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PRINTED FOR H. D. SYMONDS, no. 20, PATERNOSTER ROW.

A

P 392.7(0.5. vol. P

HARVARD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

161334-167

9.2

Knight and Compton, Printers, Middle Street, Cloth Fair.

PREFACE.

DURING the short period of our labours, in which we have fought to obtain a portion of public patronage for endeavours to promote the caufe of literature and the interefts of fociety, it is with fome degree of pride we declare, that our exertions have been appreciated with a fpontaneous liberality far exceeding what our most fanguine hopes had predicted. We did not certainly profels to start at once into perfection :

"Non fumum ex fulgore fed ex fumo dare lucem.”

We knew too well the facility of promifing, and the arduoufnefs of performing; and we practically knew, that all excellence is founded upon progreffive improvement. From what we have done, let us be judged as to the paft; and, if it be not too great a ftretch of candour, let that past be viewed as an earnest of future excellence! There is a facility in performing things which practice only can beftow; but yet that facility must be acquired, before any thing can be performed well.

In our Biographical Department, we have already brought before the public the Memoirs of the Divine, the Phyfician, the Statefman, the Warrior, and the Philofopher; we have delineated them with fidelity, and with truth; fcorning alike the meannefs of hyperbole, and the adumbrations of envy and prejudice.

In that portion of the work which is devoted to Mifcellaneous articles, many have appeared of confiderable intereft. It would perhaps be invidious to particularize, for, indeed, it may be prefumed that every article has been found to poffefs its appropriate excellence. Yet

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