An Examination of the Question,. Whether Eneas ever came to Italy, or not? With Remarks upon the Ufefulness and Pleasure of Claffic Learning, and fome Obfervations upon Virgil.

To the Author of The Hiftory of the Works of the Learned. By CHARLES LAMOTTE.

SIR,

TH

HO' I am fenfible the Defign of your writing is to promote the moft ferious Learning, and the most useful Knowledge, and that the Intent of your ingenious Accounts of the Works of the Learned is to recommend fuch Books as may tend to the Advancement of Religion and Morality, I hope you will fometimes admit of Effays of a lighter Kind, and a lefs important Nature; fuch, I mean, as relate to Claffic

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Claffic Learning, and the Belles Lettres. I know the World is pretty much divided about the Nature and Usefulness of this Sort of Study; and that whilft fome of its Admirers raise and extol it to the Skies, and prefer it to Hiftory, Mathematicks and Philofophy, others flight and defpife it as much, condemn it as wholly useless and unprofitable, and look upon it as troublesome in Company, and bordering upon Pedantry and Impertinence. But I believe, Sir, that avoiding these two Extremes, if we examine the Matter in a fair and impartial Light, we fhall find that this Kind of Learning, when applied in a proper Manner, may not only afford much Pleasure, but alfo be of great Ufe and Advantage to the Student. For a Proof of this, I dare appeal to those that have applied themselves to this Study betimes, whether it has not help'd to form, nourish and improve their Minds, and furnished them with fuch Notions, as have very much contributed to the Pleasure and Happiness of their Lives. Whether thefe Books have not been their most agreeable Companions in their Travels, to ease the Fatigues and Inconveniencies of them; their beft Entertainment in a Country Retirement, where they have had the Pleasure to behold the charming Contraft between Nature and Art; to compare the beautiful Defcriptions of the rural Scenes in the Poets with the delightful Pictures and Landscapes, which Nature in a fine Season portrayed and represented to their Eyes? and,

Nunc veterum in Libris

Ducere follicite jucunda Oblivia Vitæ.

Whether these Books have not given them great Relief and Support under the Afflictions and Calamities they have met with in the Courfe of their Lives. This the great Roman Orator (who, you know, Sir, had his Share of Troubles both in publick and private Life) was fo fenfible of, that he declared that under thefe Preffures he ever fled for Relief and Refuge to

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his Books, which tho' they did not wholly cure, remove, and make him forget his Sorrows, at leaft help'd very much to footh and alleviate them. Laftly, Whether thefe have not been the most pleasing Entertainment and innocent Amusement of their old Age, when all other Pleafures have left and forfaken them? Let any Man read Tully's excellent Treatife of old Age in this View, and deny this if he can. There he will hear old Cato declare, that in an advanced Age he began to learn Greek, and to read the Greek Authors; which Study (faith he) he purfued with the fame Defire and Eagerness, as a Man that quenches the most craving Thirft; that he looked upon thefe politer Studies as the greatest Comfort and Delight of his old Age, and preferr'd them to the moft delicious Meals, to the fineft Entertainments of the Stage, and to all the Pleasures and Enjoyments of Senfe. I remember the great Thuanus relates in the Memoirs of his Life, that being at Padua he went to vifit Signior Picolomini, a learned Profeffor in that Univerfity, and that he found that venerable Man fitting in his Bed at fourfcore Years of Age, revifing, correcting, and polishing fome Remarks he had formerly made upon a Greek Author; which Employment, he faid, gave him unspeakable Delight at an Age when he had no Talte and Relish for other Pleafures and Enjoyments of Life. From whence young Men fhou'd learn to apply themselves to that Study betimes, and lay in fuch Store and Provifion of this ufeful Learning, as will fo much conduce to the Pleasure of their Lives, and afford them fuch pleafing Entertainment, fuch Relief and Comfort in their old Age. The truth is, these politer Studies help very much to fan and keep alive the Flame that then begins to fail, to rub

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1 Literas fenex didici quas quidem fic avide arripui, quafi diuturnam fitim explere cupiens, ut ea ipfa mihi nota effent, quibus me nunc Exemplis uti videtis. Cicero de Senect. Edit. Græv. p. 406.

2 Quid jucundius Senectute ftipata ftudiis Juventutis ? İb. 408. 3 Quæ funt igitur Epularum, aut Ludorum, aut Scortorum voluptates cum his voluptatibus comparandæ. Ib. p. 425.

rub off the Ruft, and to fweeten the Sournefs and Morofeness of old Age; give it fomething of the Life and Gaiety of Youth, and make good the Obfervation, That as nothing is more agreeable in a young Man than a little of the Seriousness and Gravity of Age, fo nothing is more lovely and amiable in an old one than fomewhat of the Spirit and Vivacity of Youth. For thefe Reafons, I hope, Sir, you will not refuse now and then to admit and infert in your Journals fome lighter Effays, fome Fruits of leifure Hours and Unbendings of the Thoughts from graver and feverer Studies.

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I am, Sir, &c.

To the Reverend, &c. &c. &c.

T is the Obfervation of the Roman Hiftorian, that moft Nations have been apt to mingle Truth and Falfhood in their Hiftories, to fet off their Originals, and illuftrate their Pedigrees. Whether this might proceed from a certain Pride and Vanity to exceed their Neighbours in point of Antiquity, or was at first fet up and encourag'd by politick Princes and Governors to animate their People to great and generous Actions, and to engage them to tread in the Steps, and imitate the Virtues of their fuppofed Ancettors, I will not here make it my Business to enquire. But of all the ancient Nations, there is not one for which the Moderns have fhewn more Partiality, and been more willing to derive their Originals from, than the Trojans. This may feem wonderful enough, fince if we compare them with the Greeks, we hall find them in all refpects very much inferior to their Enemies. 'Tis certain the Trojans had the worse both in the Cause and the Succefs of that long, tedious, and bloody War. They had been the first Aggreffors, had taken the Part of a Prince, who had been guilty of the greatest Piece of Injuftice, and drawn their Swords in a most unwarranta

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