| Citation |
SCG-C.738.009
9-16 Mar 1738:11, 12 (216)
. . . [3 lines introduction]
Horace tell us, that the principal aim and design of all
poets is, either to instruct, or to divert, or both; and for
my part, I think most writers, particularly essay or letter-
writers ought to be conducted by the same motives. . .
[essay on various recent writer's techniques, with some
theatrical references. A preacher] seems to write more from
prejudice than opinion; instead of those charitable censures
of our errors and negligences, . . . he breaths nothing but
slander and calumny, and has such an excellent talent at
railing, that like Sharper in the Old Batchelor, I fancy, it
was born with him.
. . . to the above declamation he has tacked an instance
of prodigality and profaneness; in the former of which the
satire is so concealed, that, as I am no divine, I shall not
pretend to explain the mystery; and his attempt to burlesque
a very fine passage in Job, is so execrably dull, I shall
not repeat it; it is even below a Jack-Pudding's joke, and
worthy of no body but one, who having devoted himself to the
service of the pulpit, has long since turned it into a
mountebank's stage, and made himself the Merry Andrew upon
it. . .
. . . [in his references to the ladies, he] puts me in
mind of Ogle in the Play, who upon hearing a certain young
lady was going to be married, runs to his Lawyer, to sue her
for a breach of contract, when the creature had never spoke
to her in his life. . .
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