Essay on the progressive improvement of mankind. An oration, delivered in the chapel of Trinity College, Cambridge, on the day of Commemoration. Monday, Dec. 17, 1798 / [Anon].

  • Melbourne, William Lamb, Viscount, 1779-1848.
Date:
1799
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Essay on the progressive improvement of mankind. An oration, delivered in the chapel of Trinity College, Cambridge, on the day of Commemoration. Monday, Dec. 17, 1798 / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ESSAY, &c. The rapid fury of the elements, and the gradual ravages of time; the ill success of merit, and the mutability of fortune, have afforded exemplifications, which cannot be denied to be striking and impressive, to those moralists, whose intention ap¬ pears to have been, by depreciating all that others have admired, by expatiating upon the vanity of eloquence, wisdom, and cou¬ rage, to exaggerate to mankind the imperfection of their powers, the folly of their pursuits, and the insignificance of their deter¬ minations. Sounding and declamatory, but false and hollow, are 'the arguments of those who would extinguish the fire of ambition, and deter youth from aspiring to eminence; would lull genius into inactivity, because its exertions may be repaid with ingratitude; and repress enterprize, because it is always exposed to the danger of failure. The ancient Poet did not con¬ sult either for the welfare or glory of his country, when he made the eloquence of Demosthenes, and the conduct of Hannibal, the objects of his satire; and by a malignant exultation in their B