Tobias George Smollett - The Critical Review, Or, Annals of Literature (Volume 63)

sANY years have elapsed since we addressed the Public on Xtjl the Plan of the Critical Review. Their uniform encouragement, amidst the specious promises of numerous and plausible pretenders, rendered it unnecessary; for, to repeat our professions was superfluous, and we enjoyed that encouragement and protection which it is often the design of such addresses to sollicit. We were always aware, that the- existence of ou* Work was inseparably connected with our ardent, unremitting exertion!. These have been continued amidst difficulties which will not occur to the inattentive inquirer, 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 injun. ousthan disapprobation. The slightest hint of d.fl.ke, and what is more unpleasing, the necessity of sometimes condemning the work which the author has probably looked on with a partial eye, must render us subject to all the obloquy which <>TM}' ment can bestow.-But we must not be drawn aside from ihe object of this address, which is designed to explain the reasons that have induced us to make some alteration in our plan.

Several circumstances concurred, at the commencement of our Review, which are now considerably varied. At that time the productions were fewer in number, and of less importance. The Foreign Intelligence was confined rather to works of entertamrnent than of utility; for our neighbours had not, then, made those advances in science which have enlightened a future penod. On . all these accounts, we were able to introduce a new source of entertainment ; viz. works of art either undertaken or completed without adding any additional burthen; without the necessity of an'Appendix. But when we perceived our increasing^vocations TM sirst step wa, to omit that part of our plan which was no iIthn tciy connected with a literary Review. This gave u, Additional sclpe, and rendered our work more compact and uniform; but we soon felt difficulties of the fame kind.

At the conclusion of a tedious and perplexing war, when we renewed our connexions with the continent, wh.ch were f. time necessarily interrupted, we found a different scene; for our accumulations were then become so numerous, that we could not, with common justice, fulfil our duty within the usual limits. Two methods were then suggested to our determination; either to enlarge our common size, or so add, what we had so often rejected, an additional Number to each Volume. The former is more eligible; for our readers would at once fee the necessity of the alteration, and be soon informed of the improvements of other nations. The latter is, however, most convenient; because intelligence from the continent is seldom regular. Besides, the Englisli publications must be our principal object: to them we must attend with the anxiety of parents; with the attention dictated by the closest connections. In foreign works, we cannot always decide on the style and manner; we cannot enter on those minute details, which are so interesting in our own. It seems most useful, in seme measure, to unite both plans; the more important and temporary subjects 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 adequate idea of foreign literature; and in this department something must be added. On the continent, many memoirs are published in miscellaneous collections, which cannot be the subject of our attention in a separate form: many works are announced, which are both curious and useful. These we shall collect in our cur. rent Numbers; and, while we ate arranging our intelligence, we shall shortly mention those publications, connected with the subject, which our limits will not allow us to examine more parti, cularly. 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

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CRITICAL REVIEW.

For JANUARY, 1788.

Cytlopxdia > or, an Universal Diaionary os Arts and Sciences.

By E. Chambers, F. R. &. Continued from vol. lxiv. /. 89. "1X7" H E N we compared human knowlege to a vast tree, a"nd spoke of the various subdivisions of sciences as its branches, whose bulk and importance differed as muclt as the number and magnitude of their ramifications, it was not a metaphor taken up by chance, or pursued without design. In this edition of the Cyclopdia the image is almost realized, by a new and valuable improvement, we mean an Index, where, under each science, the terms which belong, and, of course, the articles which refer to it, are arranged in alphabetical order. An addition of this kind gives a body and a consistency to the scattered limbs of which a Dictionary must necessarily consist: this Index unites the whole, .and restores not only order, but the advantages which must arise from connected views. It is the guide which we referred to, in our Number forAugust last, with whose assistance we passed from the larger branch, to those lesser ramifications, which depend on it. We shall again take this faithful assistant, and give a comprehensive account of the other improvements and additions, for which we are indebted to Dr. Rees. Vet we ought not to leave it, without faying, that it seem* to have been collected with care, and that the subjects are judiciously arranged.

In Botany many of the articles appear to be new, particularly Uiose which relate to the different plants. The systems of Linnus and Tournesort are explained with much precision, and illustrated by plates. The account of the tea tree, with the method of gathering and curing the leaves, is, in part new, and generally curious. Dr. Rees does not men! tion a suspicion, which has lately prevailed, that the different flavours are supposed to be owing to the mixture os leaves of different plants: that of Hyson is said to arise from the leaves of a species of olea; and, if tea be carefully examined, some leaves will be found of a less sue, and a different .jhape, from those of the tea shrub.