CHAP. VII.] APPEAL FOR AUTHORS BY PROFESSION.

he would wish to see revived; when, with little of wealth or 1759.
worldly luxury, the writer could yet command esteem for jEt.3l.
himself and reverence for the claims of his calling; and he
dwells upon the contrast of existing times, in language
which will hereafter connect itself with the deliberate dislike
of "Walpole, and the uneasy jealousy of Garrick.*

" "When the link bet-ween patronage and learning -was entire, then
" all who deserved fame were in a capacity of attaining it. When the
" great Somers was at the helm, patronage was fashionable among our
" nobility. The middle ranks of mankind, -who generally imitate the
" Great, then followed their example, and applauded from fashion if not
" from feeling. I have heard an old poet" [he alludes to Young] " of that
" glorious age say, that a dinner with Ms lordship" has procured him
" invitations for the whole week following; that an airing in his
" patron's chariot has supplied him with a citizen's coach on every future
" occasion. For who would not be proud to entertain a man who kept
" so much good company ? But this link now seems entirely broken.
" Since the days of a certain prime-minister of inglorious memory, the

* I cannot help quoting also in this place, from the last edition (1853, ii. 223-4)
of Lord Mahon's History, a passage very pertinent to the matter under discussion,
and very honourable to the writer. " Literary profits do not in all respects supply
" the place of literary patronage. First, there are several studies—such as many
" branches of science or antiquities—which are highly deserving of encouragement,
" but not generally popular, and therefore not productive of emolument. In these
'' cases the liberality of the Government might sometimes usefully atone for the
" indifference of the public. But even with the most popular authors, the
" necessity of looking to their literary labours for their daily bread, has not
" unfrequently an. unfavourable effect upon the former. It may compel, or at
" least induce, them to over-write themselves ; to pour forth hasty and immature
'' productions ; to keep at all hazards their names before the public. How seldom
'' can they admit intervals of leisure, or allow their minds to lie fallow for a
'' season, in order to bear hereafter a larger and a better harvest ! In like
'' manner, they must minister to the taste of the public, whatever that taste may
'' be, and sometimes have to sacrifice their own ideas of beauty, and aspirations
'' of fame. These are undoubted evils, not merely to them, but to us ; and as
" undoubtedly are they guarded against whenever a fixed and competent provision
'' can be granted to genius. I am therefore clearly of opinion, that any Minister
'' who might have the noble ambition to become the patron of literary men, would
'' still find a large field open to his munificence ; that his intercourse with them
" on the footing of equal friendship would be a deserved distinction to them, and a
'' liberal recreation to himself; that his favoiirs might be employed with great
" advantage, and received with perfect independence."nary social honours, which tend to raise literature to its