calumnies of powerful persons, he was caressed and courted by kings, princes, and popes; and has left a monument of his labours which posterity may admire, but will scarcely attempt to imitate.

But this subject has its difficulties also; and though men of no common learning have addressed themselves to the task, these difficulties have not been thoroughly overcome. Dr. Jortin's 'Life' or rather annals of the life, of Erasmus' erected on the foundation of Le Clerc, has, indeed, met with a pretty general reception. The materials appear to have been collected with great diligence, and digested with considerable judgement. There is a profusion of such learning as could be introduced; and the work abounds with remarks, which though neither very profound, nor very original, are, for the most part, sound and judicious. With an evident bias in favour of Erasmus, his biographer does not carry it so far as to pass without censure the errors of his conduct or the defects of his character. But after all, it may be objectedand apparently with a degree of justice-that the book is extended to too great a length, and encumbered with a prodigious quantity of useless matter: that the episodes relative to the contemporaries of his principal personage, though they serve to display the extent of the author's learning, and often possess considerable interest, are frequently mere loose threads, instead of constituent parts, interwoven with the substance of the narrative: that there is a lamentable want of philosophical reflection that the style and humour are at times inconsistent with historical dignity: and, in a word, that the work tends rather to facilitate the labours of some future biographer, or historian, than to convey information in the most agreeable manner to general readers.

Of the abridgement before us, we have little to say. We took it up, intending to compare it with another that appeared a few years ago; but we found it quite unnecessary to proceed any farther than the title-page. The sole difference consists in this; that whereas the former was the production of A. Cayley, Esq. and published by Messrs. Cadell and Davies, the latter bears the name of A. Laycey Esq. and issues from the Temple of the Muses, Finsbury square." Without venturing a conjecture on this remarkable fact, it may be sufficient to observe, that Mr. Cayley' otherwise Laycey, has had a very easy task to perform; and that, though his book may be looked over with some advantage by the mere reader, it is of little use to him who wishes to study the life of Erasmus with attention; since he must perpetually recur to the volumes of Jortin to know who is the author, or

what is the authority, of any particular paragraph of the abridgement.

The works of Erasmus, amounting to ten large folios, are a sufficient proof, if we had no other, of his amazing devotedness to learning. To this, which was his prevailing passion, may be traced, in a great measure, the excellences as well as defects of his character. Hence arose his violent and perpetual struggles with the monks,-the freedom of ridicule and censure which he made use of in exposing their ignorance and impudence, his constant refusal of all presents and pensions that could have deprived him of independance, -and his diligent exertions to propagate among his contemporaries a taste for polite literature, and promote an intimate acquaintance with the ancients. Considering the great as the natural patrons of learning, he sometimes condescended to flatter their vanity, and sometimes assailed them with loud complaints of the poverty and infelicity of learned men. He enumerates his own labours with great self-complacency; laments, in terms truly pathetic, the hard fate that exposed him to the attacks of illiterate and barbarous, but cruel and implacable enemies; and very modestly importunes his friends and patrons to silence their clamours by the strong hand of power. In his apprehension, learning possessed certain absolute, intrinsic attractions, which were not to be estimated by their tendency to promote human virtue and happiness and being its most diligent and successful promoter, he not only seemed to think it quite reasonable, that he should be intitled to disseminate his opinions without restraint, and, with perfect impunity, hold up to public ridicule whatever absurdities might meet his observation-but went so far as to press with vehemence that those who writhed under his lashes might be deprived of the privilege, granted to all suffering animals, of uttering their griefs in any noises they are capable of raising, however dismal or hideous.

The fabric of superstition, which the reformers assailed with such impetuous violence and unexpected success, Erasmus had already touched with a gentler hand, in most of those parts which were obviously least defensible; and it was not unreasonable to expect that he would have regarded them as auxiliaries, if not hailed them as associates in the contest So far from it, he endeavoured at first to maintain a kind of neutrality-then to excuse the liberties he had taken with existing abuses, to those who were interested in supporting them and at last to confute the very men with whom, by the ties of truth and reason, he was naturally connected. He alleged, it is true, his timidity as an apology for his

indecision; but if this timidity were in any degree censurable, as by his confession it seemed to be, those who discovered greater courage and firmer resolution, should have received his applause. His designs, however, were materially different from those of the reformers. The immediate objects of their opposition were the tyrannical exactions and superstitious absurdities of the Roman hierarchy; and they regarded literature merely as an instrument adapted to carry this opposition into effect. Erasmus, it should seem, opposed injustice and superstition only in so far as they obstructed the advancement of learning. Abuse and corrup tion, he imagined, might subsist in full vigour, without materially counteracting his project. The fine arts might flourish, notwithstanding the gross ignorance of the common people, and the hypocrisy and debauchery of the clergy and the higher orders, rioting as they did on the extorted contributions of the oppressed and enslaved. The success of the reformers appeared to be doubtful; and Erasmus, apprehensive lest the vengeance of monks and bishops and popes, who had been disturbed in the quiet possession of their usurpations, by Luther and his coadjutors, should fall on the restorers of learning, resolved to shelter himself from the storm under the protection of the prevailing party.

We might overlook, perhaps, the fear of an old man, and charitably suppose, with Dr. Jortin, that had he survived to our times, he would have adopted nobler sentiments, and pursued a conduct more consistent and sincere. But several persons have, of late, taken it into their heads to inveigh against the reformers; and wish it to be believed, that the benefits conferred on inankind by their labours, would have been obtained at much less expence, if they had remained silent. Now, this is to represent the reformation as a calamity; and clearly supposes. that where its influence was most circumscribed, science and learning would make the greatest progress. Let us see then how the case stands. A knowledge of the laws. and properties of the material world, is useful only as it serves to multiply the enjoyments and conveniences, of life, and render them common to a multitude of individuals. The science of morals might be dispensed with, if it did not assist in the conduct of life, in the government of the passions, and in the producing and strengthening habits of temperance and industry In Spain and Italy, therefore, where the efforts of the reformers were so oppor-: tunely and effectually counteracted, before their doctrines had time to take root and diffuse their pestiferous in

fluence the common people-the most numerous and consequently the most important part of every nation-should be remarkable for their intelligence, their chastity, their industry; and especially for enjoying, to a very great extent, the advantages that human life derives from the most correct and enlightened philosophy. But the very reverse of this is the fact. The population of England, of Sweden, of Switzerland, and of Scotland, where the reformers carried things to an extreme, are distinguished from other European nations, by a more rigid equity; by a larger share of good sense and general information, and an acknowledged superiority in sobriety and domestic happiness. Nor is it very difficult to account for this remarkable diversity.. The reformers, in this at least, resembled the primitive teachers. of Christianity that they made no respect of persons, and considered the servant as equally capable with his master, of pleasing the Supreme Governor in this life, and of obtaining from him a reward in the life to come. Hence, it was in their judgement, of as much consequence that the poor should acquire the knowledge of Christian doctrine, and become devout and virtuous, as those who enjoyed affluence; and it would have been very strange indeed, as they directed their labours, and formed institutions, to instruct and discipline the lower orders, if their zeal and diligence had not met with a suitable return.

It is

We may farther remark, that the progress of science and learning would have been very slow, if not altogether doubtful, had not the reformation opportunely come to their assistance. Knowledge of every kind was manifestly hos tile to the tyranny and superstition of the Roman see. not, however, the policy of wise states, when engaged in open hostilities with powerful enemies, to irritate and pro-, voke those, who may indeed be suspected of secret disaffection, but who continue nevertheless to preserve the ap pearance of obedience and fidelity. They will endeavour to conciliate such subjects, or at least to protract their revenge, till it can be taken with ease and security. The efforts of the reformers required to be repelled with con-. centrated force; and as rhetoric and sophistry were necessary to give a colour of justice and moderation to the violence, which those who were concerned in the support of the prevailing abuses and corruptions, were disposed to employ they found it convenient not only to permit men of learning, in general, to pursue their studies unmolested, but also to keep a number of them in constant pay, and encou rage others, by the hope of rich rewards, to undertake the defence of a desperate case. The learning, then, which flou

rished in the Romish church was owing in great part to the reformation; and the learned men, who laboured to defend or palliate her absurdities, were indebted to their antagonists for their security as well as for their honours. Reuchlin, it is well known, was singularly fortunate in escaping the halter and the stake: Erasmus judged it very prudent not to put himself in the power of the Roman pontiff. All men of genuine learning, who did not devote their talents to the support of the church, were regarded with a suspicious eye; while those who had the virtue and courage to publish doctrines friendly to general liberty or human happiness, were persecuted with unrelenting fury. Father Paul is an example of the encouragement which such persons received from popes and cardinals.

France may, indeed, be adduced as an instance of the progress that philosophy may make in a catholic country. But the most brilliant period, in a literary point of view, in the history of France, was during the struggles of the catholics, and those of the reformed persuasion. Had it not been for a Claude they would not, perhaps, have had to boast of a Bossuet. Besides, literature in that country has always been confined to the higher orders. Among the middling and lower classes of the people, compared with those of protestant countries, there is but a small portion of intelligence, of morality, or happiness

Now

Erasmus appears to have been terrified at the commotions likely to arise from the firmness and intrepidity of the reformers; and all the wars, and massacres, and executions, that accompanied that revolution, have been exaggerated by some to depreciate their merit, and defame their character. in answer to all this it may be observed, that all great accessions to human improvement have been purchased at great expence. No extraordinary revolution in politics or religion, with whatever advantages attended, has been effected without serious injury to individuals. But are we to charge this consequence upon those who have been instrumental in producing the beneficial change, or shield from general scorn and execration their ignorant or interested opponents? The fate of the reformers, however, has been rather unfortunate. Insulted and trampled upon, until their patience was worn out, and it was impossible any longer to overlook the evils which they endured, they dared at length to burst their fetters: amidst threats, proscriptions, and imprisonments, they called the astonished nations to liberty; and, having chased away their oppressors, proclaimed the laws of heaven to listening crowds. It is an outrage upon whatever is sublime