ANY

MAN years have elapfed fince we addreffed the Public on

the Plan of the CRITICAL REVIEW. Their uniform encouragement, amidst the fpecious promises of numerous and plaufible pretenders, rendered it unneceffary; for, to repeat our profeffions was fuperfluous, and we enjoyed that encouragement and protection which it is often the defign of fuch addreffes to follicit. We were always aware, that the existence of our Work was infeparably connected with our ardent, unremitting exertions. These have been continued amidst difficulties which will not occur to the inattentive enquirer, to those who do not reflect that a temperate praise seldom rises so high as the wishes of many authors, and that very warm encomiums are often more injuri. ous than difapprobation. The flightest hint of diflike, and what is more unpleafing, the neceffity of fometimes condemning the work which the author has probably looked on with a partial eye, must render us fubject to all the obloquy which difappointment can bestow.-But we must not be drawn afide from the object of this addrefs, which is defigned to explain the reasons that have induced us to make fome alteration in our plan.

Several circumstances concurred, at the commencement of our Review, which are now confiderably varied. At that time the productions were fewer in number, and of less importance. The Foreign Intelligence was confined rather to works of entertainment than of utility; for our neighbours had not, then, made thofe advances in fcience which have enlightened a future period. On all these accounts, we were able to introduce a new fource of entertainment; viz. works of art either undertaken or completed, without adding any additional burthen; without the neceffity of an Appendix. But when we perceived our increasing avocations, our first step was to omit that part of our plan which was not intimately connected with a literary Review. This gave us additional scope, and rendered our work more compact and uniform; but we foon felt difficulties of the fame kind.

At the conclufion of a tedious and perplexing war, when we renewed our connexions with the continent, which were for a

time

time neceffarily interrupted, we found a different fcene; for our accumulations were then become fo numerous, that we could not, with common juftice, fulfil our duty within the ufual li mits. Two methods were then fuggested to our determination; either to enlarge our common fize, or to add, what we had fo often rejected, an additional Number to each Volume. The former is more eligible; for our readers would at once fee the neceffity of the alteration, and be foon informed of the improvements of other nations. The latter is, however, most convenient; because intelligence from the continent is feldom regular. Be fides, the English publications must be our principal object: to them we must attend with the anxiety of parents; with the attention dictated by the clofeft connections. In foreign works, we cannot always decide on the style and manner; we cannot enter on thofe minute details, which are so interesting in our own. It feems moft ufeful, in fome meafure, to unite both plans; the more important and temporary fubjects may be given under the article of Foreign Intelligence, and be rather a connected view of general attempts, than a broken detail of particular performances. Yet this alone will not give an ade quate idea of foreign literature; and in this department something must be added. On the continent, many memoirs are published in mifcellaneous collections, which cannot be the fubject of our attention in a separate form: many works are announced, which are both curious and ufeful. Thefe we fhall collect in our current Numbers; and, while we are arranging our intelligence, we shall shortly mention those publications, connected with the subject, which our limits will not allow us to examine more particularly. On the whole, we hope to give an account which will be complete, though concise; and useful, though not attended with the formal repetition of titles.

The Appendix, at the end of each volume,will contain an account of those foreign works that are not of a temporary kind, and of thofe English publications which were neceffarily omitted in the current Numbers. This addition arifes from caufes fo evident and unavoidable, that we hope it will be favourably received, as we are confident it will appear, that the attempt is made only to render our Journal fuperior to every other in its ingenuity and candour; in the importance, novelty, and extent of its intelligence.

CON.

HAMBERS's Dictionary, conti- Additions and Corrections to Dr. Ro-

Wilmer's Obfervations on Herniæ, 280

215 Dr. Underwood's Surgical Tracts, 281

224 Sir John Dalrymple's Memoirs of Great

Britain, &c. Vol. II.