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forafmuch as plays were acted in the univerfities, with the approbation of bishops, where thefe characteristical properties were to be feen as well as at the public. theatres. "And," he concludes, " if it, "be unlawful to fit and behold a merce

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nary comedian perfonating that which "is leaft unfeemly for an hireling to do, how "much more blameful is it to endure "the fight of as vile things acted by per"fons, either entered, or presently to "enter, into the miniftry! and how "much more foul and ignominious for "them to be the actors * !”

Is then Dr. Johnson's THEREFORE the introduction of a fair inference? or do, flander and mifreprefentation then only

Apology, p. 213.

lofe

lofe their malignity when delivered by of Dr. Johnson?

the pen

Every page of the new narrative is full of mean flings and malevolent furmises on Milton's most indifferent actions, which it would be endless to remark with a proper reproof of each. We fhall therefore only felect a few of the most reprehenfible, either on account of their want of candour, or want of veracity.

Page 24. It is thus written: "Let not ❝our veneration for Milton forbid us to "look with fome degree of merriment "on great promises and small perfor❝mances, on the man who haftens home "because his countrymen are contend"ing for their liberty, and when he "reaches the scene of action vapours " away

66

"away his patriotism in a private board

"ing school."

This fneer is derived from a reflection of Mr. Fenton, "to whom it seemed "wonderful that one, of fo warm and

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daring a spirit as Milton's certainly 66 was, fhould be reftrained from the 66 camp in those unnatural commotions* ; "and whence Dr. Johnfon takes the li

66

berty to fubfume: But Milton was re"ftrained from the camp, therefore his patriotifm was vapoured away."

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But was there no fcene of patriotic action but in the camp? or will Dr. Johnfon allow that Milton could have done more for the liberty of his coun

*Fenton's Life of Milton, p. x.

trymen

trymen with his fword than he did with

his

pen *?

Philips informs us, that Milton arrived in England from his travels "about "the time of the King's making his fe"cond expedition against the Scots +;"

*Neque enim militiæ labores et pericula fic defugi, ut non alia ratione, et operam multo uti liorem, nec minore cum periculo, meis civibus navârim, et animum dubiis in rebus neque demiffum unquam, neque ullius invidiæ, vel etiam mortis plus æquo metuentem præftiterim. Nam cum ab adolefcentulo humanioribus effem ftudiis, ut qui maxime deditus, et ingenio femper quam corpore validior, pofthabita caftrenfi opera, qua me gregarius quilibet robuftior facile fuperâffet, ad ea me contuli quibus plus potui, ut parte nei meliore ac potiore, fi faperem, non deteriore, ad rationes patriæ, caufamque hanc præftantiffimam, quantum maxime poffem moinentum accederem.

Miltoni Defenfio fecunda pro Populo Angli

cano, p. 366. vol. II. of Baron's edition of his profe-works.

Philips, p. xvi.

and

and fo fay Toland, Newton, &c; and it was in the very fame year that Milton published his Difcourfes of Reformation in two books, founded on the fame principles of liberty for which his countrymen were contending in the camp.

The fame Mr. Philips fays, that within the first two years that Milton inha bited the house which the new narrative dignifies with the name of boardingSchool*, he fet out not only the tract above-mentioned, but likewife the feveral treatises against Prelatical Episcopacy, on the Reafon of Church-Govern

*The expreffion was familiar to this writer: "At Edial, near Litchfield, in Staffordshire, young gentlemen are boarded, and taught the "Latin and Greek Languages, by SAMUEL JOHNSON."

Advertisement in Gent. Mag. 1736, p. 428.

ment,

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