A JOURNEY, &c. &c. CHAP. I. An Essay on descriptive writing ·Eloquence ONE of the principal designs of de scriptive writing, seems to be to paint scenes at the moment of their occurrence; which make more impression then, are consequently more capable of exciting useful ideas, and of improving the mind, than the faint recollection retained of them, after a long interval of time. Allow me also to say, that the custom of committing our thoughts to pa A per has many real advantages, which are not very obvious on superficial consideration; one of these is, that it teaches us to inspect the objects which present themselves to us, more nearly and accurately, and of course, fixes their remembrance in the mind more firmly: and this will not be denied, when you reflect for a moment, that painters and persons who are skilled in drawing do, from mere habit, acquire a much nicer discernment of all the parts in a picture or a prospect, than others who are unaccustomed to view them for purposes which require so much attention. It may be argued, that very little use can be made of the narrative of common occurrences which happen on a journey, and that a description of a country every day travelled over, and frequently noticed in print, cannot afford much amusement or be very entertaining; but the peculiar taste and studies of men are so widely different, and their manner of relating particulars so dissimilar, that I believe there are very few topographical histories entirely destitute of information, or from whence no useful hints can be drawn. One shrinks from the bar of Criticism, and witholds his sentiments even from the private circle of his friends, because he fears the force of ridicule, or dreads the imputation of forwardness and assurance; and another rests satisfied with the result of his own enquiries, and secludes from the world the intelligence he has obtained, because he thinks some man better qualified to inform or instruct has trodden the same path before him. But neither the one consideration nor the other should restrain that social impulse which naturally stimulates us to communicate to each other such information as may be conducive to our mutual improvement and advantage; for the shafts of ridicule can only be directed by the hand of ill-breeding and ill-nature, when the motives of à writer are laudable: and surely it is the strongest mark of an indolent disposition, to rely implicitly upon the descriptions of others, without taking the trouble of investigating their opinions by the fair criterion of actual examination. For my own part, I usually find places and circumstances so different from what they have been represented in print, that I am always desirous to inspect as carefully those which have been already described, as those which may have been altogether unnoticed before. The descriptions given us by some Authors have been jaundiced by dissatisfaction and peevishness; the colouring of others has been falsely heightened, until the true and original outlines of the picture cannot be traced without difficulty: in short, men are so apt to represent things according to their own fancy, and to tinge their drawings in the manner most pleasing to the eye, though often very dissimilar to the real objects they should represent, that they may truly be said more frequently to describe what they wish, than what they see. The Eloquent, ever fond of declamation, are studious for opportunities of launching forth into pompous and laboured description. The Learned involve themselves and their readers in perplexing discussions, which are, frequently, neither interesting to themselves nor entertaining to the world. Wit (if ever he condescends to write at all) criticises and quibbles upon the opinions of others, and after pretending to detect their errors or their insipidity, leaves you in full possession of his own.. The But if these three great qualifications, Eloquence, Learning, and Wit, are thus objectionable how (it may be asked) can one who has not pretensions to either, take the liberty of obtruding himself upon the notice of the public? He cannot (I will answer) be secure from Criticism, but at least he has no reason to fear the sting of Envy; and, by a faithful and correct statement of facts, he has a chance of giving entertainment, |