in Milton. Burke. Mr Burke being ordered to speak the speech of Molock1, receives Molock's speech applause for ye Delivery, it being in Character. Then the speech was read & criticized upon; its many beauties illustrated, the chief judged to be its conformity with the character of Molock"No, let us rather chuse Arm'd with Hell flames & Fury all at once Oer Heavens high Tows to force resistless way." The words "all at once" (the metre not considered) seemed to ye whole Assembly to hurt the sentence by stoping ye Rapidity & checking ye freshness of it, making it too long & tedious. Then was Belial's speech2 read, to ye great Delight of ye Hearers, whose opinion Homer & Milton. Was that Homer only can be compared to Milton, not only for ye Beauties that shine in every Verse, but likewise, for the just and lively colours, in which each character was drawn: for that none but Homer, like him, ever supported such spirit & exactness in the speeches of such a contrast & variety of Persons. 1 Prior in his Life of Edmund Burke, published in 1826, page 31, writes as follows: "Burke always recommended the study of him (Milton) to his son, and to all his younger friends, as exhibiting the highest possible range of mind in the English language, and to the last quoted him frequently both in conversation and in writing. It is therefore with some truth that the Rev. Mr Todd in his life of Milton makes the following suggestion; while the anecdote by which it is accompanied exhibits Mr Burke's early attachment to those social literary meethings of which in after life, he, as well as Dr Johnson, were so fond." "Burke I may observe," says Dr Todd, "was an ardent admirer of Milton. I hear from Mr Walker of Dublin that the great orator was a distinguished member of a literary Club instituted in Dublin in 1747, in which he sometimes held the Secretary's pen, and sometimes filled the President's chair; and that in the original minutes of this Society his early Miltonic taste is thus recorded." He then quotes the Minute of the 5th June, 1747. Molock's speech begins: "My sentence is for open War: of Wiles More unexpert, I boast not: them let those Contrive who need, or when they need, not now. For while they sit contriving, shall the rest, Heavn's fugitives, and for their dwelling place By our delay? No let us rather choose Arm'd with Hell flames and fury all at once Belial's speech begins: Paradise Lost, Bk 11, 50 et seq. "I should be much for open War, O Peers, Ibid. 119 et seq. motork's ticised upon ; It's many Beauties illustrated ; the theech, in die if jugded to be it's conformity with the character of Moloch. "No. Let us rather chase, "Armed with Hell-flames & Fury, albatonces, d'er Heron's high Tow'rs to force repistle's way "The words "albat once the metre not confittings seemed to whole assembly, to hurt the Ventence, by Hoping of Rapidity, & chacking & fierceness of it, mah-ing it too long, &tioions. Then was Belial's speech Homer & read, to 7 great Delight of of Hearers; stat be compared to Opinion was, that Homer only "Milton, not only for of Beautie: thatatine in every Verte; but thewife; for the just, and lively colours, V. Prests Speech on ye neglect of business. The injury ye want of ye papers. The Criticism ended, the Vice Prest makes a speech to the House, to this Purpose- -Gentlemen, not doubting but Mr Ardesoif would have been here to make amends for Tuesday's absence by filling this August Seat with Honour this night; I purposed to offer a proposal to the House; which I am hindered from by ye Duty that binds while I sit here. Since then I am not allowed to introduce a Bill Myself my Zeal for the good of our Academy will not suffer me to be quite silent when I see Danger threatening it, and I will recommend to your Consideration an Evil, which calls for an Immediate Cure. 'Tis with great uneasiness, I have long observed how imperfectly & remisely ye mean business of the House is carried on; And that there have been several weeks in which scarce one Paper has been received from those Members whose Duty it was to bring them in. I would not be understood as reflecting on ye conduct of former Presidents, or to cast an Ignominy on any of the members. In either case, perhaps, I should affect myself. But I would if possible stop ye growth of such a mighty evil. 'Tis true, the Delinquents have been punished; but we see, in vain, for still ye weeds flower in this fair field, where none but the sweet fruit of Diligence & Industry should be suffered. Neglect of any kind argues but Indifference towards the Honour & Wellfare of ye Society: But this besides disappoints us of the end we aimed at in ye Institution of it. The Studied speeches & Papers are ye ornament of the Academy; and ye most usefull Exercise of our genius: Yet I remember scarce an Oration perfectly delivered, few papers correct, but many, of both, not at all given to us. If we continue thus careless in a Point of so great Moment; have we not just cause of apprehension for ye Safety & continuance of ye Society? A Disorder that at once attacks the head, unless supprest in time, will soon reach the Heart. Unless we remedy this mismanagement in ye Principal duties of ye Members can we hope they will not run into more & at last create a destructive confusion, who would be guilty of this? I can not propose a remedy but beg some of you may. It will grieve you, when you come to the Chair, to want ye Chief graces of ye Society. If then ye have either the public Interest or your private Satisfaction at Heart, ye will not delay to pass some decrees for prevention of this Evil. Mr Burke's objection. Mr Prest the Respect I bear your Dignity would awe me from objecting against what you advise, did not the same concern for the Society, that made you speak in a manner that is not allowed the Evil of many laws. Chair, encourage me to answer you. It has ever been confessed that multiplicity of Laws is prejudicial: As besides ye confusion it begets, every new Law weakens ye old; and as superfluity is needless, can not be more effectual than the Old, when they, if in force, are The sufficiency of sufficient. We have a Law, in wch there is sufficient Provision made; And whom that can not oblige will hardly be ruled by any other we can make. And therefore, I shall never offer such an affront to your Wisdome, or that of any President, as to declare a doubt of their those we have. ability to keep our Laws in due execution; which, I apprehend I should do in proposing a Law on this occasion. The rest of ye Members being of Mr Burke's opinion, The Vice Prest set an example of strict justice, by putting ye 5th Law in rigorous force against not only Mr Ardesoif, but even himself: Mr Dennis And accordingly punishes Mr Dennis, for neglecting to bring ye moral paper & a fair correct copy of ye Miscellaneous; and Mr Ardesoif Mr Ardesoif, for ye Papers of Love & Drunkenness & for ye Mr Dennis Speech; with fines & censure. Then Mr Dennis reads by permission, the fair copy of his paper on History corrected, & receives Applause. Buck's present Mr Buck having presented to the Society a Translation of an Ode to ye Society. of Horace, a Poem, & a Song, receives formal thanks, for all, but ye Poe, because that (as he confessed) was not at first written for ye Club. The whole Society declares their satisfaction at this Concern He shews for its Honour; giving not only ye appointed & ordinary Papers, but others besides of his own free gift. He returns thanks for ye Compliments, assuring them, all he desired, was to convince ym he was a better Member, than of late they were pleased to think him; that his former Abstention was involuntary, and his Heart sincere; that now he has pleased them, he has gained his End. Passions Buck pro. Burke con. Judgment for ye Passions whn in proper subjection to Reason Prests Harangue. Prom to do Justice. ORDERED that ye Debate on ye Passions be renewed, wch was left unfinished since Fryday May 1st. Mr Buck made a Speech (which he promises to give in a more correct form in writing) wherein he shew'd How impossible it is, & how inadviseable, to eradicate what is so blended with, & usefull, to our Natures. Mr Burke declaims against the passions, as ye Root whence every vice has its nourishment & growth. Wisdome & virtue, ye children, & graces of ye Mind: The Passions enemies to both, & Continual Rebels to Reason & Decorum. At ye Fall of Man, ye ground was cursed with Thorns & Weeds, & his own Frame with these destructive seeds of Wickedness: Tis true they cannot be extirpated, but they should be suppressed, and as ye purchase of ye Fruit of ye Earth is ye labour that keeps down ye weeds, so ye title to Happiness is Virtue and a due exercise of Reason in subduing ye Passions. Mr Vice Presd gives his award for the Passions when in fit subjection to Reason; tells Mr Burke he has not argued on ye same Point which he did when first ye Matter was proposed, & that he has not opposed but strengthened Mr Buck's arguments & proved ye Passions useful Whereas he should have made out ye strict Principles for their extirpation. After 8 O'c Mr Ardesoif comes: And when ye Debate was ended, takes ye Chair; and in an Harangue promises to do the Society Justice & to Observe the Laws. |