boast, that their purposes will be accomplished without force of arms, by the effect of the press, in giving new lights to the people *. A reverend and learned Divine, now the head of a College in Oxford, in a sermon lately preached before that University, observed of the same party that "they command almost every channel of information, and have the direction of almost every periodical publication."

That no opportunity may be lost, novels have been written, to insinuate under that disguise the errors of heresy and infidelity; as people, if they were to poison children, would mix arsenic with their sugar-plums.

Many pious and learned, and some great men, dispersed about the kingdom, as well laity as clergy, have long seen and lamented the evils here complained of, and wished for a remedy. The first object, therefore, of this Proposal is, to bring some of these together into small parties, as time and place will admit, and promote a farther consultation, by a correspondence between them. All particulars will dispose them under the three following questions: 1. What is to be done? 2. With what support? and 3. By what persons?

If it be asked what is to be done? we have an answer ready, while we observe what the adversary is doing. If false accounts are given of authors and their works, to deceive the public, let a true account be given, to undeceive them. If some old books are republished in a spurious form, to mislead the readers of them, let other good and useful pieces be either republished, or brought out to the light: and let students in divinity

* We have heard it reported, that the sum of 10,000l. was subscribed, for dispersing that mischievous and worthless piece of Thomas Paine; which in virtue of this liberal support was found in pot-houses and petty assemblies in all parts of the country.

be furnished, at a cheap rate, with such compilations as they may read without danger to their principles. Little cheap pamphlets might also be dispersed among the common people: and such might be found, as would be of great effect, though little known.

If it should farther be asked, by what means, and by what persons, all this is to be effected? We answer: as all other things of the kind are; by the counsel of the wise; the money of the opulent; and the activity of men who are fit for business; of whom, we presume, many will be found in our Universities, and among the parochial clergy, and in the Inns of Court; when they shall be enquired after by their friends, and encouraged by their superiors.

We add nothing farther to alarm or allure our readers. With the blessing of God, the design will grow and prosper, even to the surprise of those who are the first feeble instruments. To him, therefore, we recommend it and ourselves, under an assurance, that all they who are zealous for his honour, and would rescue their country from the prevailing tyranny of a self-elected literary cabal over our minds, which is worse than any that can be over our persons and estates, will take this Proposal into consideration. And let it not be urged, as it probably will, that what can be done for the purpose in view, is already done by the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge. We are sensible of, and thankful for, the good which accrues daily to the religious interest of this kingdom, from the pious and extensive efforts of that respectable body; and have good reason to expect the hearty concurrence of many of its members in their private capacity; but it must have appeared from what has been said, that such a Proposal as the present cannot be brought to effect, but by due recourse to several

expedients, which do not lie within the limits of their general plan.

LONDON, Jan. 1, 1792.

Something farther will be laid before the public, when the gentlemen who now have this business under their consideration, shall be ready to offer it.

N° II.

A SEQUEL TO THE PROPOSAL FOR A REFORMATION OF

PRINCIPLES.

SOME Gentlemen, who are undoubted friends to our civil and ecclesiastical constitution as by law established, having farther considered the state of things as set forth in a late Proposal for a Reformation of Principles; and seeing how many ill-affected and seditious associations are formed and forming amongst us, to the corruption of religion, learning, and good manners; the disturbing of the public peace, the endangering of life and property, and of every thing that can be dear to Englishmen and Christians, do resolve, to the utmost of their power, to take such measures, in a literary way only, as shall be thought most conducive to the preservation of our religion, government, and laws. And they do most earnestly and affectionately call upon all persons, who are disposed as they are, to assist them herein; as conceiving that there is not, at this time, an object of greater importance than that which they are now recommending to the attention and support of their countrymen.

For the promoting of which, they judge it necessary, in the first place, to provide that a just and impartial

account be given of all considerable works in divinity, literature and politics; with a faithful history of facts and occurrences in Europe, as well literary as civil, military and political. For the compiling of which, under the form of a periodical review, gentlemen of the first character have offered their services, with no view but that of acting faithfully for the benefit of their country; duly considering how grossly it hath been abused and imposed upon by false and interested reports of things and persons: insomuch that we have reason to wonder and be thankful, that the times have not thereby been rendered even worse than we find them.

They judge it another necessary measure to publish and disperse works of such good principles, as may enlighten those who are uninformed, or rectify those who have been falsely taught; and of such excellence, as may deservedly engage their attention: of which a collection is already forming, to be approved and adopted by this society; who will repeatedly have. recourse to the same expedient on every future occasion.

This society will consist of three classes, all uniting their powers and employing their interest to the same great and laudable effect, under the patronage and inspection of a committee: that is to say;

1. Of acting members, who will be responsible for the monthly publication of a review, &c. and of their occasional assistants.

2. Of a committee, who will meet at regular times for the transaction of business, and to superintend such publications as the society shall direct.

3. Of annual subscribers, at not less than one guinea each, to be paid at the time of subscribing. Which money so collected will be applied, under the

direction of the committee, to the general purposes of the society: and when the subscribers shall amount to a sufficient number, and a competent sum shall be subscribed, the society will begin to act.

All persons of the nobility, gentry, and clergy, who wish to concur in the design of this society, are requested to direct their letters to Messrs. Rivingtons, St. Paul's Church-Yard, to be laid before the next meeting; and the said Messrs. Rivingtons are also empowered to receive subscriptions and benefactions, and to register the names of the subscribers.

The members present at this meeting have the satisfaction of being informed, that similar meetings will be held at Oxford and Bath; and we trust, when this plan shall have been farther made known, at many other considerable places in Great Britain and Ireland: and they observe with pleasure how nearly their design, started by a few private persons about six months ago, accords with his Majesty's most gracious intention for promoting the peace and prosperity of this kingdom in his late proclamation. LONDON, June 11, 1792.

(N° III.)

WHEN the two preceding numbers of this Proposal were offered to the Public, it was justly apprehended that a more impartial account of literary publications, though essential to the plan of the Society, would give more trouble than any other object that they had in view; but that difficulty is now in a great measure removed: and though the British Critic doth not pretend to perfection, or to so near an approach to perfection, as it may attain hereafter, its claim to candour and impartiality has never been disputed.