AN eminent modern Philosopher, the late Mr. Walter Shandy, has observed that there is a certain mien and motion of body and its parts, both in acting and speaking, which displays to the discerning eye what is passing within, and serves as an index to the mind. "I am not therefore, he adds, at all surprised that

Gregory of Nazianzum, upon observing the hasty and untoward gestures of JuLIAN, should foretell that he would one day become an apostate; or that St. Ambrose should turn his amanuensis out of doors, because of an indecent motion of his head, which went backwards and forwards like a flail. There are indeed (continues he) a thousand unnoticed openings, which let a penetrating mind at once into the soul."

THUS far this great man.-He did not however perceive, how far the principle. may be carried, and how correctly the many "unnoticed openings" of stile, may supply to a penetrating mind a minute and infallible knowledge of the character, conduct, and situation of the writer. I repeat his emphatic word "unnoticed," because if we attempt to discover an author by his obvious character, we judge by those marks which it is in his power to vary, or erase. While authors use their own conceptions and expres sions, and deal only in articles of their own

manufacture, it is easy enough to distinguish them by the images they refer to, and the arguments they employ. But when they adorn or disguise themselves with the feathers of others of their tribe; when they imitate the stile or jargon, and adopt the sense or nonsense, of their brethren, the most sagacious decyphèrer may be baffled and deluded in his con jecture.

A man's writings may be considered as his universal and perpetual representa‣ tives; displaying his character and peculiarities, his powers and his weakness, in whatever quarter of the globe, and in -whatever age of the world, they may attract attention: and these will furnish an unfailing index of the writer's character, whenever the marks by which we distin-guish, are such as are unnoticed by the party himself. While he remains unconscious of them, he has no means of varying, much less of entirely avoiding -them. Indeed it would be quite unna

tural for him to seek for information on

such a subject; as it is an obvious fact, that we all know a great deal more of our neighbours, than of ourselves; for while we are benevolently attending to the foibles of others, we very disinterestedly forget our own.

AFTER these introductory observa tions, I proceed to state, that I have discovered an infallible criterion of detecting authors, by inflexions and gradations of stile and manner, which, though unknown to themselves, and therefore incapable of disguise and concealment, are as inseparably and instinctively proper to each of them, as his own existence. In communicating this discovery, my modesty will not suffer me to expatiate fully on the application of it to literary purposes; as to the detection of Junius, or of the author of the Heroic Epistle to poli-tical objects; as ascertaining the writer of any speech in Parliament, whether it was composed by the orator's tutor, or -by the tutor's curate: or to acts of charity, as the developing the real charac

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ter and condition of a begging correspon dent. But I cannot help requesting the reader for a moment to reflect, what would be the advantage to society, and what the degree of sincerity and plain dealing between man and man, if from private letters, we could find out actual senti ments and intentions; and if we could enable members of Parliament and their · constituents,-ministers and their de pendents, beauties and their lovers, reciprocally to understand each other's real meanings and motives; and whe ther it would not put an end to that crooked policy and double dealing, which has done so much mischief among us, and go some way to restore the golden age of truth and virtue upon earth.

I now proceed to give evidence of the intrinsic value of my discovery, by in forming you, not only who are the writers of the papers in the DIRECTOR, but what is the character, situation, and private history, of each of them: trusting that