his juvenile work, by
remodelling it, and producing it at the Duke of York's
theatre. But as many of the characters necessarily retained
the features of the older play, and times had changed; it was
easy to affix a false stigma to the poet's pictures of the old
Cavaliers; and the play was universally condemned as a satire
on the Royalists. It was reproduced with success at the
theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields, as long afterwards as the
year 1730.--ED.

[30] The anecdote, probably little known, may be found in "The
Judgment of Dr. Prideaux in Condemning the Murder of
Julius Caesar by the Conspirators as a most villanous act,
maintained," 1721, p. 41.

THE PAINS OF FASTIDIOUS EGOTISM.

I must place the author of "The Catalogue of Royal and Noble Authors,"
who himself now ornaments that roll, among those who have participated
in the misfortunes of literature.

HORACE WALPOLE was the inheritor of a name the most popular in
Europe;[31] he moved in the higher circles of society; and fortune had
never denied him the ample gratification of his lively tastes in the
elegant arts, and in curious knowledge. These were particular
advantages. But Horace Walpole panted with a secret desire for
literary celebrity; a full sense of his distinguished rank long
suppressed the desire of venturing the name he bore to the uncertain
fame of an author, and the caprice of vulgar critics. At length he
pretended to shun authors, and to slight the honours of authorship.
The cause of this contempt has been attributed to the perpetual
consideration of his rank. But was this bitter contempt of so early a
date? Was Horace Walpole a Socrates before his time? was he born that
prodigy of indifference, to despise the secret object he languished to
possess? His early associates were not only noblemen, but literary
noblemen; and need he have been so petulantly fastidious at bearing
the venerable title of author, when he saw Lyttleton, Chesterfield,
and other peers, proud of wearing the blue riband of literature? No!
it was after he had become an author that he contemned authorship: and
it was not the precocity of his sagacity, but the maturity of his
experience, that made him willing enough to undervalue literary
honours, which were not sufficient to satisfy his desires.

Let us estimate the genius of Horace Walpole by analysing his talents,
and inquiring