"Si quid novifti rectius iftis, "Candidus imperti; fi non, his utere mecum." HOR. *Mr. Pope told me himself, that the "Effay on "Criticifm" was indeed written in 1707, though faid 1709 by mistake. J. RICHARDSON. THE Poem is in one book, but divided into three prin- · cipal parts or members. The first [to ver. 201.] gives rules for the Study of the Art of Criticism; the fecond [from thence to ver. 560.] exposes the Causes of wrong Judgment; and the third [from thence to the end] marks out the Morals of the Critic. When the Reader hath well confidered the whole, and hath obferved the regularity of the plan, the masterly conduct of the feveral parts, the penetration into Nature, and the compass of learning fo confpicuous throughout, he should then be told that it was the work of an Author who had not attained the twentieth year of his age. A very learned Critic has fhewn, that Horace had the fame attention to method in his Art of Poetry. CONTENTS OF THE That a true Tafte is as rare to be found as a true Ge- That most men are born with some Tafte, but fpoil'd That we are to ftudy our own Tafte, and know the limits Nature the best guide of judgment, ver. 68 to 87. Caufes hindering a true Judgment. I. Pride, ver. 208. Imperfect Learning, ver. 215. 3. Judging by parts, and not by the whole, ver. 233 to 288. Cri- tics in Wit, Language, Verfification, only, 288, 305, 339, &c. to admire, ver. 384. 5. Partiality-too much love to a Sect,-to the Ancients or Moderns, ver. 394. 6. Prejudice or Prevention, ver. 408. 7. Singularity, ver. 424. 8. Inconftancy, ver. 430. 9. Party Spi- rit, ver. 452, &c. 10. Envy, ver. 466. Against Envy, and in praise of Good-nature, ver. 508, &c. Rules for the Conduct of Manners in a Critic. 1. Can- ΑΝ ΑΝ E S SAY ΟΝ CRITICIS M. 'T IS hard to fay, if greater want of skill 'Tis with our judgments as our watches; none Yet, if we look more closely, we shall find 5 10 15 20 Nature |