PREFACE. THE HE conclufion of a fecond volume induces us again to paufe, and to caft back our eyes upon the ground we have paffed over. The retrofpect of labour past is in itself exhilarating, if that labour has attained its termination; but if it is to be repeated or continued, fuccefs must be included in the view, or hope will languish, and the fpirits fink into defpondency. In looking back upon our career of a few months, our fatisfaction is almost unmixed. We call to mind, indeed, exertions fometimes irksome, but we find them followed rapidly by encouragement and applause, which more than counterbalance every effort. Thus rewarded labour goes on cheerfully, and we can look forward to that which is to come, with a hope which has received its earnest, with fpirits quickened by fuccefs, and with gratitude, which, in acknowledging what it has received, refolves to merit more. Another kind of retrospect we have pledged ourfelves to make, which is that of the literature of our country, during the fame period, fo far as it has paffed under our notice, and has been enriched by valuable additions. To record the failures of our national literature would be neither pleafing nor patriotic; and the British prefs, like every other, iffues many publications, which, once to have mentioned, is abundantly fufficient. Qur recommendations we are happy to repeat: we choose to cenfure only DIVINITY. once, A 2 |