But I think I shall carry you all with me when I say that this society, almost by its very raison d’être, desires to form just and proper judgments; and that one of the principal objects which we have in view in meeting together from time to time is to learn what should be thought, and what ought to be known; and by comparing our own judgments of things with those of our neighbours, to arrive at a just modification of our rough and imperfect ideas. Although criticism is the act of judging in general, and although I shall not strictly limit my subject to any particular branch of criticism, yet naturally I shall be led to speak principally of that branch of which we—probably all of us—think at once when the word is mentioned, viz., literary and artistic criticism. I think if criticism were juster and fairer persons criticized would submit more readily to criticism. It is certain p. 3that criticism is generally resented. We—none of us—like to be told our faults. p. 3 “Tell Blackwood,” said Sir Walter Scott, “that I am one of the Black Hussars of Literature who neither give nor take criticism.” Tennyson resented any interference with his muse by writing the now nearly forgotten line about “Musty, crusty Christopher.” Byron flew into a rhapsodical passion and wrote English Bards and Scotch Reviewers— CONTENTS “Ode, Epic, Elegy, have at you all.” He says— CONTENTS “A man must serve his time to every trade Save censure. Critics all are ready made. Take hackney’d jokes from Miller, got by rote, With just enough of learning to misquote; A mind well skilled to find or forge a fault; A turn for punning—call it Attic salt; To Jeffrey go, be silent and discreet,— His pay is just ten sterling pounds per sheet; Fear not to lie, ’twill seem a sharper hit; Shrink not from blasphemy, ’twill pass for wit; Care not for feeling—pass your proper jest,— And stand a critic, hated yet caress’d.” Lowell retorted upon his enemies in the famous Fable for Critics. Swift, in his Battle of the Books, revenges himself upon
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