But that of _low Genius_ is not the worst Charge which is brought against the _Antiquaries_, for they are not allow’d to have so much as common Sense, or to know how to express their Minds intelligibly. This I learn from _a Dissertation on reading the Classicks, and forming a just Stile_; where it is said, “It must be a great fault of Judgment if where the Thoughts are proper, the Expressions are not so too: A Disagreement between these seldom happens, but among Men of more recondite Studies, and what they call deep Learning, especially among your _Antiquaries_ and _Schoolmen_.” This is a good careless way of talking, it may pass well enough for the _genteel Negligence_, in short, such _Nonsense_, as _Our_ Antiquaries are seldom guilty of; for Propriety of Thoughts, without Propriety of Expression is such a Discovery, as is not easily laid hold of, except by such Hunters after Spectres and Meteors, as are forced to be content with the Froth and Scum of Learning, but have indeed nothing to shew of that deep Learning, which is the effect of recondite Studies. And there was a Gentleman, no less a Friend to polite Learning, but as good a judge of it as himself, and who is also a Friend to Antiquities, who was hugely pleased with the Humour of his saying _YOUR Antiquaries_, being very ready to disclaim an Acquaintance with all such Wits, and who told me the Antiquaries, were the Men in all the World who most contemn’d _Your Men of Sufficiency and Self-conceit_. But here his Master _Horace_ is quite slipt out of his Mind, whose Words are,
Scribendi recte, sapere est & principium & fons. Rem tibi Socraticæ poterunt ostendere chartæ: Verbaque provisam rem non invita sequentur.
Sound Judgment is the ground of writing well: And when Philosophy directs your Choice To proper Subjects rightly understood, Words from your Pen will naturally flow.
_Horace_’s _Sapere_, and my Lord _Roscommon_’s _Proper Subjects rightly understood_, I take to be the same as _Propriety of Thought_, and the _non invita sequentur, naturally flowing_, I take to import the Fitness and Propriety of Expression. I also gather from hence, that there is a very easy and natural Connexion between these two, and these same Antiquaries of OURS, must be either very dull and stupid Animals, or a strange kind of cross-gran’d and perverse Fellows, to be always putting a Force upon Nature, and running out of a plain Road. He must either insinuate that they are indeed such, or that _Horace_’s Observation is not just, or that for the Word _invita_ we ought to have a better reading, for which he will be forced to consult the _Antiquaries_. I know not how some of the great Orators, he has mention’d, will relish his Compliments upon the Score of Eloquence, when he has said such hard things against Antiquaries; many of them, and those of chief Note, were his Censure just and universal, must of necessity be involv’d in it. For example, the late _Bishop_ of _Rochester_, of whom, he says, “He was the correctest Writer of the Age, and comes nearest the great Originals of _Greece_ and _Rome_, by a studious Imitation of the Ancients.” So that, as I take it, he was an Antiquary: If he excludes _English Antiquities_, I desire him to remember the present _Bishop_ of _Rochester_, of whom he has given this true Character, “Dr. _Atterbury_ writeth with the fewest Faults, and greatest Excellencies of any who have studied to mix Art and Nature in their Compositions, _&c._” He hath however thought fit to adorn the Subject of Antiquities with the Beauties of his Stile, without any Force upon Nature, or the being obliged to forsake her easy and unconstrain’d Method of applying proper Expressions to proper Thoughts. The _Bishop_ of St. _Asaph_ hath shewn his Skill in Antiquities, by more Instances than one; yet do I not find, that even in the Opinion of this Gentleman, it hath spoil’d his Stile. I shall add to these the late and present _Bishops_ of _Worcester_, the former, Dr. _Stillingfleet_, is allow’d by all to have been one of the most learned Men and greatest Antiquaries of his Age; and for the present Bishop, who is also a learned Antiquary, take the Character which is given of his Skill and Exactness in the _English_ Tongue from [F]_Bishop Wilkins_;