KNOWLEDGE, LEARNING, AND TASTE,
IN GREAT BRITAIN,
During the Reign of KING CHARLES II.
PART I.
THE character of a nation, both with respect to morals and literature, is commonly found to vary with that of its rulers. Morals and literature are indeed in many refpects clofely connected; and science will not in general flourish without cultivation. The writers therefore, in many departments, of what are termed the belles lettres, in particular, will affume a caft and character from the manners of the times; and, though individuals may cafually arife eminent in particular branches of science, yet, thofe which are moft encouraged will in general occupy moft the attention of mankind.
We are now arrived at a period which, in character and manners, afforded a remarkable contraft to that which it immediately fucceeded. Indeed it is difficult to conceive how, in fo fhort a lapfe of time, the genius and purfuits of a peo