YKEHAMISTS.

Literary Quarrels have abundantly sprung from mere personal motives;
and controversies purely literary, sometimes of magnitude, have broken
out, and been voluminously carried on, till the public are themselves
involved in the contest, while the true origin lies concealed in some
sudden squabble; some neglect of petty civility; some unlucky epithet;
or some casual observation dropped without much consideration, which
mortified or enraged the author. How greatly has passion prevailed in
literary history! How often the most glorious pages in the chronicles
of literature are tainted with the secret history which must be placed
by their side, so that the origin of many considerable works, which do
so much honour to the heads of their authors, sadly accuse their
hearts. But the heaven of Virgil was disturbed with quarrels--

Tantaene animis coelestibus irae?
_AEneid._

Can heavenly minds such high resentment show?
_Dryden._

And has not a profound observer of human affairs declared, _Ex
privatis odiis respublica crescit?_ individual hatreds aggrandize the
republic. This miserable philosophy will satisfy those who are
content, from private vices, to derive public benefits. One wishes for
a purer morality, and a more noble inspiration.

To a literary quarrel from personal motives we owe the origin of a
very remarkable volume. When Dr. Parr delivered his memorable sermon,
which, besides the "_sesquipedalia verba_," was perhaps the longest
that ever was heard--if not listened to--Bishop Hurd, who had always
played the part of one of the most wary of politicians in private
life, and who had occasion once adroitly to explain the French word
_Retenue_, which no man better understood, in a singularly unguarded
moment, sarcastically observed that he did not like "the doctor's long
vernacular sermon." The happy epithet was soon conveyed to the
classical ear of the modern Grecian: it was a wasp in it! The bishop
had, in the days of literary adventure, published some pieces of
irony, which were thought more creditable to his wit than his
feelings--and his great patron, Warburton, certain juvenile prose and
verse--all of which they had rejected from their works. But this it is
to be an author!--his errors remain when he has outlived and corrected
them. The mighty and vindictive Grecian in rage collected them all;
exhausted his own genius in perpe