--’Tis true, that in the Catalogue of _Theophrastus _ his Works, preserv’d by [T]_Diogenes Laertius_, there is one Book under the Title περὶ παροιμιῶν 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 formé, ecrivant au hazard, employe des Expressions outrées en des Choses tres communes; & quand il en veut dire de plus relevées, 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’Unité, qui concilie les Paroles avec les choses, en quoi consiste tout le Secret, & la Finesse de cette Art merveilleux.