Sect. i. on Shakespeare. g

“ by Milton.” And from a similar cast of rea-soning, in his preface to Horace, he fays, 2 thatthose emendations of his are for the most part morecertain, which are made from conjectures, thanthose from ancient copies, and manuscripts.

’Twas never my intention to call in questionthe skill, and abilities of one, whose reputation inlearning is so deservedly established: but there wasa good piece of 3 advice, (which I cannot so easilypass over, because of universal use to critics,)offered him, when first he made his design knownof publishing his Horace; which was, to admitinto the context all those better readings, for whichhe had the authority of ancient manuscripts; but asto meer conjectural corrections, to place themin his notes. His reply to this advice was, asmight be expected, “ No, for then who will re-“ gard ’em? ”

Our great critic was too well guarded byhis learning, to have his own reply turned asa sarcasm against himself; which might so justly

2. Plura igitur in Horatianis his curis ex conjedlura exhi-bemus, quum ex codicum Jubfidio ; et, nisi me omnia sallunt ,plerumque certiora.

3. Of this particular circumstance I was informed by thelate learned Mr. Wass of Aynoe. I will add here a rule ofGraevius, in his preface to Cicero’s offices : A priscis librisnon reoedendum, nifi aut librarii, aut sioli peccatum fit tarntefiutum, ut ah omnibus, qui non caligcnt in Jole, niidtri pojfit.

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