THE BRITISH CRITIC, FOR JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, MDCCC VII. Εἶμι παρὰ τάθμην ὀρθὴν ὁδον, οὐδετέρωσε Κλινόμενος, χρὴ γὰρ μ' ἄρτια πάντα νοεῖν. VOLUME XXX. THEOGNIS. London: PRINTED FOR F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON, 1808. Printed by Law and Gilbert, St. John's Square, Clerkenwell. PREFACE. ETTERS may truly be faid to flourish when bufinefs of a dangerous war, and in fpite of every preffure of public difficulty. That love of knowledge must indeed be ardent, which furmounts fo many obftacles; as the foldier who ftudies in a camp may more juftly boaft of his application, than the academic, who has no other object, and has every thing to affift and encourage his labour. We hail the opportunity of beftowing this valuable fpecies of commendation upon our countrymen at large. In fpite of the threats of the enemy, the checks of commerce, the increase of taxes, and whatever elfe might be enumerated as unfavourable to the arts of peace, we fee them daily cultivated with new vigour. On every fide inftitutions are arifing, either to teach the sciences, or to facilitate ftudy; and according, to appearances, there will not ere long be a town of any confequence in the United Kingdom, in which the best books will not be acceffible to all perfons in moderate circumftances. When fuch a dif Five or fix of thefe Eftablishments in the Metropolis, and others in various parts of the Country, as at Manchester, Liverpool, Briftol, Reading, &c. bear teftimony to this affertion. That at Reading was opened on the 1ft of January 1808, with every profpect of becoming a flourishing Establishment. A 2 pofition |