THE BRITISH CRITIC, FOR JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, MDCCC V. "IN PRIMIS HOMINIS EST PROPRIA, VERI INQUISITIO, CICERO. London: PRINTED FOR F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON, Printed by Bye and Law, St. John's Square, Clerkenwell PREFACE. IN N times of gloom and melancholy, as well as at periods of an oppofite character, literary induftry is found to purfue its Objects. In the prefent ftate of Society, knowledge appears to have become one of the neceffaries of Life, and the zeal to impart, and the defire to receive it, mutually keep pace together. To view thefe efforts of intellect, is a gratification under almost all circumftances; and reviewers, whatever may be their labours, and difgufts, have at least the confolation to reflect, that of this spectacle, they are among the first, and most accurate obfervers. Happy if they could perfuade their readers to regard them as præceptors, and with fuch efteem, as Quintilian recommends to the pupils of his School, ut præceptores fuos non minus quam ipfa ftudia ament; et parentes effe non quidem corporum, fed mentium credant;" and, with refpect to authors, "ut emendati non irafcentur, laudati gaudebunt: nam ut illorum officium eft docere, fic horum præbere fe dociles." This, however, is rather more than we expect. At prefent, our business is to record, rather than to criticize; and first, as ufual, in * Inft. Orat. II. ix. 1. 2 2 DIVINITY. |