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Register, we have stated, generally and briefly, the alterations which are made in the plan, arrangement, and object, of the present or Literary portion of it, and the reasons which induced us to make those alterations. It seems, however, proper, and may be expected, that in this introductory chapter to the Literary part of the Register, we should enter more fully and particularly into the nature and object of these alterations, and give more at length the reasons from which they sprung, and the objects which they have in view.

According to the original plan of this work, it consisted, in fact, of two parts: one part professed to give an annual retrospect of the political events of the past year; this part was subdivided into two portions. In the first and principal portion, all those events, which, from the dignity of their character and nature, the wide field on which they were displayed, the connexion which they possessed with events gone by, or to come, of similar importance, and the public character of those who were principally con

prised in the second portion of the first part, subordinate events, or events of a local and temporary character and importance, many of which were indeed interesting from the circumstances of which they were composed, from the insight which they gave into individual or national character, or from other causes,- - were detailed. To this portion was appended a selection of State papers;-such documents as might authenticate, or illustrate the facts and events about which the first portion of the first part was occupied.

The second grand division of the New Annual Register, according to the original plan, was Literary; but the arrangement of this part does not appear to have been most happily or judiciously formed; for the greatest portion of it was placed entirely after the whole of the first, or political division of the volume; whereas that part of the Literary division, which, though of comparatively small extent, was far before the larger portion in originality, importance, and interest-was placed in the beginning of the volume, A 2

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at a distance from the Literary Selections and Retrospect.

The first alteration, therefore, which suggested itself, - and which, after mature and cool deliberation, it was resolved to make,-related to the throwing entirely together whatever of the New Annual Register should treat of Literature. This alteration has accordingly been made in the present volume: the whole of the first part is Political or Historical; the whole of the second part is Literary.

This, however, is an alteration only so far as regards the arrangement it has been deemed proper, and for the advantage and improvement of the work, to make other alterations, of a more extensive and important nature. According to the original plan, the Literary division of the New Annual Register consisted of Literary Selections, and a Literary Retrospect. That Literary Selections, that is, Selections from such works published during the currency of the past year, as contained information new and instructive, or interesting, or as exhibited fair and characteristic specimens of the genius and acquirements of that year, especially, if such works were, from the expensive manner in which they were pubIlished, of rare and difficult access,that such Selections should be gratifying and acceptable to all classes and descriptions of readers,-if made with care, impartiality, and judgment, there can be no doubt. Hence, we believe, that these Selections were always read with peculiar interest and pleasure, and, not unfrequently, with much in struction; and that they introduced the readers of the New Annual Register to facts in science, or in the history of man, or to literary

pleasures, to which they, otherwise, would have been strangers. With this impression of the interest and value of the Literary Selections, it has been determined to continue them on the same plan, and to the same extent, as they have hitherto been given. But the determination with regard to the Literary Retrospect, has been otherwise. This Retrospect consisted of a professed Review of Domestic and Foreign Literature. Could this professed object have been accomplished within the limits, or on the plan, necessarily assigned it, there can be no doubt, that it would have formed by far the most valuable portion of the Register: but a view of the subjects which this Retrospect professed to embrace, will prove that they were far beyond the compass, and, in fact, foreign to the character of an Annual Register. That part of the Retrospect which related to Domestic Literature, comprised Biblical Criticism, Christian Ethics, Polemics, Discourses, and single Sermons; Physiology, Medicine, Surgery, Chemistry, Mineralogy, and the different branches of pure and mixed Mathematics; History, Voyages, Travels, Politics, and Political Economy; Biography, Antiquities, Poetry, Belles Lettres, and Novels. The Retrospect of Foreign Literature comprised the literature and science of the principal nations of Europe and America. A Retrospect, thus extensive, professing to embrace such a variety of important topics, was necessarily confined to seven or eight sheets at the utmost: hence it will be evident, that it must merely skim over the various topics, and leave on the minds and recollections of the readers very vague, general, and feeble impressions. In fact, thus limited

limited in extent, it could neither give an adequate character of the various publications which were brought under review, nor exhibit a general, distinct, and clear idea of the state and progress of literature and science during the currency of the year over which it professed to throw a retrospect. The latter object, indeed, might more fully and satisfactorily be accomplished by the literary selections, if impartially and judiciously made; while the former object-that of a Review of scientific and literary publications, seemed, as was before observed, to be equally foreign to the nature and object, and beyond the limits, of an Annual Register.

Such are briefly the considerations that have induced us to alter the character and arrangement of this portion of the New Annual Register. In this Volume, the Review of Domestic and Foreign Literature is entirely omitted; but the Selections are continued: there is, however, still a Literary Retrospect.

It seemed, indeed, proper that an Annual Register should introduce its readers, not only to the historical and political events that might have occurred during the currency of the past year, but also to the literature and science of that year we have endeavoured to prove, that the Review portion of the volume was inadequate to the accomplishment of this latter object, because it professed to follow the example of the regular Reviews, while, at the same time, its space was much less, and the number of publications which came within its range, much greater. It has, therefore, been determined to prefix to the Literary Selections a Review, not of books, but of the general, literary, and

scientific character of the past year; or, to explain the object we have in view more fully and distinctly, it has been determined, in the first place, to point out and mark, in the Literary Retrospect, not only the progress and changes which may have taken place in literature and science during the currency of the past year, but also its peculiar character; and, in the second place, to prefix to the Selections from each particular work a sketch of the object, plan, arrangement, and leading contents, of the work (if its nature admit of it) as well as a very brief Review of the manner in which it is executed.

It is hoped and believed, that this alteration in the literary department of the New Annual Register will enable us to render that department more consonant to its appellation, and more conducive to the object which it ought always to have had in view. It seemed proper, however, to introduce this alteration by a general and brief retrospect of the state and progress of literature and science in Britain, from that period when they first began to assume a distinct and characteristic form, to the present time, in order that our readers might be able, in some measure, to trace the causes which had placed them on their present footing, and the gradual steps by which they had arrived at the perfection in which they now exist. We are well aware of the difficulties of the object which we thus proposed to ourselves; and that, even with infinitely greater talents, acquirements, industry, research, and leisure, than we possess, this object could not be attained in a complete and satisfactory manner; but we hope that something may be done,

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even with our limited means, and within the narrow space to which we must confine ourselves, by which the great and leading eras of our literature and science may be marked out; and some, at least, of the circumstances and causes developed, and traced, which have contributed, directly or indirectly, to the formation of the peculiar literary character of the British

nation.

One other object we have in view, and that little inferior, either in difficulty or importance, to that which we have just explained. All must acknowledge, that it would be highly desirable and instructive, if it were practicable, to investigate, thoroughly and clearly, the changes which have taken place in the intellectual habits and pursuits of any people; especially of that people, of whom we ourselves form a part, and who are so strongly marked as the British nation, in their intellectual, not less than in their political character. It has been observed, with regard to the morals and manners of a nation, that they are in some measure, and in some respects, the effect of the political institutions under which they live; and, in other respects, the cause of those institutions. A similar remark may be made with regard to the characteristics of the intellectual powers and pursuits of any nation: in some degree, they are moulded

by the peculiar character of its literature; and, in some degree, they give the bent and character to that literature. In short, if we contemplate man, in his moral, political, and literary character, in connexion with the moral, political, and literary circumstances in which he is placed, we shall, on close and continued examination, be convinced, that they are mutually the cause and effect of one another; that circumstances operate upon the moral, political, and literary condition of man; and that, on the other hand, the moral, political, and literary condition of man operates upon circumstances. If these observations be correct, a sketch of the state and progress of literature and science in any country, would be incomplete and unsatisfactory if it were not accompanied with a sketch of the changes in the intellectual habits and pursuits of the people.

Having thus explained the nature and object of the alterations which it has been deemed proper to make in the literary department of the New Annual Register, and the reasons which lead to these alterations, we shall leave it to our readers to judge of their propriety; only bespeaking their candour and indulgence towards an attempt, of the difficulties of which, those who are the best informed must be most sensible.

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