THE BRITISH CRITIC, A NEW REVIEW, FOR JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, MDCC XCIV. · fi delectaris aceto VOLUME III. London : PRINTED FOR F. AND C. RIVINGTON, 1794. PREFACE. To pa O paint ungrateful labour perpetually recommencing, the fable of Sifyphus has often been employed. But if to thofe parts of our monthly task, wherein we are obliged to cenfure or condemn, we should be tempted to apply that comparison, or any one equivalent to it, the cafe is very different; when ever we can allow ourselves to praise; and we should rather feek for images of pleafure frequently renewed, the returns of light, or fucceffion of delicious feafons, to illuftrate what we feel in fuch exertions. If to the monthly circuit of our butinefs thefe reprefentations are occafionally applicable, much more have we reason to exult, whenever we return to our periodical employment of recording the literary triumphs of our country. Thefe, even after our first intervals, of four months each *, appeared confiderable; and may be expected now more fully to gratify both our readers and ourselves, when we have the fcope of half a year through which to view their pro grefs. It is a pleasure alfo of no trifling magnitude, to be confcious that when we confecrate in our writings the fame of our contemporaries, we are enabled by their circulation to extend it very confiderably; and that while we diftribute praife, we are allowed in fome degree to share it. We are not merely fervants at the feaft, who fupply the guests with luxuries to The two firft volumes of the BRITISH CRITIC confifted of only four months each, because the work commenced with the fifth month of the year. In future there will be annually two volumes of fix months each. |