’Tis true, there is some Difference between the Characters which enter into the Composition of Dramatic Pieces, and those which are represented by _Characteristic-Writers_; but this Difference is so small, that I doubt not but he, who is an able Master in one of these Kinds, would as successfully perform in the other. For, in reality, the essential Parts of the Characters, in the _Drama_, and in _Characteristic-Writings_, are the same. They are both an Image of one Life; a Representation of one Person: All the Diversity lies in the different Manner of representing the same Image. The _Drama_ presents to the Eyes of a Spectator an Actor, who speaks and acts as the Person, whom he represents, is suppos’d to speak and act in real Life. The _Characteristic_ Writer introduces, in a descriptive manner, before a Reader, the same Person, as speaking and acting in the same manner: And both must be perform’d in such a natural and lively manner, as may deceive the Spectator and Reader, and make them fancy they see the Person represented or characteris’d. But tho’ no _English_ Author has attempted a Performance in this Kind, yet it must be confess’d that in some late diurnal Papers we have had excellent Specimens in the Characteristic-Way. The Papers, which I mean to point out, are the _Tatlers_ and the _Spectators_. They are of the miscellaneous Kind, and were design’d for the universal Delight and Instruction of the _British_ Nation. In these Papers are contained Abundance of true Wit and _Humour_, lively Descriptions of human Nature in its various Forms and Disguises, the Praises of Virtue, and pointed Satir against Vice; and here and there are interspers’d Characters of Men and Manners compleatly drawn to the Life.--If the great Authors, who were concerned in the Composition of those Papers, would have join’d their Abilities to form a Work of this Kind, I doubt not but it would have been inimitable, and deserv’d the next Place, in Point of Fame, to that of _Theophrastus_: For this is the highest Pitch to which Moderns can aspire. A greater Design would be Presumption, and would only serve to shew the greater Vanity of the Attempt. An establish’d Reputation of above two thousand Years cannot be easily shaken. _Theophrastus_ is, and ever will be, an Original in _Characteristic-Writings_. His Fame still lives in our Memory, and the Main of his Characters still subsists in our Actions. _FINIS._ * * * * * PUBLICATIONS OF THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY FIRST YEAR (1946-47) [Transcriber’s Note: Many of the listed titles are or will be available from Project Gutenberg. Where possible, the e-text number is given in brackets.] Numbers 1-4 out of print. [#13484, #14528, #14973] 5. Samuel Wesley’s _Epistle to a Friend Concerning Poetry_ (1700) and _Essay on Heroic Poetry_ (1693).