In his
reflexions upon works of wit and humour, he observes how unequal they
are to combate vice and folly; and seems to think, that the finest
rallery and satire, though directed by these generous views, never
reclaimed one vicious man, or made one fool depart from his folly.
This is a position very hard to be contradicted, because no Author
knows the number or names of his converts. As for the _Tatlers_ and
_Spectators_ in particular, which are obliged to this ingenious and
useful Author for the character he has given of them, they were so
generally dispersed in single sheets, and have since been printed
in so great numbers, that it is to be hoped they have made some
proselytes to the interests, if not to the practice of wisdom and
virtue, among such a multitude of readers.
I need not remind this learned Gentleman, that _Socrates_, who was the
greatest propagator of morality in the heathen world, and a martyr
for the Unity of the Godhead, was so famous for the exercise of this
talent among the politest people of antiquity, that he gained the name
of [Greek: ha Eibon] _the Drole_.
There are very good effects which visibly arose from the
above-mentioned performances and others of the like nature; as, in the
first place, they diverted rallery from improper objects, and gave a
new turn to ridicule, which for many years had been exerted on persons
and things of a sacred and serious nature.
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