pleafure, by giving a tranfient m'atilication to the ear, is one end of mufic: But its mere noble and important purpofe is to influence the pafiions, and to affect the lieart. In the one view, it is an innocent amufement, which agreeably relaxes the mind after the fatigues of bufinefs or of iludy ; in another, it is one of the ufeful arts of life, it has always, however, been. an art of greater importance among uncul- tivated than civilized nations ; and it ap- pears, from many ancient aulliors, that un- der the term miific melody, dance, *and fong, were comprehended. By the exer- tions of thefe, barbarous nations, in almoil: every climate, have expreffed all the ftrong and animated emotions of the mind. By thefe powerful and attractive arts, they celebrate their public folemnities, and la- ment their private and public calamitieSj as the death of friends, or the lofs of war- riors ; by thefe united, they exprefs their ioy on m^arriages, harvefls, huntings, and victories; praife the great atlions of their htro'ss j and ftlraulate each ether to light: bravelr. 44 THE LIFE OF bravely, or to fuffer torments and death with a iirmneis and conftancy v^^hich are perfedly aftonifhing to polifhed and effe- minate nations. In the earlier periods of the Grecian States, their maxims, exhorta- tions, laws,, and even their hiftory, were written, or recited, in verfe. The rites of their religion were accompanied by dance and fong^j and their oracles v^ere delivered in verfe, and fung by the priefls or priertef- fes of their multifarious gods. Hence, as long as melody, conjoined with poetry, continued to be the vehicles of the chief principles of religion, morals, and polity, they were the proper and natural objeds- of public attention, and conilituted a prin- cipal part of the education of childrent. The character of a bard^ in antient times, • was univerfally held in the higheH: eftima- iion ; for it was commonly united w'ith that of legiflator and chief rnagiftrate. Af- ter the i^paration between mufic and poetry took place, the bard, for fome time, conti- nued * A pradlice common among the favages of the iilands in the Pacifi-: Ocean. I Plutarchns, de Mufica, DR JO. GREGORY. 45 nued to be the fecond charadter in the com- munity, becaufe he affifted the magiftrate in governing and adminiftering juftice to the people *. The bards, in all the Celtic nations, and particularly in Britain, were highly efteemed. The characters of gene- ral, poet, and mufician, were united in Fin- gal and OfTian. " Such was the fong of Fingal, in the day of his joy. His thou- fand bards leaned forward from their feats, to hear the voice of the king. It was like the mufic of the harp on the gale of the fpring. Lovely were thy thoughts, O Fingal ! Why had not Offian the ftrcagth of thy foul? But thou fiandeft alone, my father ; and who can equal the King of Morvenpf* The influence (9f the Welfh bards fo much retarded the progrefs of the arms of Edward I. that he fliamcfully or- dered the whole of them to be (lain. As the fmiplicity and purity of ancient man- ners declined in ancient Greece, the arts of mufic and poetry, formerly the ftrongeft incitements to virtue and every manly ex- ertion, were gradually proftituted to an- fwer * Suidas on the Lefbian Song. Hefiod, f Carthon. 46 THE LIFE OF fwer the purpofes of vice, or of mers amufement. The powers of eloquence derive their force chiefly from mufic, or the art of af- fedling the mind by founds variouily com- bined. The moft pathetic compofitions may be pronounced in fuch an awkward and uninterefting manner as makes theni lofe all their natural influence. Orations which have roufed the minds of the greateft men, and determined the fate of nations, have not unufually been read in private with langour, and even with difguft. .Like eloquence, mufic fliouki be direded to have fome determined effed: upon the hearers. If this eftoct is produced, the mufic is good ; if it fails, it is bad. Every coun- try poflelTes a peculiar melody adapted to t^tOi different paflions or emotions, V to which compoiers fhould pay the great- eft attention. In Scotland, for example, there is a chearful muhc perfectly fuit- ed to Inlpire the joyous fcnfations which excite dancing and mirth ; and a plaintive mufic that is highly expreffive of the tender- nefs and pleafant melancholy vvhlch are 'i^t by BR JO. GREGORY. 47 by lovers in dlftrefs. Both thefe fpecles are. original, and differ greatly from every other in Europe. It is of little confeqiience from what fource this mufic derived its origin, whether it be fimple or complex, and whe- ther agreeable to the ftrid rules of compo- fition or not. As long as it produces the .intended eifeds, either joyous or mourn- ful, in a degree fupeiior to that of any other country, it deferves the preference. It is to be lamented, however, that the Scot- tifli nation is likely to lofe its original mufic. The greater part of muncal people in Scot- land either negled it, or deprive it of that fn-nplicity upon which its furprifmg and agreeable effeds depended, by abfurd and fantaftical additions, moft prepoiteroiiflyde- uominated graces. The adoiiration pretended to he given to foreign mufic in Britain is, in general, a moft defpicable affedation. In Italy, the natives are often tranfported, at the opera, with all the variety of delight and 'pafTioa %vhich the compofer intended to produce. But, in Britain, the fame opera is viewed with ^8 THE LIFE OF with the moft apathetic inattention. To the very few who underftand the language, and who reUfh Italian mufic, the dramatic part of an opera appears to be perfedly ri- diculous. An abfurd vanity, however, is fa predominant over people offaQiionin Eng- land, that the Italian opera is more frequen- ted than any pther public amufement. In all melody intended to touch the heart, or even to pleafe the ear, fimplicity is indifpen- fible. If fimplicity of melody be fo necef- fary to move the paffions, it is ftlll more neceffary in harmony. The antient mufic produced greater eifeds than the modern, even if the accounts of it handed down to us fhould be allowed to be much exaggerated. Among them, mufic, as a fcience, was, how- ever, in a very low ftate. They were proba- bly ignorant of harmony ; for all their voices and inftruments were unifons in concert. Befides, the inftruments they employed feem to have been greatly inferior, in compafs, expreflion, and variety, to thofe we now poffefs. Still thefe deiiciencies might ren- der their mufic more powerfully exprel} ftve. Though DR JO. GREGORY. 49 Though we are ignorant of the particu- lar conftrudion of th^ antient mufic, we know, that it muft have been very fimple; for it was often compofed by ftatefinen, warriors, and bards; and people of all ranks, and, even children, could pradice this de- lightful art. In mufic, Dr Gregory remarks, the introduction of harmony opened a new and an extenfive field. It promifed to exhi- bit a variety which melody alone could ne- ver produce : It likewife promiled to beftow on melody an additional charm and energy. But, unfortunately, the firft compofers were fo totally occupied with the ftudy of har- mony, which was foon difcovered to be a fcience of great intricacy and extent, that the principal ends of it Vvrere entirely over- looked. Thefe compofers valued themfelves on the laboured conllruetion of parts, which they mukiplied furprihngly. The art of counter-point and complicated harmony was invented by Guido in the eleventh century, and carried to its higheil perfec- tion by Palaeftrini, who lived in the days of Leo X. This fpecies of mufic, however was underftood only by fuch perfons as had ^ made ^^O THE LIFE OF • made it a particular ftudy. The few whq did underftand it, acknowledged that it was evidently defedtive in air or melody, efpe- cially when the parts ran into fugues or canons. It muft be allowed, however, that thefe old full compofitions were frequently attended with a gravity, a majefty, and a folemnity, which were admirably adapted to the public fervices of the church. They gave a foothing tranquillity to the mind, ■which difpelled all earthly cares, and elevat- ed it to heaven. Fugues, in vocal mufic, is ill adapted to move the paffions. When four voices are employed at the fame time, and each of them is expreffing a different fentiment, as well as a different mufical pafiage, it is impoffible that a hearer fhould attend to, and be affecled by, all of them. Catches are a fpecies of fugues, the pleafure of which arifes not from the melody nor from its beino; exDreffive of the fub!e(fl:, but from the unexpeCced alTemblage of words, joined to the fpirit and humour of the fmgers. Vpcai is the firfl and moft natural mufic of every DR JO. GREGORY. j"! tvefy country ; it is, therefore, reafonable to exped:, that it fhould have fome analo- gy with the poetry of the country, to which it is always adapted^ The renlarkable fu- periority of the Scottifli fongs to the Eng- li(h, may be accounted ifor from the fol- lowing fads. The Scottlfh fongs are fim- pie, pathetic, and abound in ftrokes of Na- ture and pafTion. Theii* mufic is finely adapted to their fongs. But moft of the Englifh fongs are full of childifh conceits. All of them aim at wit, and fome of them attain their end. But mufic has no expref- fion for wit. Hence the mufic of their fongs is flat and infipid, and fo little ef- teemed by the Englifh themfelves, that it is perpetually fiuduating, and has never reached any charaderiftic ftile. Dr Brown properly remarks, *' that moft countries peopled by colonies, which, after a certain period of civilization, have-iflued from their native foil, poffefs no charaderiftic mufic of their own ; that the Irifh, WeKh, and Scotch, are ftridly natives, and, according- ly, have a mufic of their own ; that the Englifh, on the contrary, are a foreign mix- ture 52 THE LIFE OF ture of iatc eftabllfhed colonies, and, as a confequence of this, have no native mufic ^ and that the original mufic of England muft be fought for in Wales." England has, however, produced many excellent compofers of church-mufic. Re- ligion opens an ample field for mufical, a& well as poetical genius. Religion furnifhes almofl: the whole variety of fubjed;s which mufic is capable of exprefiing ; the fublime, the joyous, the ferene, the devout, and the plaintive. It, at the fame time, warms the heart with an enthufiafm which works of genius uniformly excite. The fineft com- pofitions in mufic, accordingly, are in the church ftile. Though far advanced in years, and when his conftitution and fpirits feem- ed to be nearly exhaufted, Handel was fo much roufed by this fubjedt, that, in his Mejfiahy he exhibited an extent and fubli- micy of genius, fuperior to any he had dif- ccvered in the moil vigorous periods of his life. Marcello, a noble Venetian, is another inflance of the fame kind. He fet to mu- fic the firft fifty pfalms of David, King of Ifraeh BR JO. GREGORY. 5^ Ifrael. In this performance, Marcello united the fimplicity and pathos of antient mufic with the grace and variety of the modern. In vocal mufic, the great objedl is to make it expreffive of the fentiments meant to be conveyed. Where imitation is in- tended, it fhould be laid not upon the voice, but on the inftrumental accompanyments, which, by their greater compafs and variety, are better fuited to perform the imitation, while the voice is left at liberty to exprefs the fentiment. In the union of mufic with poetry, the mufic fhould always be fubfer- vient to the poetry : But the reverfe is the common practice ; for the poetry is univer- fally made fubordinate to the mufic. Han- del obliged thofe who compofed the words of his oratories to alter and tranfpofe them, as he thought beft fuited his mufic ; and, as no man of genius could poflibly fubmit to fuch a practice, the poetry is generally moft abominable. Befide its connection with poetry, the effects of mufic depend upon many other circuraftances. 54 THE LIFE OF circumftances. For inftance, the efFed oi cathedral mufic depends greatly on its be- ing properly adapted to the fervice of (he day and the difcou'fe of the preacher: Yet this circumftance is never regarded. The whole condudt of the mufic is left entirely to the caprice of the organiil:, who makes it airy or grave, chearfui or plaintive, as fuits his own fancy. The fame want of tafte is often ex- hibited in the mufic performed between the a6ls of a tragedy, w^here the tone of pafTion 18 frequently interrupted and deftroyed by impertinent and chearfui mufic. The ef- fufions of unbridled fancy are often honour- ed with the titles of invention, fpirit, and genius, and mufical tafte, in general, feems to mean nothing more than an attachment to what is new, and a contempt for what- ever is old. Hence it is pretty generally admitted, that,- in muiic, there are no fix- ed principles, as in other fine arts, and that it has no foundation but in failiion and ca- price. Dr Gregory, hovv-ever, with much pro- priety, remarks, that the principles of tafte in- DR JO. GREGORY. 55 in mufic are equally founded in human na- ture as thofe of any other art or faience. The chief principles which merit attention are thofe which beftow on mufic the power over the paffions. The next principles to be examined are thofe which the art exhi- bits merely for the purpofes of amuferaent and a tranfient gratification of the ear. In the lafl and lowed place, may be confidered the powers of execution, when employed folely with the vi^jw of exciting furprife and admiration of the abilities of the performer. In the fourth fedion, Dr Gregory re- marks, that as he had formerly made a few obfervations on the effeitts produced hy a cultivated tafte in fome of the fine arts, he ihall now proceed to confider its influence on the pleafure we derive from fuch works *M genius as are peculiarly addrefled to the imagination and the heart. In the earlier periods of life, this pleafure is often very great. In youth the imagination is live- ly, and the heart is equally fufceptible of the joyous impreflions of wit and humour, the energy of the fublime, and of every delicate §6 THE LIFE OF delicate fentlment of humanity. Like every other thing in nature, the imagination is governed by fixed and general laws, v^rhich can be difcovered by experience alone. But thefe laws are not eafily afcertained. The fubjedt varies fo much in different countries, and even in the conftitutions and ages of in- dividuals, that veryfuperior talents are necef- fary toform any kind of fyftem of thefe laws. Such a fyftem, particularly with regard to dramatic and epic poetry, was devifed by fome eminent men ' of antiquity, and has fmce been almofi: univerfally adopted. It has thrown confiderable light on fome of the leading principles of criticifm ; and rules have been eftabliflied which were de- rived from the perception of fuch beauties as conveyed pleafure to the reader. With- out detradting^ however, from the merit of antient critics, it muft be obferved, accor- ding to our author, that nothing has a greater tendency to check the improvement of any art or fciencc, than too haftily re- ducing all its principles into a regular fyf- tem. The great body of mankind cannot ^hink or judge for themfelves. There are a few DR JO. GREGORY. $7 few leading fplrits whom the reft muft fol- low implicitly. This is one reafon why fyftems are fo univerfally acceptable. Thefe obfervations are peculiarly applicable to fyf- tems and rules of criticifm. When con- fidered folely as affiftances to the exertions of tafte ; as unfolding and heightening our difcernment of beauty, by collecting and arranging the feelings of Nature, they pr-o- mote the improvement of the fine arts. Butj when they are regarded as fixed and efta* bUfhed ftandards from which there is no appeal ; when they impofe on us the weight of authority, and prefcribe a precife line beyond which the works of imagination cannot pretend to pafs ; then they are pro- dudive of much more harm than good. Of all the powers of the human mind, tafte is the moft impatient of ftrid coniiuemenr. 3ome general principles rnay be inculcated ; but it muft be a fruitlefs attempt to limit !;he imagination entirely to thefe rules or principles. Befides, all criticifm muft, in a certain degree, be both lotal and tempo- H pOlTU: jS THE LIFE OF Seme nations, as well as fome Individuals, are bell: plcafed with Nature in her faircft and moft regular forms ; while others ad- mire her in the great, the wild, and the wonderful. In France, elegance, regulari- ty, and fentiment are the chief ohjedts of their tafte and criticifm. But the French maxims and rules of criticifm cannot, with any degree of propriety, be adopted in Bri- tain ; for the natural genius and tafte of the people are widely different. In Bri- tain, tlic grand, the fublime, the furprifnig, and every obje6: wliicli forcibly flrlkes the imagination, are chiefly regarded and ad- mired. Without thefe, the utmoft elei>:ance and propriety appear cold and unintereftin;!;. AVherevcr what is denominated a very cor- reSI ta/h is generally prevalent, genius and invention foon lanrruilh. Delicacy or re- linement of tafte is an acquifition both dan- jyerons and deceitful. It flatters our Dridc by p-iving; us a confcioufnefs of fuDe^oril^^ v.xidi^ by Ipecious promifes of conferring on us enjoyments of which the common herd of mankind are totally ignorant, not un- frequently dcprive's-us of thofe pleafures which bR JO. GREGORY, ^Q which are attamable by the whole of our fpecles. Moft of our internal and external fenfiitioas, by conRant indulgence and at- tention, may be brought to fuch a degree of diieafed acutenel's as to be difguded at almoll every objedf. 'i'his extreme fenfi- bihty, though originally founded on afTec- tation and vanity, yety by habitual indul- gence, loon becomes real. Nature, hovv'- ever, has fet bounds to all our pleafures. Wifnin thefe bounds, we may enjoy them wnth fafsty. But, if v^^e refine too much upon them, chagrin and difappointment are the certain coniequences. A delicacy fo falie and abfurd, in works of tafte, checks every eftbrt of genius and imagination, enervates the na- tural powers of language, and gives rife to that cold mediocrity in coinpofition, which does not always difguH:, but never alfcjrdj any great degree of pleafure. Clearnefs of underftandin^r is not the only quality requifite to form a good critic. Here the heart is as much concerned as tlic head* In general, it feeins to be more properly the bufmeis of philofophical criticifm to watch the excurfionc of fancy at a didance, thai! 60 THE LIFE OF than to be continually checking all itrs un- important irregularities. The beauties of works of tafte are of different kinds, and fo are their blemithes. The French dramati- cal writers, by ftridly adhering to the ge- neral ceconomy and unity of their fable, and the conilruction of their fcenes, have univerfally obtained the charader of being iuperior in corrednefs to thofe of the Eng- Uih. But, when confidered in another ])oint of view, we frnd that the French are much excelled by the EngUfh writers. Even in the beil: French dramatic pieces, there is a want of energy, and often a degree of languor. The fpeeches are generally too long and declamatory, the fentiments arc over-refined, and the charaders enervated. But, in the Engllili dramas, though not fo eleeant and regular, there is much more fire, force, and ftrength. The paiTions are expreffcd in a language fuitable to their re- fpedive natures j and the charaders dravv^n with, perhaps, a coarfer, but with a more manly pencil. Shakefpear, by his crca- tive imagination, by his ftrokes of nature and of pafTiOn, and by preierving an uniform confiftency DR JO. GREGORY. 6l confiftency in his various characters, more than fully compenfates for his tranfgreffions againft the fettering rules of time and place, with which the imagination can eafily dif- penfe. He frequently interrupts the cur- rent of the paflions by introducing low and ridiculous charadiers, which is a ftiU greater oppofition to Nature, and the laws of the drama. Critics liave chofen to confine the ima- gination within the boundaries of probabi- lity. But genius and imagination know no fach bounds. The ingenious Dr Johnfton, in his Adventurer, remarks, that, to our reafon, events may appear to be not only improbable, but even abfurd and impoffible; yet they are often embraced, with facility and delight, by the imagination. It is not very long ago, fmce it was univerfally be- lieved, that inviiible beings, of different ranks and difpofitions, interefted themfelves in human affairs. A belief well calculated to make deep impreffions on fome of the moft powerful pHnciples of our nature. It gratified the love of the marvellous ; it di- lated 6z THE LIFE Of lated the imagination, and gave it a bound- lefs range. No wonder^ therefore, that, iti thofe days, the old romances were highly cfteemed. Though a belief in the exiilence of thofe invifible powers is now almoil en- tirely annihilated; yet it ftill has confiderable influence on the imagination. It is from tliis circumftance that oriental tales conti- nue to be read and admired by people who have no belief in the exigence of Genii, or of any fimilar fpirits. In all fuch works of imagination, we only require an unity and coniiftency of character. Though tlie ima- gination is willingly induced to believe in the exiftence of beings which realon rejedls as ridiculous ; ftill events mud be reprefen- ted in inch a re^^ular manner as miHit be naturally expeded to be produced bv thele fuppofcd intelligences and powers. The facility with which die imagination is de- ceived appears in a remarkable manner from the efiecls of a well-acled tragedy. In this cafe, the imagination foon becomes too much heated, and the pallions too much agitated, to permit reafon to reflect that the uiflrefs exhibited is only feigned, la DR JO. GREGORY. 6;^ In modern novels, the deception is more 'complete than in tiie old romance. But, a? it *is the chief objed of the former to paint Na- ture and to delineate characters as they real- ly exifl, the powers of fancy cannot he equally exerted, nor the fucceffi on of inci- dents be fo quick and furprifing. Hence great genius is requilite to give them that degree of vivacity which is neceflary to captivate the imagination. The pleafures we derive from hiftory, ..life, in a great meafure, from the fame fourccs with thole vve receive from romance. It is not the mere recital of fads that p-ives us pleafure ; they mud be of that impor- tant kind vchich agitate and intereft the mind. But events of this nature do net frequently occur in iiiitory ; nor does it paint thofe minute features of particular perfons or characters which often en-'j-a-^e our affec'iiions and influence our paflions more than the fate of nations. It is not therefore, furprifing that we often find a dlfiiculty in ' keeping our attention aw^^ke -'V^'hen reading hiilory, and that few authors have ^4 THE LIFE OF have been remarkably fuccefsful in this fpc, cies of compofitlon. To make hiftory plea- fant and interefting, it is fufficient that it be impartial, that it be written with ele- gance, and abound with the moft judicious obfervations. Hiftory never interefts us agreeably, unlefs we contrail an attachment to fome important caufe, or to fome diftin- guilhed characters. The fate of thefe en- gages the attention, and keeps the mind in an anxious but pleafmg fufpenfe. Even in hiftory, we expe6l a fort of unity or con- fiftency of charadter. The moft important end of hiftory is to promote liberty and virtue, to which im» partial hiftory will always be favourable. But, when an hiftorian pays little or no at- tention to the principal objeds of hiftory, if he regards it folely as a vehicle of amufe- ment, he may unqueftionably make his w^ork anfwer a very different purpofe. The circumftances which accompany all great events are fo complicated, and the in- confiftencies of human charaders are fo va- rious, that a writer of ingenuity is enabled to . Dll JO. GREGORY. 6j lo place them In any point of view he chooies. Under the plaufihle pretence of a regard to truth, and of being fuperior to vulgar prejudices, he may render the beft caufe doubtful, and the moft refpec- table characters ambiguous. This effe6t may be produced without any abfolute de- viation from truth, by fuppreffing fome cir- cumftances, and reprefenting others in vi- vid colours ; by taking advantage of the frivolous fpirit of the age, which derives pleafure from feeing the moft facred and important fubjedls ridiculed ; and by infi- nuations which the author, fiom an affected fear of the laws, or a pretended delicacy with regard to eilabliihed opinions, feems imwilling fully to exprefs. This, of all the methods which have been employed to unhinge the principles of virtue, of liber- ty, and of human happinefs, is the moft dangerous and illiberal. We cannot con- fute a hint, or anfwer an objedlion, that is not expicitly ftated, A lively imagination, efpcciaily in poetry, cannot pofTibly be reftrained in the ufe of I metaphor 66 THE LIFE OF metaphor and imagery, which is the pecu* liar province of the imagination. In it, the founded underftanding can neither af- fift nor judge. As Shakefpear remarks, the poets eyCj as it gla?iccs from heaven to earthy from earth to heaven, fees number- lefs fimiiitudes which pafs unnoticed by the reil: of mankind. Between particular exter- nal forms in Nature, and certain affections af the mind, there is a corrcfpondence, which may be felt, but cannot always be explained. The afibciation may iometimes be acciden- tal ; but it feems to be often innate. From this circumftance, the difficulty of afcertain- ing the uv\Qfublime chiefly arifes. In truth, it cannot be limited by any bounds. It is entire- ly relative, and depends on the livelinefs and warmth of the imagination. Kence it is often very different in 'different countries. AVherever, for the fame reafon, there is a rich profufion of imagery, which, in fome kinds of poetry, conftitutes a principal beau- ty, obfcurity is ' generally complained of. This obfcurity is increafcd by thofe fudden Iranfitions which confound common readers, but are eafily comprehended by men who are DR JO. GREGORY. 6j are verfant In poetry. It Is a frultlefs tafk to attempt an accurate fcrutmy into the pro- priety of images or metaphors. If not felt at once, it can feldom be communicated ; for while we endeavour to analyfe it, the impreffion vanidies. The fame obfervation is appUcable to levV, or a rapid and unex- pected afTemblage of ideas, which agree- ably ftrike the mind either by their incon- gruity or refemblance. Neither is the jufl- nefs oi humour a lubjed; that will bear rea- foning. This coniiils in a lively paintln;^ of thofe weakneiTes of charaQer, which are not of importance enough to raife pity or indignation, but only excite mirth and laughter. We muft have an idea either of the original humourift or be afFed;ed with the reprefentation of his humour : and if we do not, at once, feel its juif- nefs, we can never perceive it. Hence, moit works of humour, fatire, and ridi- cule, which paint the features and manners of the times, being merely local and tran- iient, foon lofe their poignancy. Objects of imagination and tafte can on- 1 certain diflancej \y be viewed with advantage at a certain 6S THE LIFE OF dlftance, and in a particular light. When too near, the beauty which formerly charm- ed us appears to be either faded, or diilort- ed. Whatever we admire as great or beau- tiful, is attended with particular circum- ftances, which, if examined too minutely, would annihilate our enjoyment, and, in many cafes, create difguH:. We derive plea- fure from the grandeur of Nature in fome of her wildeft forms ; from the proipedt of ftu- pendous mountains, and other magnificent objects ; but, at the fame time, we are un- der no necefTity to confider the coldnefs and barrennefs which are fo generally conneded with them. Many paffages in the Night Thoughts of Dr Young are offenfive to a correct taflc. That work gives a falfe and gloomy reprefentation of human life. The poetry fometimes finks into quaint con- ceits, or profaic flatnefs, but ofteiier rifcs in- to a fpecies of falfe or turgid fubiime. The reafoning is frequently weak ; and the ge- neral plan of the work is both unhappily laid, and ill conducted. This work, how- ever, contains many ftrokes ol iubllmi- ty which few poets have been able to reach ; and is full of thofe patiietic de- fcriptions DR JO. GREGORt/ 69 fcriptions of Nature and paflion which moft tenderly afFedl the heart. Though the mind is fometimes difpofed to be pleafed with dark views of human life ; yet there are afflidlions too deep to bear either reafoning or amufement. They may ^dmit of being foothed, but cannot be diverted. The gloom of the Night Thoughts correfponds perfed- ly v/ith this ftate of mind. It indulges the prefent paffion, and, at the fame time, ad- miniflers thofe motives of confolation which alone are capable of making certain griefs fupportable. There is a fecrct pleafure which Nature has annexed to all our fym- pathetic feelings. We enter into fcenes of deep diPirefs and forrow with a tendernefs of heart far more delightful than ail the joys wiiich diilipated mirth can produce. The difcovery of many beauties in the works of Nature and of art, which would otherwife pafs unnoticed,' ought chiefly to be regarded in the cultivation of taile. Thomfon in his juRly admired poem, called the Scafons^ conveys much pleafure by the juftnefs of his painting. But his principal merit is the impreffing the mind v^^ith nu-' m.erou3 yo ' THE LIFE OF merous beauties exhibited by Nature, which did not formerly attradt the attention of mankind. To open new fources of inno- cent pleafures, is the mod ufeful effed: of criticifm ; and, it is for this reafon chiefly that tafte can .be efteemed as a real benefit to fociety. A good tafte and a good heart have been thought to be ftridly aflbciated. But there is a fpecies of tafte which is per- petually occupied with the difcovery of ble- mifhes and deformity, and, of courfe, can have no good effed: either on the temper or the heart. The mind takes a natural tin<^ure from thofe objeds which ufually' engrofs its attention. Frequent difguft fours the temper ; and a habit of too nice difcrimination contrails the heart, and, by exhibiting the faults and follies which exift in every character, not only checks the ge- nerous and benevolent affedions, but ex- jtinguiihcs all the pleafant emotions of love and admiration. In fubjeds of tafte, the dwelling too much on what is ridiculous has alio a bad ^fi'ett upon the charader, becaufe it pro- duces a fallen and gloomy pleafure only, bv DR JO. GREGORY. *Jl by cherifhing envy and malignity, which are the word and moil painful feelings in human nature. But an intimate acquain- tance with the works of Nature and of ee- nius, in their moft beautiful forms, foftens the temper, extends the imagination, and difpofes U3 to embrace the moll plealmg views of mankind and of Providence. By contemplating Nature in this light, the heart is dilated, and filled with the mod benevo- lent feelings. Then the fecret fympathy and the connexion between the perceptions of moral and natural beauty, between a good heart and a good tafte, become iiluf-- irioufly manifeft. In the fifth and laft fedion of the Compa- rative Vieiv, Dr Gregory treats of Religion ; and he confiders it chiefly as a principle founded in human nature, and treats of the influence it may or adually has on ^he hap- pinefs of our fpecies. There is, the Dodor remarks, fomething peculiarly foothing and comfortable in a firm belief that all Nature is fupported and governed by a good and an omnipotent Being ; a belief that we know the means of obtaining his favour; a belief that 72 THE LIFE Of that this life is only the infancy or ouf ftx- iftence ; that we iliall furvive the feeming defi:ru£tion of our prefent frame, and have it in our power to fecure our entrance Into a new ftate of endlefs happinefs. Though the belief of a Deity, however, and of a future exigence, has prevailed in all nations and ages j yet it has been too frequently attended with a variety of fuperftitions, \Yhicli have fometimes rendered it not only iifelefs but hurtful to the human race. The fupreme Being has often been reprefented as an objefl: of terror rather than of reve- rence and efteem ; as executing both pre- fent and eternal vengeance on the greateft part of mankind for crimes they never com- mitted, and for not believing dodrines which they never heard. Men have been taught that they did God an acceptable fer- vice by withdrawing from all the duties they owed to fociety, by denying themfelves all the plcafures of hfe, aud even by volun- tarily enduring, and even infliding on them- felves, the fevereft tortures which Nature could fupport. They have been taught that it was their duty to perfecute, ia die moft DR JO. GREGORY. 73 moft cruel manner, their fellow creatures, in order to bring them to an uniformity with themfdves in religious tenets ; an at- tempt equally barbarous and in-^poffible. In line, religion has often been uted as an en- gine to" deprive men of their moft valuable privileges, and to fubjecl them to the moft defpotic tyranny. Some ingenious m.en, induced by thefe pernicious confequcnces, were led to quel- lion, whether fuperftition or atbeifm were moft unfavourable to tlie happinefs ot fo- ciety. But experience has now ihown, that religion may fubfift in a public eftablilh- ment, diverted of that pernicious and abfurd fuperftition, which was only adventitious, and obvioufly repugnant to its genuine and orio-inal fpirit. To banifli fuperftition entire- ly from religion, in every individual, is in- ~deed impradicable ; becaufe it is impo(fibl6 to make the whole human race think wile- ly and properly on any fubjededge that tliey contain great and important truths ; but the impref- fions they make fcon vaniih. Pathetic ad- drcHcc DR JO. GREGORY. 8 3 di'elFes and reprefentations to the imagina- tion and paffions are the only fuccersftil modes of making men perceive the defor- mities of their own charaQers. iti addref- fes to a numerous audience, the great end of reforming mankind is moil effectually promoted by the union of voice, adlion, and the other arts of eloquence. Some of thofe arts, however, are not to be attained by any ftrength of genius or underftand- ing ; becauie they depend upon peculiar gifts of nature ; and even thefe gifts muH he highly cultivated by ftudy and pradics; before the proper exercife of them can be acquiretd. It is the buiinefs of art to re- prefent Nature in her mod graceful and ami- able forms, unattended with thofe pecuii- arkies w^hich ihe exhibits in particular in- ftances. It is this difficulty of reprefent- ing Nature properly, which renders the eloquence of the pulpit, the llage, and the bar, accomplifliments fo uncommon. Befide the talcr.rs of the preacher hlm- felf, an intimate acquaintance with Nature will luggefc the necefhty of paying atten- tion 86 THE LIFE OF tion to fome external circumftances, which operate ftrongly in the mind, and prepare it for receiving the impreflions defigned to be made; fuch is the proper regulation of church-mufic, and the folemnity of public worfhip. Independently of the effedts which circumftances of this kind have upon the imagination, a juft tafte, and a fenfe of propriety and decorum, fhould recommend them to our attention. They have, indeed, been abufed, and have given rife to the mod grofs fuperftition. But this propenfity to carry them to excefs, is the ftrongeft proof that our attachment to them is natural ; and, therefore; in (lead of extinguifhing, them, they ought, under proper regulations, to be encouraged. Without any ot thefe ex- ternal fupports, many of thefe religious fed:s .have fupported themfelves for fome time. But, after the fervour of their firfl: zeal has abated, their public worfliip has uniformly been conducled with a remark- ' -I able coldnef'i and infipidi.ty. It confifls with experience, that thofe fects who have diftinguiflied themfelves by a religious en- thufiafm, who defpifed all forms, have either DR JO. GREGORY. 87 either been of iliort duration, or terminat- ed in fcepticifm. The difficulties which render the art of making religion influence the manners of mankind, by commanding the imagination and paffions, have made it too generally negle6ted by clergymen of great learning and, good fenfe. They have rather chofen to follow a tra£t in which they were fure to excel by the ftrength of their own genius, than to attempt a doubt- ful path where inferior men might out- fliine them. Hence religious tenets and principles have chiefly been enforced by men poflTefled of lively imaginations and of fome natural advantages derived from voice and manner. As no art, however, can be ex- tenfively ufeful to mankind, unlefs it be conduced by good fenfe and genius, it has too frequently happened, that the art of preaching has produced the mofl abfurd fa- naticifm. In his tJjird view of religion, Dr Grego- ry confiders it as interefliing the aiTeftions, and, of courfe, comprehends its devotional or fentimental part. ■ The ipirit of devotion is: SS THE LIFE OF is, in a great meafure, conflitutioiiul ; for k depends upon a vivacious imagination- and a fenfibility of heart. Accordingly, in warm climates, devotion is mofl prevalent, and rifes to a greater height. Its great depen- dence on the imagination is obvious from the remarkable attachment it has to poetry and mufic. Mulic conftitutes a principal part of the paradife of every fe£l of religion and of every country. The Deity may be faid, with much propriety, to dwell in light inacceflible, when viewed by the cool eye of reafon. The mind ftruck with the im- menfity of his being, and a fenfe of its own littlenefs and unworthinefs, admires with that diftant awe and veneration that rather excludes love. But, when viewed by a warm and devout imagination, he may be- come an obje£t of great affedlion. A philo- fopher contemplates the Deity iu the wif- dom and benignity diiplayed in the works of Nature. A devout man confines his views chiefly to his own connedion with tlie Deity, to many inftances of his goodnefs he him- leli has already experienced, 'and the many greater he expeds to receive in futurity. The devotional taile is too often condemned as a DR JO. GREGORY. 8g a weaknefs by thofe who are Grangers to its joys. It mud be allowed, that too fre- quent opportunities have been given to turn this fubje6t into juft ridicule. A firongly devout imagination, when not directed by a found underftanding, is apt to run wild, and is often eager to publifh its extrava- gances. Devotional writings, however, when executed with judgement and taile, are highly ufeful and engaging. A devotional fpirit, when united to good ienfe and a chearful temper, gives a pecu- liar fupport and fleadinefs to virtue. It creates a gentlenefs and fcnfibiiity in the heart, and a mildnefs in the manners ; and, what is of ftill greater importance, it excites an univerfal love to mankind. There is a fublime and tender melancholy wliich al- mofl univerfally accompanies genius ; but it is too apt to degenerate into a gloomy difpofition, and not unfrequently into a dif- guft with the world. To footh this difpo- fition, by leading the mind to thofe prof- peds of Nature and providence which calm €very difcontented emotion, and dilTufe a M chearful nefs GQ THE LIFE OF chearfuinefs over many of the dark hours of life, devotion is moft admirably calcula» ted. I cannot conclude this analyfis of Dr Gre- gory's Comparative View of the State and Faculties of Man with thofe of the Animal Worlds vv^ithout remarking, that, after per- ufuig the book, every intelligent reader muft perceive the little con:ie6tion between the title and the work itfelf. The idea was in- -^enious ; but it is by no means ehicidated, or even followed. An accurate invefligation of the mental faculties and difpofitions of the inferior animals compared and occafion- ally contrafted v/ith thofe of man, is a great and a fertile fubjecl ; and it is to be regret- ted that Dr Gregory did not execute his i'eemingiy intended plan ; for his genius and abilities would certainly have enabled ]iim to accompliih a talk, which would in- fallibly have both plealed and informed the public. He, indeed, makes a fcv^r curfory and general remarks on the condition of brute animals. But man is his principal objed ; DP JO. GREGORY. 9^ ]e£t ; and he has confidered him in ma- ny interefting points of view. I fhall now proceed with the hidory of this confpicuous and amiable charader. Dr Gregory remained in Aberdeen till the end of the year 1764, when he changed his place of refidence, and went to Edin- burgh; and, in the year I766, he was ap- pointed Profeflbr of the Pradtice of Phyfie in that Univerfity, upon the refignation of the late learned and ingenious Dr Ruther- ford. Here Dr Gregory continued to lec~ ture to geat numbers, of pupils during the years 1767, 1768, and 1769. By agree- ment with the late Dr Cullen, Profellor of the Theory of Medicine, thefe two emi- nent men gave alternate courfes of the T le- ory and of the Practice 6f Phyfic. As a public fpeaker, Dr Gregory's manner -v^ras fnnple and animated ; and he expreffed his ideas with uncommon perfpicuity. By the afhitance 92 THE LIFE OF afliftancc of a few notes, he Ie(Siired with great fl\cility and elegance. The only lec- tures which he fully extended in writing- were thofe he read as introductory to his annual coude. Thefe he publifhed in the year 1770, under the title of Leisures on the Duties and ^lalifications of a Fhyfic'taiu Dr Gregory, in this work, has two objeds chiefly in view. 1. He points out thofe ac- complifhments which qualify a Phyfician for performing the practical duties of his profeilion. II. He gives rules of inquiry •which he thought neceifary to be obferved in the fludy of Medicine as a branch of na- tural knowledge. His remarks on the for- mer of thefe fubjerere fo early interrupted. Lord Verulam, in his Novum Organiim^ has given many excellent rules with regard, chiefly, to the method of philofophifing. Though he confines his views principally to Phyfic and Chcmiftry, yet his remarks upon the art of Medicine merit attention. Though no phyfician, Dr Gregory remarks. Lord Verulam poflefled " as juft and comprehenfive views in medi- cine as any phyfician who ever wrote." In the year 1772, Dr Gregory publifii-' ed Elements of the PraElice of Phyfc^ fo?' the u/e of Students, This work was fole-^ ly intended for his ow^n pupils ; and, in his ledtures, he commenterl upon it as a text- book. His deiign was to treat of all the difeafes DR JO. GREGORY. 95 Qifeafes comprehended in his ledures. But this he did not accomplifh. The book, ac- cordingly, contains only the clafs of Febrile Difeafes. in his introductory ledures for- merly mentioned, Dr Gregory had deliver- ed his fentiments with regard to the proper mode of conducting medical inquiries in the prefent imperfect flate of that fcience. He never attempted to miilead the ftudents by flattering views of the perfection of the medical art. On the contrary, he anxiouf- ly pointed out its defeats, which he con- fidered as a principal ilep to promote its im- provement. He expofed the futility of thofe theories and hypothefes which had been moft generally received, and inculcated the danger of fabricating fyftems upon a limit- ed and often very imperfed: knowledge of genuine fadts. He conlidered that a ratio- nal theory of medicine had never yet been devifed For this reafon, he communicat- ed to his ftudents the greateft portion of prad.ical fad:s, as the only bafis on which fuch a theory could ever be eftablifhed. When treating of the feveral difeafes, Du g6 THE LIFE OF Dr Gregory firft defcribed thofe fymptoms by which particular maladies are characSterif- ed. From the general, he proceeded to the more particular feries of fymptoms, to- gether with their occafional varieties. With great precilion, he points out the diagnojlic fymptoms, or thofe which diftinguifh one difeafe from others that refemble it, and marks the prognofiics which enable a phy- fician to form probable c.onjedtures concern- ing the event of a difeafe. He next fpe- cified the ciiufes of difeafes, namely, the predifpofmg, the occafional, and the proxi- mate. Finally, he taught the general plan of cure, the proper remedies to be employ- ed, and the caution? requifite in adminifter- ing them. Defirous of eftablifhing the fci=. ence of medicine upon the folid foundation of practice and experience, he uniformly endeavoured, both by his precepts and exam- ple, to imprefs on the minds of his pupils the neceffity of great caution either in ad- mitting or rejeding what are commonly, though often extremely doubtful, called me-' d'lcalfadls or cafes^ Soon DR JO. GREGORY. 97 Soon after the death of his v^ife, and, as he tells us himfelf, for the amufemcnt of his leifure-liours, he compofed that ingenious and amiable little work, entitled, A Father s Legacy to his DaiK^hters^ which was pub- liflied after the death of the author. From this treatife it is apparent, that Dr Gregory had perufed Rouffeaus fyftem of education ; for from that w^ork he has adopted whatever appeared to him to be valuable. But, in the charader of Sophia^ and in the plan of her education, he perceived both imperfec- tions and abfurdities. The bulinefs of the Freach philofopher was to paint imaginary or romantic charaders. But the only aim of our author was to deliver to his daugh- ters, in the language of prudence and paren- tal affedion, fuch precepts as he thought would be mod conducive to their honour and happinefs, and to mark thofe virtues and accomplifliments which would make them both amiable and refpedabie to the worthieft part of the other fex. To him 2'eligion appeared to be of efiential fervice to females as a great fupport in perfonal diftrefs, as a confolation under family mif- N fortunes. gS THE LIFE OF fortunes, and a falatary reftraint againft ex- travagance and diffipation. With legnrd to books written upon religious fuhjeds, he iudiciouflv recommends thofe only which arc addreffed to the heart, and which have a tendency to inlpire devout afFe- di(fxion to the general practice of the world, 1 might reafonably have fufpected were tiot fo well founded. But, in writing to you, I am afraid my heart has been too full, and too warmly interefted, to allow me to keep this refoiution. This may have produced fome embarraffment, and fome feemingcon- tradid;ions. What I have written has been the amufement of fome folitary hours, and has ferved to divert fome melancholy re- fiedions. — 1 am confcious I undertook a tafk Il6 THE LIFE OF tafk to which I was very unequal ; but I have difcharged a part of my duty. — Yoir will at lead be pleafed with it, as the laft mark of your father's- love and attention.'* Good fenfe was the moft confpicuous feature in the mind of Dr Gregory ; but^ what is by no means alvvays the cafe, it was united with genius and acutenefs of in- telled:. From his i ^th year, he had been occafionally afflided with the gout, which lie inherited from his mother, who, in the year 1 770, died fuddenly, when fitting at table. Dr Gregory went to bed oh the 9th of February 1773, apparently in good healtli ; but was found dead next morning. ■' In his perfon, the Dodlor was above the ordinary fize. His limbs v/ere not very ac- tive ; he flooped a Httle in his gait ; and his countenance, from a fullnefs of feature and a heavinefs of eye, exhibited no marks of fuperior powers of mind. But, in con- verfation, his features became animated, and his eye expreihve. He had a warmth of tone and of gefture, which were highly interefting. DR JO. GREGORY. ' II7 interefting. United with this animated inanner, he difcovered a miidnefs and fim- plicity, which were more attradlive thaa the moft artificial addrefs. In the company of literary men, his converfation flowed with eafe; and, on whatever fubjedt, he de- livered his fentiments without affectation or referve. His benevolent afFedions were ftrong, and, in the line of his profeflion, they were moft peculiarly exerted. With regard to his pupils, he confined not himfelf to a faithful difcharge of his profeflional duties. Many of thefe were far removed from all thofe who had a na- tural intereft in their happinefs. Ta young V men fo fituated, it was a great confolation to find a friend who was of eafy aceefs,. and always ready to aflift them with his ad- vice and protediion. To his intimate friends, by whom he was highly beloved, his fpirit 6f philanthropy peculiarly endeared him. In the latter period of his fife, when he fefided in Edinburgh, he lived in habits of great intimacy with moft of the Scottifh Literati ; Il8 THE LIFE OF, &C. Literati ; fuch as, Doctors Robertfon and Elair, David Hume, John Home, Lord Monboddo, Lord Kames, and the elder Mr Tytler. He left three fons, — James Gregory now Profeflbr of the Theory of Medicine, the refpedtable and ingenious fucceflbr of his father ; William Gregory, M. A. of Baliol College, Oxford, Redlor of St Mary Breadman, and one of the Six Preachers in the Cathedral Church of Can- terbury ; John, who died in the year 1783: And two daughters, — Dorothea, wife of the Rev. Mr Archibald Alifon of Baliol College, and Anne-Margaret, married to John Forbes, Efq; of Blackford, in the county of Aberdeen. Upon the whole, whether he is confidered as a man of genius and of the world, or with regard to his conduct in the line of his profeffion, few human characters will be found to equal that of the late Dr John Gregory. THE /^ THE LIFE o F JIENRT HOME, LORD KJMES^, Mr Home never mentioned the time of his birth ; but, from many circumftances known to his relations and friends, it ap- pears that he was born in the courfe of the year 1696. He was defcended of a very honourable and antient family. Lord Karnes's grandfather, Henry Home, was a younger fon of Sir John Home of Renton, who held the high office of Lord Juftice Clerk, or chief criminal judge of Scotland, in the year 1663. Mr Home received the eftate of Karnes from his uncle, George, brother • The Author intended to have made this Life much m-ore complete, by introducing many private and interefling anecdotes, but his death prevented him from executing his intention.— It was originally written for the Diaionary of Arts and Sciences of Edinburgh, I20 THE LIFE OF brother to the then Lord Juftice Clerk. The family of Renton is defcended from that of the Earls of Home. The county of Berwick in Scotland has the honour of hav- ing given birth to this great and ufeful member of fociety. In early youth he was lively, and eager in the acquifition of knowledge. He never attended a public fchool ; but was inftrudled in the antient and modern languag«s, as well as in feveral branches of mathematics, and the arts ne- ceffarily conne<3:ed with that fcience, by Mr Wingate, a man of confiderable parts and learning, who fpent many years as preceptor or private tutor to Mr Home. After ftu dying, with acutenefs and dili- gence at the Univerfity of Edinburgh, the civil law, and the municipal law of his own country, Mr Home early perceived that a knowledge of thefe alone was not fufEcient to make an accomplished lawyer. The forms and practical bufmefs of courts, a;id efpecially of the fupreme court, as a m e mber of which he was to feek for fame and eoiolument, he confidered as eifentially ne- ceiTary LORD KAMES. l2i ceiiarv to qualify him to be a complete bar- lifter. Kc accordingly attended, for fome time, the chamber of a Writer to the Sig- net, where he had an opportunity of learn- ing the llyles of legal deeds, and the modes of condudting different fpecies of bufmefs. This wife Hep, independently of his great genius and unwearied application, procured him, after his admiflion to the bar, pecu- liar refped from the court, and proportional employment in his profefTion of an advo- cate. Whoever perufes the law-papers com- pcfed by Mr Home, when a young man, will perceive an uncommon elegance of ftyk, befides great ingenuity of realbning, and a thorough knowledge of the lav^ and conilitiuion of his country. Thefe quali- iications, together with the ftrength and vivacity of his natural abilities, foon raifed him to be*an ornament to the vScotdih bar ; and, on the fecond day of February 1752, he was advanced to the bench as one of the iudo-es of the Court of S'tITioq, under the title of Lord Kanid \ and as a Lord of Jufticiary on the 15th April 1763. Before this period, ho-;"ever, notwlth- Q^ (landing 122 THE LIFE OF Aancllng the unavoidable labours of his pro- feflion, he favoured the world with feveral valuable and ingenious works. In the year 1728, NIrPIome publiflicd Remarkable De- cifions cf the Court of SeJJion from 1 71 6 to 1728, in owz volume folio. In 1732 appeared Ffays iipoji Several Suh- je£ls in Laiv, viz. Jus tertii ; Beneficium ccdendarum aSllonum ; V'lnco V'lncentem ; and Prefcriptlon^ in one volume 8vo. This firft produce of his original genius, and of his extenfive views, excited not only the atten- tion, but the admiration of the judges, and of all the other members of the College of Juftice, This work was fucceeded , in the year 1 74 r , by Dccifons of the Court of Sefjion from its frf inptitiition to the year 1740', abridged and dlgejled under proper heads ^ in form of a DiBionary^ in two volumes folio. Upon the fame plan, at the in (ligation of Lord Karnes himfelf, who was then far advanced in years, a third volume was added to the Di£iionary of Decfions by the ingenious Alexander Frafer Tytler, Efq; Advocate, Profeffov LORD KAMES. I 23 Profeflbr of Civil Hiftoiy in the UnivciTitv of Edinburoih^^w This laborious work is of the greateil utility to every pra