Page:Rudiments of Grammar for the English-Saxon Tongue (Elstob 1715).djvu/37

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xxx
The Preface.

and their own Assurance, they wou'd not only be put out of the way of those Expectations that they have, but out of ell. manner of Contenance. There is a Piece of History. that I have met with in the Life of Archbishop Spotswood, that way not unustly be remember'd on this Occasion, shewing that studious Men of a private Character are not always to be reputed Men of low Genius: "Nor were his Virtues (says the History) buried and confined- within the Boundaries of his Parishm for having formerly had a Relation to the noble Family of Lenox, he was look'd upon as the fittest Person of his Quality to attend Lodowic, Duke of Lenox, as his Chaplain ms that honourable Embassy to Henry the fourth of France, for confirming the ancient Amity between both Nations; where be so difsceetly carried himself, as added much to his Reputation, and made it appear that Men bred up in the Shade of Learning might possibly endure the Sun-shine, and when it came to their turns, might carry themselves as handsomly abroad, as they (whose Education being in a more pragmatick way) usually undervalue them.}}

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, as to know how, to express their Minds intelligently. Thus 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 happen, but among Men of mare recondite Studies, and. what they call deep Learning, especially. among your Antiquaries and Schoolmen." This is a a careless way of talking, it may pass well, enough for the genteel Negligence, inshort,