William —, English essayist and critic; author of 1825 collection The Spirit of the Age (7)

I believe the answer is:

hazlitt

(Other definitions for hazlitt that I've seen before include "William ---, C19 essayist" , "William -, eighteenth to nineteenth century English essayist/critic" , "William ---, Ninteenth century essayist" , "Early 19th century essayist" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.

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