THE BRITISH CRITIC, A NEW REVIEW, FOR JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, M DCC XCVI. Be thou the first true merit to befriend; His praife is loft, who ftays 'till all commend. POPE. VOLUME VIII. London: PRINTED FOR F. AND C. RIVINGTON, PREFACE. WITH ITH the recurrence of the feafons recurs our tafk of enumerating their beft productions, which, in the literary world, contrary to the order of the natural, come forward chiefly in winter. We, however, as it is not practicable to keep pace entirely with the fertility of the country, are obliged to report our own progrefs, rather than that of our authors; and therefore, in the appearance of our harveft, little difference is found at one or the other folftice. Illius immenfæ ruperunt horrea meffes, will always be applicable to a Review, while there are fo many writers, and fo many readers as the prefent age affords. We might with perhaps to be allowed the privilege of felection, in reporting, as well 'as recapitulating, but fuch is not the cuftom of the country; and we muft proceed onward in the path to which the public expectation points. To gratify the tafte, affift the enquiries, confirm the good principles, and deferve the approbation of our countrymen, are, in both parts of our task, the conftant objects of our effort and attention. We take the fubjects of our Preface in their ufual order. DIVINITY. There can be no doubt that the greatest and most momentous work, in this clafs, which has required BRIT. CRIT. VOL. VIII. a our |