imagery, and that vigour and variety of combination, which confer that glorious title. No reader of Johnson can be ignorant of the eminent degree in which he possesses all these qualities, and which he adorns and illustrates with all the strength of reason, all the power of eloquence, and all the harmony of language.

The length of this allegory forbids an entire transcription; but I must beg the attention of my readers to a perusal of two paragraphs, which contain a nice discrimination of the different conduct, and a fine example of the necessity, of the union, of Wit and Learning.

"Their conduct was, whenever they desired to recommend themselves to dis

tinction, entirely opposite. Wit was daring and adventurous; Learning cautious and deliberate. Wit thought nothing reproachful but dullness; Learning was afraid of no imputation but that of error. Wit answered before he un, derstood, lest his quickness of apprehension should be questioned; Learning paused where there was no difficulty, lest any insidious sophism should lie un

discovered.

discovered. Wit perplexed every debate by rapidity and confusion; Learning tired the hearers with endless distinctions, and prolonged the dispute without advantage, by proving that which never was denied. Wit in hopes of shining, would venture to produce what he had not considered, and often succeeded beyond his own expectation by following the train of a lucky thought; Learning would reject every new notion for fear of being entangled in consequences which she could not foresee, and was often hindered by her caution from pressing her advantages and subduing her opponent. Both had prejudices which, in some degree, hindered their progress toward perfection and left them open to attacks. Novelty was the darling of Wit, and antiquity of Learning. To Wit all that was new was specious; to Learning whatever was ancient was venerable.-Wit, however, seldom failed to divert those whom he could not convince, and to convince was not often his ambition; Learning always supported her opinion with so many collateral truths, that when the cause was decided against

her,

her, her arguments were remembered with

admiration."

***

Disgusted with these desertions, the two rivals at the same time petitioned Jupiter for re-admission to their native habitations. Jupiter thundered on the right hand, and they prepared to obey the happy fummons. Wit readily spread his wings and soared aloft; but not being able to see far, was bewildered in the pathless immensity of the ethereal spaces. Learning, who knew the way, shook her pinions; but for want of natural vigour, could only take short flights: so, after many efforts, they both sunk again to the ground, and learned, from their mutual distress, the necessity of union.-They, therefore, joined their hands and renewed their flight: Learning was borne up by the vigour of Wit, and Wit guided by the perspicuity of Learning. They soon reached the dwellings of Jupiter; and were so endeared to each other, that they lived afterwards in perpetual concord. Wit persuaded Learning to converse with the Graces, and Learning engaged Wit in the service E

of

of the Virtues.

They were now the favourites of all the Powers of Heaven, and gladdened every banquet by their presence. They soon after married at the command of Jupiter, and had a numerous progeny of Arts and Sciences."

It is needless to say how far this transcends all eulogy, which would scarcely be adequate, were we to exhaust all the arts of flattery, and all the modes of praise. We can only read, and silently admire the stupendous genius which was capable of exhibiting such a perfect picture.

Johnson was a zealous assertor of virtue and religion, and never failed to attack with the thunder of his writings those who dared to violate them. Nor did he exhaust his rage merely to display imaginary beauties of phraseology, or powers of argument, (as is too often the case) without any real participation of what he wrote; his piety* was acknow

* A story is related of Johnson, which whether true or false, I will not determine.

Being once engaged in a party of pleasure on the water, they had reached the spot whence they were to depart, and some of the company had already entered the boat. John

son

knowledged to be great; and his motives, whatever consequences might ensue from his actions, were I believe never thought to have been depraved; and these qualities, above all his others, demandour esteem. He that shall despair to possess the genius of Johnson, let him endeavour to imitate his virtues, and if he cannot equal him as a writer, which is very doubtful, and at best but indifferent, let him aspire to his piety and goodness, which is always attainable and always beneficial.

No. 77 of the Rambler presents a noble specimen of virtuous indignation against the immorality of authors. It might, indeed, be recommended to the serious perusal of some writers of the present

day,

son was upon the point of doing the same, when, by accident, he learnt that Mr. Hume was there; and enquiring of those who stood near, if it was Mr. Hume, the Deist, and being answered in the affirmative, he declared, that he would not trust his life on the water in the company of such a person; and he actually departed.-This, I must confess, appears to me to have been the effect of a weak superstition, rather than of a well-grounded piety; or, perhaps it might have proceeded from Johnson's wellknown antipathy to Hume, owing to the disrespectful mention that Gentleman had made of The Rambler during its publication.