I79I« LITERARY INTELLIGENCER. 367 



llttied, and without a doubt, contains a much greater proportion of 

 1'; than mod of the periodical publications in Britain. This circum- 

 Itance, however, is here ftated merely as a matter of fn£i, and is not ad- 

 duced as a proof of its fuperior excellence. Had fewer original pieces 

 been admitted, it is by no means improbable that its intrinfic merit 

 might have been the greater ; as well chofen copies from other works 

 may be more valuable, tlian compofitions that have never been publifhed. 

 Had originality of matter been all his aim, the editor might eafily have 

 f Atisfied himfelf ; as he has materials in liis polR-ffion that might have 

 filled feveral volumes, without taking a fmgle line from any printed 

 work whatever. But as the avowed^intention of this mifcellany, is to 

 fele<ft from other perforniances, as well as to give new matter, he thmks 

 he Ihould have been to blame, had he not attempted in fome noeafure to 

 comply with the terms of his propofals. This he has done as to this 

 particular to a certain degree, though, were lie himfelf to judge, not f» 

 much as he ought to have done ; but he thinks he perceives, that others 

 put a higher value upon mere originality as fuch, than he does ; nor wiH 

 he prefume to fet up his own judgment as a ftandard for others, but will 

 endeavour to accommodate himielf in every innocent compliance, as 

 much as he can, to the defires of the public. No part of the office that 

 falls to his Ihare as an editor, is half fo difagreeable as that of rejeifling; 

 pieces, that perfons from the beft motives have had the goodr.efs to fead 

 him ? and nothing but a ftrong fcnfe of duty to his readers, could in- 

 duce him to take it upon himfelf. The writers of thefe pieces, it may 

 be fuppofed, eye them with a parent's fondnefs. One naturally feels ^ 

 reluftance at the thought of giving pain : fhould the judgment in thefc 

 circumflances be fvvayed a little by good jxature, it ought to be confider- 

 ed as a more txcufeable wealoiefs, than a ftern fcverity. Yet the editor, 

 fears, that many of his correfpondents will think there is little room for 

 accufing him of this weaknefs, while others will fay he is guilty of it to, 

 an unpardonable degree. Of this he does not complain, nor of the con- 

 tradictory requefis of his differeut correfpondents, fome of whom con- 

 demn in the fevered terms, thofe pieces that others talk of with rapture; 

 while in their turn they difapprovc of the performances, the others 

 have highly applauded ; io that, like the man with the two wives, who 

 weeded out of his head alternately the black hairs and the white, were they 

 permitted to go on, ho fiiould foon have none, or were he to lifStn to botk 

 parties, he would be tL-Juced to the neceffity of prefenting a book, like 

 Sterne, of blank pages, as the only mean left of avoiding offence. Of 

 all this the editor does not complain, becaufe every one who affunies tlic 

 'office he bears, muft expect a daiilar fate. Knowing therefore, that it 

 is impoflible to pleafe alike every talle, he will go ortofeledl, to the bell 

 of his judgment, fuch pieces, whether originals or copies, as fliall feem ta 

 have the beft chance of forwarding the views anounced in his profpeiftus; 

 ever paying due attention to the friendly hints of thofe who think he 

 «rr8, and relying upon the public indulgence for overlooking unavoidable 

 dcfc6b. 



his with infinite vexation he remaiks the number of typographical 

 errors that have (lii)t into this work. Of the circumflances that haveoC' 



