, a Barnabite monk, born at Serravalle, in the environs of Verceil in Piemont, in 1590, was chosen professor of philosophy and mathematics at Anneci, where he was much
, a Barnabite monk, born
at Serravalle, in the environs of Verceil in Piemont, in
1590, was chosen professor of philosophy and mathematics
at Anneci, where he was much distinguished by the acuteness of his genius. The general of his order having sent
him into France to form some establishments, he proceeded
to Paris, where he acquired reputation both as a philosopher and as a preacher. He was one of the first that had
the courage to abandon the trammels of Aristotle. He died
at Montargis the 23d of December, 1622, aged only thirtythree. La Mothe le Vayer classes him among the foremost
of the learned in his time. He adds, that Baranzano had
several times assured him that he would appear to him, if
he should depart the first out of this world, but that he did
not keep his word. Lord chancellor Bacon had as great an
esteem for him as la Mothe le Vayer, as appears by a letter
he wrote to him in June 1622, which Niceron has printed.
His works are, 1. “Campus Philosophicus,
” Lyons, Uranoscopia, seu universa doctrina de Coelo,
”
Novae Opiuiones Physicx,
” Lyons,
oor small village in the district and on the lake of Annecey, &c. communicated to him by Mr. Cramer, professor of philosophy and mathematics.
The late Mr. Cole, of tke Fen-office, editor of the second
edition of sir William Dugdale’s “History of Embanking,
”
a diligent and learned antiquary, who had also made some corrections in his own copy,
now in Trinity college library.
” See his letters, dated
Beaupré hall, May 11, and July 30, 1731, to T. Hearne,
about the pedlar in Swaffham church, a rebus on the name
of Chapman, prefixed to Hemingford, p. 180, and preface,
p. 113. See also, on the same subject, preface to Caius,
p. xlvii. and lxxxiv. and the speech of Dr. Spencer, vicechancellor of Cambridge, to the duke of Monmouth, when
he was installed chancellor, 1674,ib.lxxxvi. In p. lii, Hearne
styles him “Amicus eruditus, cui et aliis nominibus me
devinctum esse gratus agnosco.
” He also furnished him
with a transcript, in his own hand-writing, of bishop Godwin’s catalogue of the bishops of Bath and Wells, from the
original in Trinity college library; App. to Ann. de Dunstable, 835, 837. A charter relating to St. Edmund’s
Bury abbey. Bened. Abbas, p. 865. The epitaph of E.
Beckingham, in Bottisham church, in Cambridgeshire,
Pref. to Otterbourue’s Chron. p. 82. App. to Trokelow,
p. 378. Papers, &c. of his are mentioned in Bibl. Top.
Brit. No. II. p. 57, 58, 62. Walsingham church notes, p. 59,
entered in the Minutes; a paper on the Clepsydra, p. 60;
and five of his letters to Mr. Blomfield are printed, pp. 290,
465 472; one to Dr. Z. Grey, p. 147; one to Mr. N.
Salmon, p. 150; others to Mr. Gale, pp. 169, 191, 302
305; to Dr. Stukeley, p. 176, 178. See also pp. 176, 178,
181, 465, 469, 470, 471. In, Archaeologia, vol. VI. pp.
133, 139, 141, 143, are some letters between him and Mr.
Gale, on a Roman horologium mentioned in an inscription
found at Taloire, a poor small village in the district and on
the lake of Annecey, &c. communicated to him by Mr.
Cramer, professor of philosophy and mathematics.
, professor of philosophy and mathematics, and minister of the Walloon church
, professor of philosophy and mathematics, and minister of the Walloon church at Leyden,
was born Sept. 1, 1658, at Nions in Dauphine. He received the rudiments of his education in a protestant academy, at Die in Dauphine, and went afterwards to Geneva,
where he studied philosophy, and acquired a critical knowledge of the Hebrew language under the professor Michael
Turretin. He returned to France in 1679, and was chosen
minister of Venterol, a village in Dauphine. Some time
after he was removed to the church of Vinsobres in the
same province but the persecutions raised agaiitst the
protestants in France having obliged him to leave his native country, he retired to Geneva in 1683, and as he did
not think himself sufficiently secure there, he went to
Lausanne, where he remained until the revocation of the
edict of Nantes. He then proceeded to Holland, where
he was appointed one of the pensionary ministers of Ganda,
and taught philosophy but having married after he came
to Holland, and the city of Ganda not being very populous, he had not a sufficient number of scholars to maintain his family; and therefore obtained leave to reside at
the Hague, but went to Ganda to preach in his turn,
which was about four times a year. About the same time
Le Clerc, who was his relation, procured him a small supply from the town of Tergow, as preacher; and at the
Hague he farther improved his circumstances by teaching
philosophy, belles-lettres, and mathematics. Before he
went to live at the Hague, he had published a kind of political state of Europe, entitled “Histoire abregee de
l'Europe,
” &c, The work was begun in July Lettres Historiques,
” containing an account of the most important
transactions in Europe, with reflections, which was also
published monthly, till 1698: it was afterwards continued
by other hands, and contains a great many volumes. Mr.
Le Clerc having left off his “Bibliotheque Universelle,
”
in Actes et negotiations de la Paix de Ryswic,
” four
vols. 12mo a new edition of this collection was published
in 1707, five vols. 12mo. He did not put his name to any
of these works, nor to the general collection of the treaties
of peace, which he publ.shed in 1700; and which consists
of the treaties, contracts, acts of guaranty, &c. betwixt
the powers of F.urope, four vols. fol. The first contains
the preface, and the treaties made since the year 536 to
1.500. The second consists of Mr. Amelot‘de la Houssay’s
historical and political reflections, and the treaties from.
150’-) to 1600. The third includes the treaties from 1601
to 1661 and the fourth, those from 1661 to 1700, with a
general alphabetical index to the whole. He prefixed his
name, however, to his continuation of Bayle’s “Nouvelles
de la llepublique des Lettres,
” which was begun in
king William’s death, however, he was unanimotisly chosen in 1705; and about the same time appointed professor of philosophy and mathematics at Leyden the university presenting
Mr. Bernard having acquired great reputation by his
works, as well as by his sermons at Ganda and the Hague,
the congregation of the Walloon church at Leyden were
desirous to have him for one of their ministers but they
could not accomplish their desire whilst king William lived,
who refused twice to confirm the election of Mr. Bernard,
as being a republican in his principles, and having delivered his sentiments too freely in a sermon before this
prince yet these appear to have been the same sentiments
which justified the revolution to which that sovereign owed
the crown of these kingdoms. After king William’s death,
however, he was unanimotisly chosen in 1705; and about
the same time appointed professor of philosophy and mathematics at Leyden the university presenting him with
the degrees of doctor of philosophy, and master of arts.
In 1716, he published “A Supplement to Moreri’s dictionary,
” in two vols. folio. The same year he resumed
his “Nouvelles de la Republique des Lettres,
” and continued it till his death, which happened the 27th of April
1718, in the 60th year of his age.
Mr. Bernard was well skilled in polite literature, and a
perfect master of the Hebrew tongue. He studied the
scriptures with great attention and though he was not
reckoned of the first class of mathematicians, yet he could
explain the principles of that science in a very clear and
able manner. As to philosophy, he had applied himself
to that of Des Cartes yet alter he came into Holland,
having learned the EngLsh tongue, he used to read the
best books from England, and had acquired some taste for
the Newtonian philosophy. Besides the works above mentioned, he published, 1. “Le Theatre des etats du due de
Savoie, traduit du Latin de Bleau,
” Hague, Traite
de la repentance tardive,
” Amst. De
I'excellence de la religion Chretienne,
” ibid.
, a celebrated philosopher and mathematician, was born at Naples the 28th of January, 1608. He was professor of philosophy and mathematics in some of the most celebrated
, a celebrated philosopher
and mathematician, was born at Naples the 28th of January, 1608. He was professor of philosophy and mathematics in some of the most celebrated universities of Italy,
particularly at Florence and Pisa, where he became highly
in favour with the princes of the house of Medici. But
having been concerned in the revolt of Messina, he was
obliged to retire to Rome, where he spent the remainder
of his life under the protection of Christina queen of Sweden, who honoured him with her friendship, and by her
liberality towards him softened the rigour of his hard fortune. He continued two years in the convent of the regular clergy of St. Pantaleon, called the Pious Schools, where
he instructed the youth in mathematical studies. And thi’s
study he prosecuted with great diligence for many years
afterward, as appears by his correspondence with several
ingenious mathematicians of his time, and the frequent
mention that has been made of him by others, who have
endeavoured to do justice to his memory. He wrote a letter to Mr. John Collins, in which he discovers his great
desire and endeavours to promote the improvement of those
sciences: he also speaks of his correspondence with, and
great affection for, Mr. Henry Oldenburgh, secretary of
the royal society; of Dr. Wallis; of the then late learned
Mr. Boyle, and lamented the loss sustained by his death to
the commonwealth of learning. Mr. Baxter, in his “Enquiry into the Nature of the Human Soul 3
” makes frequent
use of our author’s book “De Motu Animalium,
” and
tells us, that he was the first who discovered that the force
exerted within the body prodigiously exceeds the weight
to be moved without, or that nature employs an immense
power to move a small weight. But he acknowledges that
Dr. James Keil had shewn that Borelli was mistaken in his
calculation of the force of the muscle of the heart; but
that he nevertheless ranks him with the most authentic writers, and says he is seldom mistaken: and, having remarked
that it is so far from being true, that great things are
brought about by small powers, on the contrary, a stupendous power is manifest in the most ordinary operations of nature, he observes that the ingenious Borelli first
remarked this in animal motion; and that Dr. Stephen
Hales, by a course of experiments in his “Vegetable
Statics,
” had shewn the same in the force of the ascending sap in vegetables. After a course of unceasing labours,
Borelli died at Pantaleon of a pleurisy, the 31st of December 1679, at 72 years of age, leaving the following
works: 1. “Delle cagioni dellefebri maligni,
” Euclides restitutus,
” &c. Pisa, Apollonii Pergaei conicorum, libri v. vi. & vii. paraphraste Abalphato Aspahanensi nunc primum editi,
” &c. Floren. Theoriæ Medicorum Planetarum ex causis physicis deductae,
” Flor. De Vi Percussionis,
”
Bologna, De Motu Animalium,
” and that “De
Motionibus Naturalibus,
” in Osservazione intorno alia virtu ineguali degli occhi.
” This piece was inserted in the Journal of Rome for the year 1669. 7. “De
motionibus naturalibus e gravitate pemlentibus,
” Regio
Julio, 1670, 4to. 8. “Meteorologia Ætnea,
” &c. Regio Julio, Osservazione dell' ecclissi lunare, fatta in Roma,
” Elementaconica Apollonii Pergoei et Archimedis opera nova et breviori methodo demonstrata,
” Rome, De Motu Animaiium:
pars prima, et pars altera,
” Romae, 12. At Leyden, 1686, in 4to,
a more correct and accurate edition, revised by J. Broen,
M. D. of Leyden, of his two pieces
” De vi percussionis,
et de motionibus de gravitate pendentibus,“&c. 13.
” De
renum usu judicium:“this had been published with Bellini’s book
” De structura renum," at Strasburgh, 1664,
8vo.
ugh a course of study there; afterwards married at Berne, and settled at Neufeh&tel, where he became professor of philosophy and mathematics. He died Dec. 31, 1742, at the
, who was born at Nimes in 1678,
became celebrated for his proficiency in natural history.
The revocation of the edict of Nantes having forced his
family to go and seek an asylum in Switzerland, Zurich
was indebted to them for its manufactures of stockings,
muslins, and several silk stuffs. Young Bourguet went
through a course of study there; afterwards married at
Berne, and settled at Neufeh&tel, where he became professor of philosophy and mathematics. He died Dec. 31,
1742, at the age of 64, after publishing, 1. A Letter on
the formation of salts and crystals; Amsterdam, 1729,
12mo. 2. “La bibliotheque Italique,
” 16 vols. 8vo. This
journal, begun at Geneva in 1728, found a welcome reception among the learned, as a solid and useful book deserving to be continued, although deficient in style, and
hastily written. He wrote also, “Traite des petrifactions,
”
Paris,
i mensura,” printed at Amsterdam in 1644. In June 1646, he was invited by the prince of Orange to be professor of philosophy and mathematics at Breda, in the college newly
Mr. Pell’s eminence, however, in mathematical knowledge, was now so great, that he was thought worthy of a
professor’s chair in that science; and, i.pon the vacancy
of one at Amsterdam in 1639, sir William Bos -ell, the
English resident with the States-general, used his interest,
that he might succeed in that professorship; which was not
filled up till above four years after, 1643, when Pell was
chosen to it. The year following he published, in two
pages 4to, “A Refutation of Longomontamis’s Discourse,
De vera circuli mensura,
” printed at Amsterdam in Idea Matheseos,
” which he had addressed to Mr. Hartlib, who in
An
Idea of Mathematics,
” at the end of Mr. John Dury’s
“Reformed Library-keeper.
” On the death of the prince
of Orange, in to be made a dean; but being not a person of activity, as others who mind not learning are, could
never rise higher than a rector.
” The truth is, adds
Wood, “he was a helpless man as to worldly affairs; and
his tenants and relations dealt so unkindly by him, that
they defrauded him of the profits of his rectory, and kept
him so indigent, that he was in want of necessaries, even
ink and paper, to his dying day.
” He was for some time
confined to the King’s-bench prison for debt; but, in
March 1682, was invited by Dr. Whistler to live in the
college of physicians. Here he continued till June following, when he was obliged, by his ill state of health, to
remove to the house of a grandchild of his in St. Margaret’s
church-yard, Westminster. From this too he was again
removed, for we find that he died at the house (in Dyot street) of Mr. Cothorne, reader of the church of St. Giles’s
in the Fields, Dec. the 12th, 1685, and was intecred by
the charity of Busby, master of Westminster school, and
Sharp, rector of, St. Giles’s, in the rector’s vault under
that church. Besides what have been mentioned, Dr. Pell
was the author of, 1. “An Exercitation concerning Easter,
”
A Table of 10,000 square numbers,
”
&c. Rhonius’s Algebra,
” printed
at London An Introduction to Algebra; translated out of the High Dutch into
English by Thomas Branker, much altered and augmented
by D. P. (Dr. Pell).
” Also a Table of odd numbers, less
than
the request of his uncle, he was sent to Tubingen, and recommended to Paul Scriptor, a very learned professor of philosophy and mathematics, under whom he profited much,
, a learned German divine and reformer, was born Jan. 8, 1478, at Ruffach, in Alsatia. His family name was Kursiner, or Kirsner, but the name Pellican, which means the same thing in Latin as Kirsner in German, and is in neither very significant, was given him by his maternal uncle. Pellican began his studies at Ruffach in his sixth year, and under an excellent master, who inspired him with a love for literature; yet his difficulties were many, as, among other hindrances, he was obliged to write down every thing taught him, printing being then in its infancy, and no elementary treatise had issued from the press. His maternal uncle already mentioned, who lived at Heidelberg, and had often been rector of the university, hearing of the progress his nephew made in his studies, sent for him to that seminary, where he applied to the belles lettres and logic for about sixteen months, which was probably as long as his uncle could afford to maintain him. He returned therefore in Sept. 1492 to his parents, who were poor, and could give him little support, but got some employment as assistant to a schoolmaster, and had, what was then of great importance to him, the power of borrowing books from the convent of the Cordeliers. His frequent visits for this purpose brought on an acquaintance with those holy fathers, who conceived a very high opinion of Pellican, now in his sixteenth year, and appear to have found little difficulty in persuading him to enter their order, which accordingly he did in January 1493, but against the consent of his relations. He then commenced his theological studies, and in the following year was admitted to the order of subdeacon. In 1496, at the request of his uncle, he was sent to Tubingen, and recommended to Paul Scriptor, a very learned professor of philosophy and mathematics, under whom he profited much, and who conceived a great affection for his pupil. In 1499, meeting with a converted Jew, who was now one of his own order, Pellican expressed his wish to learn Hebrew, and with the assistance of this Jew accomplished the elementary part, although not without great difficulty. Melchior Adam mentions his enthusiastic joy on receiving the loan of a part of the Bible in Hebrew. Reuchlin, who came to Tubingen in 1500, gave Pellican some assistance in this language; and with this, and other helps, certainly very difficult to be procured at that time, and by indefatigable industry, he at length acquired such knowledge of it, as to be accounted, after Reuchlin, the first Hebrew scholar in Germany.
, a noted German mathematician and philosopher, was born at Hippo! stein in 1635. He was a professor of philosophy and mathematics at Altdorf, and died there Dec.
, a noted German mathematician and philosopher, was born at Hippo! stein in
1635. He was a professor of philosophy and mathematics
at Altdorf, and died there Dec. 26, 1703. In 1670, he
published, 1. A German translation of the works of Archimedes; and afterwards produced many other books of his
own. 2. “Collegium experimental curiosum,
” Nuremberg, Physica electiva, et Hypothetica,
” Nuremberg, Scientia Cosmica,
” Altdorf, Architecture militaris
Tyrocinia,
” at the same place, Epistola
de veritate proposiiionum Borellide motu animalium,
” 4to,
Nuremb. Physicae conciliatricis Conamina,
”
Altdorf, Mathesis enucleata,
” Nuremb.
Mathesis Juvenilis,
” Nureiwb. Physicae modernae compendium,
” Nuremb.
Tyrocinia mathematica,
” Leipsic, Praelectiones Academics,
” Praelectiones Academics,
” Strasburg, 12mo. The works
of this author are still more numerous, but the most important of them are here enumerated.
of a family originally of Genoa, and studied in the Clementine college at Rome. He became afterwards professor of philosophy and mathematics at the college of Ciudad, in the
, a celebrated philosopher,
was born at Rome in 1710, of a family originally of Genoa,
and studied in the Clementine college at Rome. He became afterwards professor of philosophy and mathematics
at the college of Ciudad, in the Frioul. Thence he went
to Naples, and taught these sciences in the archiepiscopal
seminary. Charles of Bourbon, king of Naples, appointed
him in 1754 to be his librarian, superintendant of the royal
printing-office, and keeper of the museum, which enabled
him to devote his time to his favourite pursuits, one of
which was the improvement of microscopes, which he
brought to a very great degree of perfection, by inventing
the highest magnifiers that had ever been known, four of
which he sent in 1765 to our royal society. An account
of them may be seen in the Philosophical Transactions, vols,
LV. and LVI. This ingenious author was a member of
the principal academies of Italy, and a corresponding member of those of Paris, London, and Berlin. He died March
7, 1782, not more rt gretted as a man of genius, than as a
man of private worth and amiable manners. His principal
works are, “On Natural Philosophy,
” Naples, Elementa Physicae,
” ibid. History and phenomena oi Vesuvius,
” Microscopical Observations,
”
id Essay from the misrepresentations of Mr. de Resnel, the French translator, and of Mr. de Crousaz, professor of philosophy and mathematics in the academy of Lausanne, the
Mr. Pope’s affection for Mr. Warburton was of service to
him in more respects than merely increasing his fame. He
introduced and warmly recommended him to most of his
friends, and amongst the rest to Ralph Allen, esq. of Prior
Park, whose niece he some years afterwards married. In
consequence of this introduction, we find Mr. Warburton
at Bath in 1742. There he printed a sermon which had
been preached at the abbey-church, on the 24th of October, for the benefit of Mr. Allen’s favourite charity, the
general hospital, or infirmary. To this sermon, which was
published at the request of the governors, was added, “A*
short account of the nature, rise, and progress, of the General Infirmary, at Bath.
” In this year also he printed a
dissertation on the Origin of Books of Chivalry, at the end
of Jarvis’s preface to a translation of Don Quixote, which,
Mr. Pope tells him, he had not got over two paragraphs of
before he cried out, < Aut Erasmus, aut Dmbolus. 1 “I
knew you,
” adds he, “as certainly as the ancients did the
Gods, by the first pace and the very gait. I have not a
moment to express myself in; but could not omit this,
which delighted me so much.
” Mr. Tyrwhitt, however,
has completely demolished Warburton’s system o-n this
subject. Pope’s attention to his interest did not rest in
matters which were in his own power; he recommended
him to some who were more able to assist him; in particular, he obtained a promise from lord Granville, which
probably, however, ended in nothing. He appears also to
have been very solicitous to bring lord Bolingbroke and
Mr. Warburton together, and the meeting accordingly took
place, but we are told by Dr. Warton, they soon parted in
mutual disgust with each other. In 1742 Mr. Warburton
published “A critical and philosophical Commentary on
Mr. Pope’s Essay on Man: in which is contained a Vindication of the said Essay from the misrepresentations of Mr.
de Resnel, the French translator, and of Mr. de Crousaz,
professor of philosophy and mathematics in the academy of
Lausanne, the commentator.
” It was at this period, when
Mr. Warburton had the entire confidence of Pope, that he
advised him to complete the Dunciad, by changing the
hero,- and adding to it a fourth book. This was accordingly executed in 1742, and published early in 1743, 4to,
with notes by our author, who, in consequence of it, received his share of the castigation which Gibber liberally
bestowed on both Pope and his annotator. In the latter
end of the same year. he published complete editions of
“The Essay on Man,
” and “The Essay on Criticism:
”
and,from the specimen which he there exhibited of his
abilities, it may be presumed Pope determined to commit
to him the publication of those works which he should
leave. At Pope’s desire, he about this time revised and
corrected the “Essay on Homer,
” as it now stands in the
last edition of that translation. The publication of “The
Dunciad
” was the last service which our author rendered
Pope in his life-time. After a lingering and tedious illness,
the event of which had been long foreseen, this great
poet died on the 30th of' May, 1744; and by his will, dated
the 12th of the preceding December, bequeathed to Mr.
Warburton one half of his library, and the property of all
such of his works already printed as he had not otherwise
disposed of or alienated, and all the. profits which should
arise from any edition to be printed after his death; but
at the same time directed that they should be published
without any future alterations. In 1744 Warburton’s assistance to Dr. Z. Grey was handsomely acknowledged in
the preface to Hudibras; but with this gentleman he had
afterwards a sharp controversy (See Grey.) “The Divine
Legation of Moses
” had now been published some time;
and various answers and objections to it had started up
from different quarters. In this year, 1744, Mr Warburton turned his attention to these attacks on his favourite
work; and defended himself in a manner which, if it did
not prove him to be possessed of much humility or diffidence, at least demonstrated that he knew how to wield the
weapons of controversy with the hand of a master. His
first defence now appeared under the title of “Remarks on
several Occasional Reflections, in answer to the Rev, Dr.
Middleton, Dr. Pococke, the master of the Charter-house,
Dr. Richard Grey, and others; serving to explain and justify divers passages in the Divine Legation as far as it is
yet advanced: wherein is considered the relation the several parts bear to each other and the whole. Together
with an Appendix, in answer to a late pamphlet, entitled
” An Examination of Mr. W's Second Proposition,“8vo.
And this was followed next year by
” Remarks on several
Occasional Reflections; in answer to the Rev. Doctors
Stebbing and Sykes; serving to explain and justify the
Two Dissertations, in the Divine Legation, concerning the
command to Abraham to offer up his son, and the nature
of the Jewish theocracy, objected to by those learned
writers. Part II. and last;“8vo. Both these answers are
couched in those high terms of confident superiority which
marked almost every performance that fell from his pen
during the remainder of his life. Sept. 5, 1745, the friendship between him and Mr. Allen was more closely cemented
by his marriage with his niece, Miss Tucker, who survived him. At this juncture the kingdom was under a great
alarm, occasioned by the rebellion breaking out in Scotland. Those who wished well to the then-established government found it necessary to exert every effort which
could be used against the invading enemy. The clergy
were not wanting on their part; and no one did more service than Mr. Warburton, who published three very excellent and seasonable sermons at this important crisis. I,
” A faithful portrait of Popery by which it is seen to be
the reverse of Christianity, as it is the destruction of morality, piety, and civil liberty. A sermon preached at St.
James’s church, Westminster, Oct. 1745,“Sva. II.
” A
sermon occasioned by the present unnatural Rebellion, &e>
preached in Mr. Allen’s chapel, at Prior Park, near Bath,
Nov. 1745, and published at his request,'? 8vo. III. “The
nature of National Offences truly stated. A sermon preached on the general fast-day, Dec. 18, 1745,
” An Apologetical Dedication to the
Rev. Dr. Henry Stebbing, in answer to his censure and
misrepresentations of the sermon preached on the general
fast-day to be observed Dec. 18, 1745,
” A Sermon preached on the Thanksgiving appointed to be observed the 9th Oct. for the suppression of
the late unnatural Rebellion,
” Sbakspeare,
” from which he derived very little reputation. Of this edition, the nameless
critic already quoted, says, “To us it exhibits a phenomenon unobserved before in the operations of human intellect a mind, ardent and comprehensive, acute and penetrating, warmly devoted to the subject and furnished
with all the stores of literature ancient or modern, to illustrate and adorn it, yet by some perversity of understanding,
or some depravation of taste, perpetually mistaking what
was obvious, and perplexing what was clear; discovering
erudition of which the author was incapable, and fabricating
connections to which he was indifferent. Yet, with all
these inconsistencies, added to the affectation, equally discernible in the editor of Pope and Shakspeare, of understanding the poet better than he understood himself, there
sometimes appear, in the rational intervals of his critical
delirium, elucidations so happy, and disquisitions so profound, that our admiration of the poet (even of such a poet), is suspended for a moment while we dwell on the
excellencies of the commentator.
”