THE SCOTS MAGAZINE. MDCCLII. VOLUM E XIV. Ne quid falfi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat. EDINBURG H: Printed by W. SANDS, A. MURRAY, and J. COCHRAN. PRE FAC E. HE promoting of religion and virtue, which are both the duty and happiness of man, ought to be ultimately intended by all writing. Knowledge, amufement, and every thing elfe, fhould be made fubfervient to thofe important purposes. It is hoped, then, that the following paper, by which one fpecies of writers, the particular favourites of a great many readers, are excited to recommend virtue, and instructed how to do fo, will not be thought an improper preface to a volume of our collection. Some readers may poffibly reckon themselves but very little interested in fuch reafonings and directions. But it is to be adverted to, that rules prefcribed to authors for compofing, apply equally to readers for the choice of books; that both ought to have the fame end in view; and that whatever good or ill any performance does, a part of the merit or demerit is to be placed to the account of its purchasers and perufers. It is the duty of authors to write in fuch a manner as may please the virtuous; and it is no lefs incumbent upon readers to countenance and recommend, or to neglect and difcourage compofures, according to the real emolument or prejudice they have a natural tendency to produce. What has been here faid with refpect to readers, is particularly applicable to fuch as are intrufted with the education of youth, who can fcarcely be too cautious as to what impreffions are firft made upon tender minds. In our Magazine for April 1750 there is a paper of the fame import with that which we here infert; but it cannot furely be irkfome to hear two fuch advocates plead one fo glorious a cause. I The ADVENTURER, N° 16. Dec. 30. 1752. Virg. Have obferved in a former paper, that the relation of events is a fpecies of writing which affords more general entertainment than any other: and to afford entertainment, appears to have been often the principal, if not the only design of those by whom events have been related. It must indeed be confeffed, that when truths are to be recorded, little is left to the choice of the writer. A few pages of the book of nature or of providence, are before him; and if he tranfcribes with fidelity, he is not to be blamed, if in this fragment good and evil do not appear to be always diftributed as reward and punishment. But it is juftly expected of the writer of fiction, who has unbounded liberty to felect, to vary, and to complicate, that his plan fhould be a 2 compleat, T |