Ossian Collection > Defence of the Scots Highlanders, in general; and some learned characters, in particular

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cxprefs himfelf fo unguardedly impudent j
yet what fliall the reader think, when, with
a blufh for the extreme corruption and de-
pravity of the human heart, it mull: be con-
fcfftd, that the real author of this outrage,
when his name is given up, happens to be
one who has fled from the above low rank,
and who under a cover entertains the pub-
lick at the expence of his benefactor and fu-
perior; Rifumteiicatis amlcil And any curious
reader who doubts the above fact has only
to enquire of the Rev. Dr. William Thom-
fon, Fitzroy Street, and he will, from his
own fad experience, fully fatisfy him, feeing
the Dr. himfelf during the time of his mini-
jfterial office could never mount higher than
the ftation of an afliftant to an aged poor
clergyman.
Upon the whole, we mayfafely draw this
inference from the above llricture, namely,
that the abilities of a learned critic are known
by the general rule he lays down to himfelf
in judging of the work, rather than thecha-
lAditx of an author; this is one infallible
nrark of his extenfive reading, efpecially if
it