the arguments were intrinfically good, could perceive their force, though not arranged with the greatest art, and in the clofeft connection. It may alfo be alledged, that Cicero himself is lefs fcrupulously attentive to lucid order, in his fpeeches against Catiline, and other orations to the fenate, than in that for Manilius's bill, and other harangues to the people. But as even the ableft and most learned men, though they can comprehend arguments, independently of their difpofition, yet can more quickly comprehend them if connected than detached, Cicero's arrangement is better than Burke's. In fome of his principal fpeeches, Burke's difpofition is as regular as that of Cicero.

Language alío appears to have occupied a greater proportion of Cicero's attention than of Burke's; his words and phrases are nicely chofen, his fentences are dexterously turned, his ftyle is harmonious, clegant, and fplendid: Burke's language is chiefly eminent for clearness, propriety, copioufnefs, and force: he does not particularly ftudy mufical cadence in the ftructure of his periods: his ftyle is highly adorned, but his ornaments are the ornaments of genius, not of rhetoric; not of the body, but of the foul of his difcourfe. On the whole, the mechanifm of compofition was evidently more studied by Cicero than by Burke. Cicero aims fo much at beauty and magnificence, as fometimes to impair his ftrength: for fmoothness and harmony he is not unfrequently indebted to enervation. Very great attention to rhetoric is feldom united with mafculine ftrength and profound philofophy. In the flowing numbers of Ifocrates we rarely meet the force of Demofthenes. Perhaps in none of his writings does Cicero fhew more the uncommon vigour of his understanding; his complete knowledge of human nature; his intimate acquaintance with the laws and conftitution of his country,

with its politics during that moment. ous æra; his comprehenfion of the general characters and particular views of the celebrated actors during the laft fcene of the republic, than in his letters: compofitions containing the most valuable information, moft acute and energetic reafoning, without any of his oratorial pomp of language. They are the plain strong fenfe of a moft able man, writing upon important business. Cicero was certainly a man not only of the greatest penetration and vigour, but also of very profound philofophy and expanded wifdom. His treatifes on the molt important fubjects of philofophy, on the religious, civil, focial, and politi cal relations and duties of man, have little ornament of ftyle; the language is merely perfpicuous, precife, and ftrong. The expreffion of Cicero's letters and philofophical difquifitions is more the expreffion of wisdom than that of his orations.

In their speeches, Burke's obvious end is to imprefs on you his views of the fubject: Cicero's not only to imprefs on you his views of the fubject, but ftrike you with an admiration of the orator. Burke tries to inform, convince, please, and perfuade the hearer: Cicero to inform, convince, pleafe, affect, and perfuade the hearer; and at the fame time to fhew him how well the speaker can speak. In many of his fpeeches, the difplay of his powers feems to have been his principal object: in his defence of Milo it must have been his fole purpofe, because, in fact, it was never fpoken.

From the diverfity of circumftances, much fimilarity in materials neither did, nor indeed could, exift between these or any British and Roman orators. In the conduct of their fpeeches there might have been likenefs; but in fact we do not find very much. In his performances of unadorned information and inftruction, Cicero refembles the narratives and

ratioci

ratiocination of Burke, more than in his ornamented eloquence: even in thefe the likeness is not fpecial. Where conviction is the fole object, they agree in ufing plain language, as the best adapted for that purpose. Being both men of extraordinary wisdom, they, upon practical fubjects, argue as "all men of true wisdom argue," from experience, and not from metaphyfical diftinction. They were both first-rate fpeakers, according to the circumstances of their refpective fituations and countries: but their

SIR,

HAR

compofitions were no more particularly like, than thofe of Hume and Ferguffon to thofe of Tacitus; of Robertfon or of Gibbon to Livy's: because the four Britons refembled the two Romans in the general cir cumftance of being the first hiftorians of their nation. Men of fuch genius as Cicero and Burke rarely defcend to imitation.

Johnfon being asked if Edmund Burke refembled Tullius Cicero"No, Sir, he refembles Edmund Burke."

APPENING lately to read Dr Johnson's obfervations on Macbeth, at the outfet I could not help being much pleased with the judicious criticisms, and clear elucidations of many obfcure paffages; and I acknowledge I felt myself indebted to that ingenious writer for the fervices he had rendered to my favorite Bard.

A further perusal made me better acquainted with the Author, and disposed me very differently towards him, when in the fifth fcene, I found him impute to this great mafter of the Drama, an abfurdity fo palpable, that nothing but arrant ftupidity could be betrayed into it.

From the unaccountable way in which the Doctor has thought proper to understand the fifth fcene of the Tragedy, he does not fcruple to affert, that the poet has fo far forgot himself as to permit his hero to lofe all recollection of an action not only feen, but even chiefly atchieved by himfelf.

This heavy charge, whether the refult of malice or liftlefs inattention, is alike inexcufable, and when it is further aggravated by many changes of the reading for the disadvantage, Ed. Mag. Feb. 1799.

fubftitutions of words by way of aamendment, where no repairs were neceffary, joined to evident mifconceptions of the poet's meaning, I thought myfelf called upon to use my poor efforts to rectify those abufes, and endeavour to restore to the ancient Bard the credit which the modern critic feems unjustly to have deprived him. Such, Sir, is the motive which has induced me to addrefs you; and tho' I am confcious of my inability for the task, the good intention fhall be my fanctuary, and without further prelude, I shall proceed to examine the different parts of the Doctor's obfervations in the order followed by himself, and fhall feel myfelf quite fatisfied fhould my exertions be even fufficient to fet the merits of the caufe in fuch a light as fhall chance to roufe to his aid fome more able critic.

The Doctor's remarks on the firft fcene, in which he introduces the witches, are masterly, and tend to remove any fcruple that might be raifed against the dramatical probability of calling to his aid fuch fupernatural agents; he might however have noticed as a farther argument, that Shakspeare in introducing the witches follows closely his author Boethius,

to

That feems to speak ftrange things."

The Doctor thinks that the fubftitution of teems for feems would amend the reading. I much fufpect, that, fo far from an amendment, it leaves a blemish where there was none; teems to speak is certainly bad English, a phrafe to be found no where throughout his other plays; nor, as far as I know, in any author whatever. The paraphrafe the Doctor puts upon this fubftitution un doubtedly carries in it the meaning of the poet, but furely his idea is moft aptly conveyed in his own words, feems to fpeak; a common elliptical expreffion for feems about to speak, that is, appears juft ready to utter fomething remarkable or of import. ance; the paffage is fo obvious, that it needs no comment.

His remarks on the words

Aroynt thee Witch, &c. in the third fcene, are very fatisfactory, as they had been formerly rendered, matter of dispute from the rife

uncommon a word. His alteration of very into various in the fame fcene feems proper, but perhaps the original ran thus,

And the every point they blow,

which is a more marked expreffion, and departs lefs from the original reading.

Now have I followed the Doctor to the fifth scene, and as it is the principal caufe of this letter, i muft be at fome pains to examine it, and beg your hearing patiently, while I

Here, after defiring in general terms that the fifters would be particular and tell him more, Macbeth, eager to affure himself upon what foundation their affertions refted, and certify himself how far he might rely on their intelligence, continues,

By Sinel's death, I know, I'm thane of Glamis.

There could be little doubt but every one knew that he became thane of Glamis upon the death of Sinel. He however fuppofes that no one, fave himself and Banquo, could be yet apprized of the fituation of Cawdor, who had rebelled against his king, and of course would be attainted; fo he disguises his knowledge of this event, and enquires with feeming furprise how it was poffible for him to be created thane of Cawdor, while the thane was yet alive in health and profperity.

Lives a profperous gentleman. Continuing his diffimulation, he adds

thinking he should obtain an imme. diate answer from them, as Banquo had got a little before, not fucceed. ing, the expedient of founding them occurs to him, and for this purpose he employs the fituation of Cawdor as beft fuited to favour his defign; fince thus he gave them the readieft way of convincing him, what they foretold would be verified, by leaving them an opportunity of unmasking his difguife, fhould they be acquaint ed with the thane's cafe; and as this knowledge could only have been got by preternatural means, would much heighten the probability of their infight into futurity. The drift of the poet was to leave him in the dark, fince the deeds which were to follow could not bear the light, of course the fifters take no notice of those reflections nor of the taunt that accompanied them. After paufing, he is forced to have recourse to a different mode of proceeding to procure a reply; he peremptorily afks them the fource of their information, and cause of this stoppage, but ftill without effect. In this way, his curiofity

wound up to the highest pitch, and feconded by impatience, leads him to think of enforcing compliance by his authority;

Speak, I charge you.

Their inftant disappearance leaves him ftill more perplexed. The firft reflection he makes after their departure is ftrongly expreffive of the impreffion their filence has left upon him, and of his anxiety about the truth of their predictions.

Would they had ftaid!

Banquo, on the contrary, feems to confider all that has just passed, as a mere dream.

Were fuch things here, as we do speak

about?

Or have we eaten of the infane root,
That takes the reason prisoner?

Macbeth cannot bring himself to regard it in that ideal light, but ftill looks upon it as real, and suffers it to occupy the first place in his thoughts; as is evident from the following fpeech, by which he wishes to intereft Banquo also in the cause :

Mach Your children fhall be kings.
Ban. You shall be king.

This idea ftrikes Macbeth so for

cibly from the dangers and difficulties by which it feemed on every fide environed, and, as if he had a prefentiment of his future bloody deed, and an apprehenfion of discovery, al moft overpowers him; he waves this part of the fubject his being king hereafter, and pretends to have given but little heed to the whole occurrence, fo he subjoins,

And thane of Cawdor too;-went it not fo?

Were not thefe the words of the Witches, or have I forgot them?

Ban. To the felf-fame tune, and words.

During this earneft converfation, they are interrupted (as most of the copies have it) by the arrival of Roffe

2

and

and Angus, who came to inveft Macbeth with the forfeited title of the Thane of Cawdor. Before going further, I beg leave to afk, if Roffe was likely to be the meffenger employed on this occafion by his Ma. jefty? He is reprefented as coming direct from Fife with the 'tidings of victory, and the fatigue he is fupposed to have undergone in confe. quence of difpatch, was a fufficient reafon, one would imagine, for difpenfing with his fervices on an im mediate miffion the inveftiture of Macbeth with the title of the rebel lious Thane. Besides there appears no pertinent caufe, why we should fuppofe Roffe the agent employed, the order is conveyed in no exprefs terms to oblige us to think fo: -Go, pronounce his death, And with his former titles greet Macbeth. Should not the King, had he intended Roffe to be the meffenger, rather have faid, Return and meet Macbeth, &c. Of course, I am of opinion that Angus and fome other lord who were in waiting were difpatched on this commiffion. Again, Roffe is faid, firft to have opened the commiffion to Macbeth, then we find him fuddenly interrupted by Angus, who is permitted to fay a few fenten. ces, and the fubject is resumed by Roffe.

It is furely obvious to every one, that all these detached pieces form only one connected fpeech, and must have been intended for one perfon; fo it would be quite propofterous to enter into any difcuffion to prove it. The prefent injudicious difmember, ment of it is manifeftly an interpolation of those who have forced Roffe to make his appearance, in order that he may not remain altogether mute, as Angus does, when Rofs gives the King an account of the battle in which Norway was routed, and Cawdor taken. One would fup. pofe that Angus's being quite filent, on that occafion, was a fufficient rea

fon for imagining he was not wanted, and of courfe was not joined with Roffe in bringing the dispatches from Macbeth. It is certainly put beyond all doubt, when we are told upon the King's afking, who comes here? The worthy Thane of Roffe, without the leaft mention of Angus. After this, to fay, as is done in moft copies of this Tragedy, that Angus was along with Roffe, requires fuch a degree of perverfeness as cannot eafily be conceived. It is certain Angus was at the council board; and upon the King's orders for the inveftiture of Macbeth, it is most likely he made answer that he would fee it done, and not Roffe, as it is erroneously painted. It is ftrange, yet true, that frʊm a determined continuance in error, the transcribers have made Roffe and Angus infeparable companions throughout the whole piece; wherever the one is introduced, there alfo do we find the other following clofe at his heels, ficut umbra corpus. So much is this the cafe that I have known feveral perfons who conceived Roffe and Angus to be the title of one Thane only. Upon the fuppofition then that Angus is employed on this occafion, we proceed, and find that Banquo after the delivery of the meffage, firft obferves, with a furprise confiftent with his natural ingenuity,

What! can the devil speak true?

Macbeth, on the contrary, ever after he hears his majesty's commands in his favor, is fo much overpowered by conflicting paffions, that he hardly believes it now that it must be true, and coldly obferves,

The thane of Cawdor lives;-Why do you drefs me In borrow'd robes ?

It may be worthy of remark, that he does not as to the witches, call him a profperous gentleman, but ftates the circumftance exactly as it ftood, then begs an explanation of this premature falutation. With this

request