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The genuine history of the Britons asserted against Mr. Macpherson ...

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THE BRITONS ASSERTED. joj<br />

is generally one great chaos <strong>of</strong> undigefled mate-<br />

rials, arguments without Ihape or form, reafou-<br />

ings heterogeneous and repugnant, and darknefs<br />

brooding over <strong>the</strong> face <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> whole.<br />

This is fuch a delineation <strong>of</strong> a work <strong>of</strong> learn-<br />

ing and genius, that my benevolence is hurt^ while<br />

juftice urges my hand to draw It. <strong>The</strong> portrait<br />

is ftrongly featured. But it is an exaft likenefs.<br />

It is <strong>the</strong> immediate tranfcript <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> feehngs <strong>of</strong>my<br />

own mind. And it is fully juftlfied by <strong>the</strong> detail<br />

<strong>of</strong> extracts and examinations before. Yet, amid<br />

<strong>the</strong> fterneft feverity <strong>of</strong> truth, w^hat fort <strong>of</strong> fpirit<br />

muft that be, which Ihail not grieve for <strong>the</strong> au-<br />

thor, while it is obliged to reprobate his work ?<br />

Who will not particularly figh with me over <strong>the</strong><br />

fate <strong>of</strong> a writer, that, polfeffed <strong>of</strong> great brilliancy<br />

<strong>of</strong> parts, and furniflied with confiderable ftores<br />

<strong>of</strong> learning, was chiefly unhappy from <strong>the</strong> fe-<br />

leftion <strong>of</strong> his fubjcifi: ? <strong>Mr</strong>. Macpherfon might<br />

certainly have played his part with <strong>the</strong> higheffc<br />

reputation and fuccefs, within <strong>the</strong> circle <strong>of</strong> truth<br />

and incident. But, in a paroxyfm <strong>of</strong> patriot<br />

fondnefs, refolving to heighten into a demon-<br />

flration what was unable to receive even <strong>the</strong><br />

colouring <strong>of</strong> probability, he has fallen in <strong>the</strong> at-<br />

tempt, as every man in <strong>the</strong> fame circumftances<br />

mufl have fallen. If <strong>the</strong> antient giants had ex-<br />

erted <strong>the</strong>ir fmgular vigour <strong>of</strong> body in contefts<br />

with mere mortals, <strong>the</strong>y mufl: have been as for-<br />

tunate as <strong>the</strong>y were ftrong ; but in a triumphant<br />

bravery

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