ESSAY. EVERY age has produced its impostors, its enthusiasts, and its he roes. To rise preeminent over others is the first wish of the human heart. The predominant sensation, after man ceases to be wholly selfish, expands itself in comparison, which gradually awakens the ardor of ambition. This restless feeling is the governing principle of early life, and never entirely forfakes him, until he loses all confidence in himself. If the nature be generous, and events propitious, they produce a great man; otherwise, the disposition takes an eccentric turn. B It is not a singular circumstance in the annals of human nature, that every one of those heroes, enthusiasts, and impoftors, the history of whose lives has been sufficiently interesting to merit preservation, has been actuated by his particular bias, and excited by motives, powerful in his own estimation, however weak or criminal in the opinion of mankind. One man, already a conqueror, thinks he must subject the world, before the world will acknowledge him a hero. Another, already a sovereign prince, and perfectly at ease, proposes more than mortal labours, in order to enjoy a quiet old age. A third, favored by the times, boldly associates himself with heaven, in order to govern the earth. A fourth, ...... more humble, though not less ardent, is willing, in a hair shirt, to travel to Jerusalem, preaching a crusade. THE characters of these men were so distinctly marked in their own days, their inspiring motive was so apparent, that succeeding ages have been contented to appeal to them for illustration, or to raise commentaries on their lives. Doubtless, they all thought themselves paramount to the common sense of mankind, and little less than inspired, however romantic, or absurd their object of pursuit. Hence, the questions of magnanimity, or of selfishness; of imposture, or of enthusiasm; will forever arise, while the pursuits of men tend to preeminence over their cotempos raries. THERE is one character on record, who has commanded the attention of every succeeding age; and what is not a little remarkable, it is not yet settled, in what description of character this person ought to be claffed, notwithstanding he has engaged the zeal, the curiosity, or the resentment, of the divine, the philosopher, and the statesmän. A person, whose singular fate it has been to be accredited by some, whose lives reflected no honour on the object of their adoration; and to be reviled by others, whose moral worth was never questioned. How then, are we to estimate a man whom many |