PREFACE. I T were needless to expatiate on the great advantage of Literary Journals, fince there is no Man of Letters, whofe private experience does not more strongly convince him, than all the words we could employ, how very beneficial, as well as entertaining, they are to all perfons, whofe curiofity leads them to enquire into the feveral Tranfactions of the Learned World. Such Pieces, if tolerably drawn up, give the Reader, not only a general Idea of the most valuable Books publish'd in all parts of Europe; but also prefent to him at one view, as it were, their entire Hiftory, their Plan, their Analyfis, and thofe Paffages whofe Beauty diftinguishes them from the reft. A Journal ought to refemble a Map; and as this prefents us at first fight, in the plaineft manner, and in a very narrow compass, with the whole extent of one or more large Countries; in like manner a Work of this kind, fhould difplay in a few Sheets, whatever is included in various and voluminous Treatifes. Thefe are well known to be the qualities of a good Journal; but to draw up one that shall anfwer this character, hoc opus, hic labor. As to our own, we propose the method following. I. To take notice of none but the most valuable Books, and fuch as are last publish'd, and have not been mention'd by any other of our Journalists. Of thefe, whether Latin, Italian, French, English, &c. we fhall give a faithful Extract. The Choice A 2 and and Novelty of Books is what chiefly recommends a Journal; and with regard to these two very effential points, the Correspondence we have already fettled is fuch, that we may confidently affirm, no Work of any Figure or Reputation, will be publib'd in any part of Europe, but we shall immediately give an account of it. To treat of Books already mention'd by others, would be of no fervices and to take notice of trifling Pieces, is not only idle, but prejudicial, as it can have no other tendency, than either to mislead the Reader, by Jetting a Work in a falfe light; or to fhock and of fend the Author, by the disadvantageous Character we shall be obliged to give of his Labours. Not but we hall likewife take notice of ancient Authors, and particularly of the Claffics, whenever we may be prompted to it, from any new and valuable Edition of them, that may be publife'd from time to time. In our Extracts of Hiftories, the most valuable branch of Polite Literature, we shall be extremely careful not to omit any Circumstance worthy our Attention, by which means the Reader will be as thoroughly acquainted with the most remarkable Particulars, as if be bad perufed the Hiftories at length. As to other Books, we fhall first give a fhort Extract of the feveral Particulars they treat of, and then felett fome Paffages, whofe Beauty or Novelty may claim a more immediate notice. Thefe Extracts will enable fuch as have not much time upon their hands, to treasure up a great number of excellent Obfervations, in the various Branches of Literature; and at the fame time acquaint them with whatever is worthy obfervation, in the Works of thofe Writers who are the Ornament of the Age TOM II. Our Journal will include all Subjects; Divinity, Philofophy, Mathematics, Phyfic, particularly the Belles Lettres, and Hiftory: nor will Differtations on Medals, Inferiptions, and other valuable Remains of Antiquity be omitted. In a word, Floriferis ut apes in faltibus omnia libant, As our Journal is intended for general ufe, it conJequently ought to be adapted fo as to fuit all Taftes. In fine, as Authors, who have written on any particular Subject, are fometimes collected into a Body, and fuch Collections fwell to fo many Volumes, that it is afterwards a difficult matter, to find out any one of thofe Authors fingly, whom we might be defirous of perufing; in our account of thofe Works, we shall first fet down the Names of Juch Writers, according to the Period in which they flourish'd, and the particular Volume in which their Works are printed. The advantage of this is well known to all who have fuch Works in their Libraries. As to our Criticifm, the most arduous as well as important Province of a Journalist, we shall lay it down with the greatest Modefty, Caution, and Impartiality, and fhall make every Confideration fubfervient to Merit. The Country or Religion of a Writer, fhall no ways influence us, in our commendation or cenfure of his Works. Exalted Genius's are born in every Climate and every Religion; and to Merit only, the Encomiums of a Journalist ought to be devoted. The fame Mcderation and Candour will appear in our Cenfures, whenever whenever they may be neceffary. 'Tis well known, A Journal built on this Foundation, muft na- turally meet with Success, fince if it be true, that, omne tulit punctum qui mifcuit utile dulci, what can be more useful or entertaining than a Work of this kind? So many Books are daily pub- lif'd, that no private Fortune is fufficient to fur- chafe them all; nor is Man indulg'd a length of years requifite for the perufal of them. What then can be a greater advantage to the Studious, than to have a genuine account of their just value, and the exact Contents of them? By this means be will be told either to stop here, or to purchase fuch Books as may be useful and prevent his be- ing impos'd upon by high-founding Titles, which too often, to use an Expreffion of Perfius, is merely dare pondus idonea fumo. What can be a greater fatisfaction to a Lover of the Mufes, than with fo little labour, to acquaint himself with thofe new Difcoveries which daily improve and refine the Understanding with the feveral new Obfer- vations, whether celestial, phyfical, or anatomical; with thofe new Experiments, which, with a fingle puff, overturn the imaginary Systems that have been form'd on ill-grounded Hypotheses; with the learned Difputes which are now on the Carpet; with the different Opinions which arife; with the Errors which are exploded; and, in a word, with every particular that may occur from time as |