the Title +peri paroimion+ concerning Proverbs:  But that, probably, was nothing but a Collection of some of those short, remarkable, useful, pithy Sayings, which are of common Use in the World, and which every Nation has peculiar to it self.  However, tho’ we cannot exactly tell, what the Nature of that Performance was, because the Book is now lost, yet we are certain, on the other Hand, that the Design of Solomon was not to write Characters, but to deliver some Maxims of Morality by way of Advice and Instruction.  So that for a profess’d Writer of Characters, to take a Book of Proverbs for a Model, is as inconsistent, as if any one, who intended to compose an Oration, shou’d form his Diction upon a Poem. Proverbs consist of short Sentences, which contain in themselves a full and compleat Sense; and therefore they do not essentially require a strict Relation and Correspondence; but Characteristic-Writings do require such a strict Relation and Correspondence.  And Mr. de la Bruyere is so faulty in this Point, that almost every where he has no visible Connexion. —­Characteristic-Writings ought, I own, to have a lively Turn, and a Laconic Air:  but there is a wide Difference between using a concise Manner, and writing as many Aphorisms as Sentences.

  [S:  Discours sur Theophraste.]
  [T:  Lib. 5.  Segm. 45.]

How far Mr. de la Bruyere is defective as to Propriety of Style and Justness of Expression, I chuse to set down in the Words of one of his [V]Countrymen, a very judicious Writer, and a better Judge in this Matter than I pretend to be.

  [V:  Melanges de Vigneul Marville. Edit.  Rot. T. 1. p. 336.]

Mr. de la Bruyere, qui n’a point de Style forme, ecrivant au hazard, employe des Expressions outrees en des Choses tres communes; & quand il en veut dire de plus relevees, il les affoiblit par des Expressions basses, & fait ramper le fort avec le foible.  Il tend sans relache a un sublime qu’il ne connoit pas, & qu’il met tantot dans les choses, tantot dans les Paroles, sans jamais attraper le Point d’Unite, qui concilie les Paroles avec les choses, en quoi consiste tout le Secret, & la Finesse de cette Art merveilleux.

—­This is the Censure which an ingenious Author, under the feign’d Name of Vigneul Marville, has pass’d upon Mr. de la Bruyere’s Style.  However, I think my self oblig’d in Justice to inform the Reader, that Mr. Coste, in his Defence of Mr. de la Bruyere, has endeavour’d to prove that this Censure is ill grounded.  But I will not pretend to decide in a Case of this Nature.  Matters relating to Style are the nicest Points in Learning:  The greatest Men have grosly err’d on this Subject.  I only declare my own Opinion on the Matter, that Mr. de la Bruyere’s Style appears to me forc’d, affected, and improper for Characteristic Writings.  Several ingenious