THE BRITISH CRITIC, FOR JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, MDCCC IV. Κελεύσω Βολῇ καὶ μύθοισι· τὸ γὰρ γέρας ἐςὶ γερόντων. Ηom. VOLUME XXIII. London: PRINTED FOR F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON, 1804. PRINTED BY C. RICKABY, PETERBOROUGH-COURT, FLEET-STREET. PREFACE. THERE are few the progrefs of improvement, and HERE are few employments more exhilarating to note the acceffions conftantly made to objects of primary value and utility to mankind. In this refpect, our occupation, for eleven years paft, has been abundant in gratification; and though in our progrefs we have found many things to regret, and many to condemn; yet we have watched alfo the regular influx of literary wealth; and at stated periods have paufed to enjoy the unmixed contemplation of those works, on the production of which we are able to congratulate our age and country. We have feen, in this period, Theology illustrated, Revelation confirmed, the lights of Hiftory increafed, the walks of Science and of Art extended; Philofophy enriched by new difcoveries, and Poetry enlivened by fuccefsful excurfions. We have illuftrated the labours of men, whose names have become a fufficient panegyric, and whom, therefore, we might here with pleafure enumerate, were not fo large a part of them ftill living, as to give it the appearance of adulation. Thefe have been delightful tasks; and whoever fhall recur to all, or any of our three and twenty Prefaces, will enjoy, without the labour, a confiderable fhare of that fatisfaction we have now described; he will fee the glories of his * They who wish to contemplate the objects of critical animadverfion, muft turn to our volumes themselves, among the names not recited in the Prefaces. In this lift, let them not overlook our critiques on Plowden's Hift. Review, begun in vol. xxii. pp. 461, 648, and continued in this, pp. 18, 180, 291. |