THE BRITISH CRITIC, A NEW REVIEW, 1 FOR JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE. PRINTED FOR F. AND C. RIVINGTON, 1796. PREFACE. THE HE Hiftorian Historian of the triumphs of Literature incurs no danger, at the present day, of wanting materials for his narrative. Notwithstanding the apparently adverse state of things, the pens of our countrymen are far from idle; and letters, as well as commerce, struggle with success against the unavoidable disadvantages of general war. For feveral months it has been necessary for us to contract our account of foreign publications, in order to keep pace, in any degree, with those of English growth; and though among the multitude there certainly are many trivial, and many bad performances, which require or deferve no honorary notice, yet the proportion seems to be preserved, and we have full as much to praise, at the termination of each period, as we could in reason expect. Should the return of quiet and security, whenever Providence shall grant those bleffings, excite proportionable efforts, we shall indeed behold a golden Age of Science; but this perhaps is more than we can reasonably expect; the great dif poser of events exercises us with adversity for our improvement,-" curis acuit mortalia corda," and should we keep our energy unbroken in the halcyon days of ease, it may perhaps be owing, in no small degree, to the struggle which at once afflicts our minds, and rouses their activity. We begin our account, as usual, with that which is the first, in fome essential points of dignity and value, BRIT. CRIT, VOL. VIL a 409096 DIVINITY. |