صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

country of the exorbitant demands of landlords, and that the rent of ground is now advanced much higher than it will bear. Such complaints must of course be expected from the sufferers, but I believe they are here in some instances made with reason; the landlords, on the contrary, may urge, perhaps, that they act with strict justice, and that they have a right at least to try the experiment; but it should be remembered that the extreme of right is wrong, and there is a tribute of humanity due from the superior, that he should be always on a certainty that he does not exact too much.

National characters should always be read with exceptions; but if I were to give my opinion of the inhabitants of North Wales, I should say, that the common people in general are civil and grateful; the middle race open-hearted and generous, rather too generous perhaps, considering the strength of their liquor; but the farmers rather slow and suspicious. A few of the inferior squires retain somewhat of the sottish and the brutal; but among the higher ranks, I have found, in the same proportion as in England, lettered society, hospitable reception, and refined address.

THE

LIFE

OF

JOHN WILKES, Esq.

IN THE MANNER OF PLUTARCH;

BEING

A SPECIMEN OF A LARGER WORK.

THE THIRD edition, rEVISED AND CORRECTED.

THE LIFE

OF

JOHN WILKES, Esq.*

Most ages have produced some shining models of undaunted virtue and unabating patriotism. It is the part of the biographer to select characters from the mass of mankind, and to hold those only up to view who have been most distinguished on the vast theatre of human life. Were men to be promiscuously described, little advantage would be derived from reviewing the annals of past or present times, and the eye, after a glance, would turn away with weariness, as from an unbounded plain, or a mirror, where all objects were presented indiscriminately. But if others have laboured under the disadvantage of describing characters equally mixed with right and wrong, the author here has little reason to complain of such blended materials. He gives one bold and enter

* The publication of this well-timed jeu-d'esprit is noticed by Mr. Cradock in vol. I. p. 115; whence it appears that it was not ungraciously received in a very high quarter.-EDIT.

« السابقةمتابعة »