imagine themselves writing a Life when they
exhibit a chronological Series of Actions or Preferments; and so little
regard the Manners or Behaviour of their Heroes, that more Knowledge may
be gained of a Man's real Character, by a short Conversation with one of
his Servants, than from a formal and studied Narrative, begun with his
Pedigree, and ended with his Funeral.

If now and then they condescend to inform the World of particular Facts,
they are not always so happy as to select those which are of most
Importance. I know not well what Advantage Posterity can receive from the
only Circumstance by which _Tickell_ has distinguished _Addison_ from the
Rest of Mankind, the Irregularity of his Pulse: nor can I think myself
overpaid for the Time spent in reading the Life of _Malherb_, by being
enabled to relate, after the learned Biographer, that _Malherb_ had two
predominant Opinions; one, that the Looseness of a single Woman might
destroy all the Boast of ancient Descent; the other, that the _French_
Beggers made use very improperly and barbarously of the Phrase _noble
Gentleman_, because either Word included the Sense of both.

There are, indeed, some natural Reasons why these Narratives are often
written by such as were not likely to give much Instruction or Delight,
and why most Accounts of particular Persons are barren and useless. If a
Life be delayed till all Interest and Envy are at an End, and all Motives
to Calumny or Flattery are suppressed, we may hope for Impartiality, but
must expect little Intelligence; for the Incidents which give Excellence
to Biography are of a volatile and evanescent Kind, such as soon escape
the Memory, and are rarely transmitted by Tradition. We know how few can
portray a living Acquaintance, except by his most prominent and observable
Particularities, and the grosser Features of his Mind; and it may be
easily imagined how much of this little Knowledge may be lost in imparting
it, and how soon a Succession of Copies will lose all Resemblance of the
Original.

If the Biographer writes from personal Knowledge, and makes haste to
gratify the publick Curiosity, there is Danger left his Interest, his
Fear, his Gratitude, or his Tenderness, overpower his Fidelity, and tempt
him to conceal, if not to invent. There are many who think it an Act of
Piety to hide the Faults or Failings of their Friends, even when they can
no longer suffer by their Detection; we therefore see whole Ranks of
Char