from the paths of literature, without hope of readmission, because they conceive it their duty to despise what the world despises. So very diffi cult is it to decide on the beauties or defects of an author, without any reliance on wordly report or pre-conceived opinions, that few will be found, who openly dare to oppose the judgment of the many, or who will allow themselves to be convinced by the perusal of an author's productions, that their previous ideas of his deserts were wrong and groundless.

I would hint at a prejudice frequently entertained by persons of an advanced age against every species of juvenile compositions, if I did not begin to doubt its existence; having received such marked encouragement from a quarter where I tremblingly expected to pass the ordeal of critical severity, that my own case would be an exception to every instance I could produce; and while it acquitted the accused of the failing which I imputed to them, would convict myself of falsehood and ingratitude.

N.

THE

MINIATURE.

NUMB. XIII.

MONDAY, July 16, 1804.

inani

Ambitione furens

LUCAN. 10. 156.

Inflamed by an empty ambition.

AMBITION while confined within proper bounds, and directed to lawful objects is of the greatest utility to mankind; but when either hurried along with too much precipitancy, or permitted to follow frivolous and unworthy pursuits it becomes both dangerous and contemptible. No passion is more universal, none require more to be observed and restricted, none are more liable to degenerate into folly and vice. The characters of illustrious men both in antient and modern times

sufficiently testify its pernicious tendency; but it remains with me to prove how often goodsense is betrayed by its allurements into folly, and unguarded virtue into mean and criminal propensities.

This false and grovelling ambition seems chiefly to arise from the desire of appearing singular and remarkable, and is distantly allied to that passion which led Cæsar to victory and empire, and impelled Richard Duke of Gloucester to usurp the British throne by hypocrisy, treason, and murder: but the former is the proof of a weak and perverted understanding, whereas the latter is the constant companion of a vigorous and aspiring genius; that belongs only to boys and women, this to men and heroes. Ambition may be compared to an impetuous river which being obstructed in its progress, bursts out into a variety of smaller streamlets, and being thus divided no longer retains its original force and grandeur. I have particularly dedicated this paper to the consideration of that perverted ambition, that empty love of celebrity which render men so blind to their own interest, as to prefer public infamy, to private and unreguarded virtue. Eratostratus, who in a fit of ambition, or rather madness burnt the temple of Diana at

Ephesus, is a very strong example of the baneful effects of this unprincipled passion; he has indeed immortalized his name, but it is stamped on the records of indelible infamy. I believe many of those Gentlemen of the road who have at various times submitted to public justice with such ferocious intrepidity, have to their soul's eternal injury poured forth their last breath in execrations and blasphemies, merely that they might enjoy the reputation of having died game. Indeed the greater part of the Grecian philosophers appear to have been actuated by similar motives; and I firmly believe that Pythagoras had no better reason for rejecting beans, Democritus for laughing, Heraclitus for crying, or Diogenes for preferring a tub to a palace. In order therefore to point out more at large the effects of this passion upon the human mind, I shall describe the characters of several persons, who have by various directions all fallen into the same error, and who only differ in this respect, that,

Ille sinistrorsum, hic dextrorsum abit; unus utrique Error, sed variis illudit partibus.-HOR. S, 2. 3.

This journeys to the right,

That to the left, and yet are both misled,

Thro' different paths tho' eagerly they tread.

DUNCOMBE,

ATTICUS is one of those beings who, without any peculiar share of intrinsick merit, attempts to raise an altar to his own fame, by squandering an ample patrimony in giving sumptuous entertainments to a variety of dependents who in the hour of prosperity call themselves his friends; and so they are indeed, if flattering a person's vanities, wasting his possessions, and then laughing at his credulity, may be termed friendship; but such only abuse the name. Atticus's house is the constant scene of feasting and revelry, he is not naturally fond of riot and luxury himself, but he sacrifices his own health and comfort to the foolish ambition of being called a pleasant companion, or having his acquaintance courted by those who have not wherewithal to satisfy their own appetites. If any scoundrel is in want of money to repair his losses at the gaming-table, let him go to Atticus, and he will be certain of relief; if any silly fellow desires to be put into a way of making his fortune, let him apply to Atticus, and he will undoubtedly succeed. At the hazard of his reputation he will introduce persons of whose character he is entirely ignorant, into the most genteel societies, merely that he may not forfeit his title to good-nature by a denial of any favour which he can possibly

bestow.