AN 459 ESSAY ΟΝ GENIUS. BY ALEXANDER GERARD, D. D. PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY IN KING'S COLLEGE, ABERDEEN. Quid illa vis, quæ tandem eft, quæ investigat occulta, quæ Cic. Quæft. Tufc. lib. i. LONDON: Printed for W. STRAHAN; T. CADELL in the Strand; and W. CREECH at Edinburgh. MDCCLXXIV. ADVERTISEMENT. TH HE Author of the following Essay had occafion, in writing on Tafte, to confider its connexion with Genius. The attention which he bestowed on this latter faculty, in that one point of view, convinced him, that its Nature and its Principles admitted and required a fuller investigation than had ever been attempted, and determined him to enter on that investigation immediately after finishing his former work. Accordingly his plan was formed, the first part compofed, and fome progrefs made in the fecond part, fo long ago as the year 1758. He was then in an office which favoured enquiries of this nature; his continuance in it would have afforded him the opportunity of compleating the defign A 2 fign in a short time; and the indulnt reception given by the Public to his Tay on Tate would have encouraged bm to it: but being foon after removed an office which neceffarily directed his chief attention to fubjects of a difverent kind, and fully occupied his time, has been able to profecute his deton, with long and frequent interrupns, only as the immediate duties of › profeffion allowed him leifure. Intervals of fuch leifure have put it in his power to reduce his thoughts to the form which they now appear. The fubject 1 curious; of the execution the Public the proper judges. 4 CON |