THE BRITISH CRITIC, A NEW REVIEW, FOR JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, M DCC XCVII. Αλλ ̓ ἀναγκαίως έχει Πατρίδος ἐρῶν ἅπανίας· ὃς δ ̓ ἄλλως λέγει, Λόγοισι χαίρει, τὸν δὲ νοῦν ἐκεῖσ ̓ ἔχει. VOLUME X. EURIP London: PRINTED FOR F. AND C. RIVINGTON, No. 62, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD, #798. PREFACE. 3. IN the prefent ftate of European Literature, every year produces, almoft in every country, a vaft acceffion of books. England, as in the Arts of War, fo in those of the Mufes, makes efforts far beyond the proportion of her natural fize; fo that we, whofe attention is confined almoft exclufively to our domeftic productions, find it by no means a trifling undertaking to keep pace with the labours of the Britith prefs. The fairs of Leipfic, indeed, furnish annually fuch catalogues as, to an obferver in any other nation, appear enormous: but what is England to the German empire, in the map of Europe? Far more difproportioned in extent, than their refpective publications in multitude. Were the acceffion of Wifdom to keep pace, in any degree, with this multiplication of its materials, Europe might indeed have caufe to boaft of its enlightened ftate. But new books are ufually made up of the old materials; to which, if a little felicity of combination or illuftration accede, it is as much as we can reasonably expect. If Error writes a book, another is required. from Truth to answer it; each fide finds its partizans; and it is well if, when the conteft clofes, Wif dom have not made fome retrograde movement. Our duty and inclination lead us to point out, periodically, those new books in which fome wifdom, or fome rational amusement, may be found; to fave for the BRIT. CRIT, VOL. X. a bufy 409099 |