To how many of the ordinary intimates of a superior genius who complain of his defects might one say, "Do his productions not delight and sometimes surprise you ?--You are silent! I beg your pardon; the _public_ has informed you of a great name; you would not otherwise have perceived the precious talent of your neighbour: you know little of your friend but his _name_." The personal familiarity of ordinary minds with a man of genius has often produced a ludicrous prejudice.

A Scotchman, to whom the name of _a_ Dr.Robertson had travelled down, was curious to know who he was.--"Your neighbour!"-- But he could not persuade himself that the man whom he conversed with was the great historian of his country.

Even a good man could not believe in the announcement of the Messiah, from the same sort of prejudice: "Can there anything good come out of Nazareth ?" Suffer a man of genius to be such as nature and habit have formed him, and he will then be the most interesting companion; then will you see nothing but his character.

AKENSIDE, in conversation with select friends, often touched by a romantic enthusiasm, would pass in review those eminent ancients whom he loved; he imbued with his poetic faculty even the details of their lives; and seemed another Plato while he poured libations to their memory in the language of Plato, among those whose studies and feelings were congenial with his own.

ROMNEY, with a fancy entirely his own, would give vent to his effusions, uttered in a hurried accent and elevated tone, and often accompanied by tears, to which by constitution he was prone; thus Cumberland, from personal intimacy, describes the conversation of this man of genius.