THE BRITISH CRITIC, FOR JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, MDCCC.VIII. Qui non liberè veritatem pronunciat, proditor est veritatis. INSTIT. JUST. VOLUME XXXII. London: PRINTED FOR F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON, 1809. Printed by Law and Gilbert, St. John's Square, Clerkenwell." PREFAC E. REVIEW, if performance could keep pace with fpeculation, fhould contain a complete hiftory of literature for the time. It should take up all works in the order of their publication, and treat of them in proportion to their merits, or the importance of their fubjects. It should reprehend that which is bad with firmnefs, but without perfonal malice; and point out what is ufeful, beautiful, original, or in any way excellent, with knowledge, tafte, and zeal. All this is eafily fuggefted, but it is not fo cafily effected. Interruptions, from fickness, forrow, business, idleness, happen to Reviewers as to other men; and that which is put afide for a day is perhaps forgotten for months, or even for ever; while the fertility of the prefs is often too redundant, for either critique writer, or critique reader. Under fuch circumstances, the beft thing is to bring into notice whatever is good or useful: the very worft is to dwell chiefly on what is bad, and deal in reprehenfion to display acutenefs. We have heard of a critical work that fome where exifted, which was called, in jeft or earneft, "the Negative Review; or select Ellays on a few books that are not worth buying." Our half yearly prefaces are the very reverse of this; they contain brief remarks on feveral books that are A. worth VOL. XXXII. 1808. 409121 |