( 3 3 



«i»nr»iiieiJ wit>i oWcquy nor any other diragrtcablc cffecl to the writer, 

 there fccms to be no room to doubt, that the native love of truth, which 

 ii c</.'! 'enial to the liumaii mind, would prompt fuch perfoni cheerfully to 

 point out errors wherever they occurred i and as thefe correc'lions would 

 cumc in fucccflion to be read by the very perfuns who had been at (irft 

 iniflcd, the cvii would be quickly redified, and this great inlet to error 

 be ftopj.ed up nearly at its fource. Doubtful I'aclj alio, that oceun-cd in 

 other writings, might thus be afcertaincd; and error be at lad fo thorongh- 

 I; fcrrettcd out from all it« intricate retreats, as to make tkutu to reiKii 

 triumphant over all the regions of fcience. Such, then, being the great 

 obicAs aimed at in this apparently humble work, it will not be wondered 

 at that the editor not only docs not with to conceal his name from the pub- 

 lic but is even proud to have given birth to fuch an undertaking. If his 

 former writings poffcfs any merit at all, they owe it entirely to an unre- 

 niitting defire in him to promote the general good of mankind ; and he 

 juulls, that his effoits to render as pcrfeOl as he can, this much gre.iter and 

 liiore ufeful performance, may entitle him to hope for a continuance, and an 

 extenfion even, of that favour, which he ha«, on all former nccafions, fn li- 

 berally experienced from an ever indulgent public. Should he fail in thii 

 arttmpt, he (hall i egret it as a misfortune, and aicribe it to the wcakncfs of 

 his powers, that have not been fuflicient to roufe the public attention to a 

 f ,'>ic<5l of fuch univerfJ moment; and to the accidental waywardnefs ot 

 .;.-.: ir,l,„™..v^r hr m,,.t wirli the rncn..r.-urpn„...» .l.a, ,!,» K„M„«f. 



104 Anderson (Jas.) The Bee, or Literary Weekly Intelligence, 18 vols, in 14, 

 8vo. numerous portraits, and some imodcuts hij Bewick, half calf neat 



Edinburgh, 1791-3 

 Complete sets of this Scottish literary periodical are of rare occurronee. 



niunications from abroad will be valuable alike for their authenticity, va- 

 riety and importance. It is not, however, on the comMiunicatioji'^ fiom a- 

 broad that he places his cliief reliance, nor on the voluntary afliftancc of 

 private literary friends ; he hopes for communications on intcrefting fub- 

 jefls, as they occafionally occur, from literary characters in Britain who arc 

 entire ftrangers to him, and will be at all times ready to make fuch returns 

 as the writers of fuch eflay* Ihall be willing to accejit, in proportion to the 

 merit of their performances. He lliall only add, that cop.ciltnefs and com- 

 prehcnfive brevity will ever be to him great recommendations. 



The editor caimot pretend to announce this work to his readers as a newf- 

 paper. It may fervc, however, as a concife regiiler of important <iccurrences, 

 that admits of tiling conveniently bound up, to he confulted occafionally, and 

 thus to picfervc the recolledion of evcntslongafier thofe papers that announc- 

 ed them more fully at the time, ftiall have been fuffered to pcriih. Though 

 this performance cannot therefore boaft the merit of announcing news, it 

 may ferve very comidetely the purpofe of an ufeful remembrancer to thofe 

 %vho wi(h to prefcrve a dillincft recoUcdion of the fucccflion of paft events. 



In one particular department, he propofes to adoj^t a method that his 

 friends make him hope will give general fati5fa<5lion. In all the newf- 

 papers, mention is made of the fevcral bills that are introduced into parlia- 

 ment ; but unlefs it be from the debates that occur on the pafling ol thefe 

 bills, the public are no farther informed of their contents than the name by 

 which they are announced fuggefts. Many perfons, therefore, have ex- 

 frcffedan earned wilh, that a diftintft and authentic account could be given 

 of the charatSeriftic peculiarities of each of thefe bills, in fome performance 

 that can eafily be obtained by the public at large. This the editor intends 



to attempt in tlie prcfent work. Inftcad of jiving « 4iirf ef the »ranf- 

 adions of parliament, as in a newfpapcr, he propofes to give a feparate 

 hiftory of the rife and pro^rrcfs of each particular bill, announcing always at 

 the beginning the particular objcfls of the bill, and tracing tlie amend- 

 ments it received in each ftcp of its progrcfs through the houfc ; and thus- 

 explaining the Itate in which it is kit when paOed into a hw, or finally 

 rejcflcd ; adding himfclf fuch occafional remarks as the fubjeft natural- 

 'y f"Sge!ls. By this mode of procedure, the account of parhamentary 

 prijceedings muft indeed be delayed till towards the end of each fel- 

 fion of parliament, as it is propofed never to lofc fight of one bill till it 

 be finally pafl'ed into a law, or rejefled. But as the daily proceedings in 

 paiiiament can be found in every newfpapcr, this delay can be attended 

 with little incoiu-enicncc to the reader; and it is hoped he will receive a 

 fatisfaaion, in feting the fame fubjcft difcuffed foon alter, and placed in a 

 light fomewhat new; and which, from the manner of treating it, if the 

 execution be lolciablc, ihould be more clear and futisfaflory than the ordi- 

 nary accounts of parliamentary proceedings. Huw far he Ihall fucctcd in this 

 department, the public will decide : but it is extremely obvious, that few 

 things arc fo much wanted in this country, as a mo.e general ].ublicatiou 

 than at prcfent tali.es place of the laws that affca individuals ; and he hopes 

 that this attempt, in a work fo much within the reach of all ranks of peo- 

 ple, will be received with indulgent candour. 



lis work is offered to the 



c the more cjtenfive,wi;h 



jrmation.jccembletorhe 



10 f '"=3* '^^>^ ■" f-''"'^" 'he 



his attempt ; ftir it is by 



. ittention can be fo much 

 engaged, as to eiieCl all the purpofes this publication is naturally fitted to 

 acconiplifh. His utmoft Eeal, however, can prompt lum to go no farther,, 

 than to be anxious that thofe who wifh well to the undertaking may have 

 an opportunity of once feeing the work, and, of judging for tliemlelvcs of 

 its merit ; and if upon trial they fllall find it. unworthy of their patronage,, 

 it is but jull and proper thej ihould then give it up. Had private emolu- 

 ment been the chief objeift with the editor, he is well aware that he would- 

 havc better fucceeded by affixing a much higher price to it ; The more ge 

 neral extenfion of knowledge, however, is certainly a_much greater object 

 to aim.at. 



Still farther to ftiinulate the attention of the public, and to call forth the 

 latent fparks of genius that may he hid from public view ; it is the wifh 

 of the editor to give a let of premiums, annually, rather honorary than lu- 

 crative, for the beft differtations on literary fubjedls. The extent of thefe 

 premiums, and the variety of fubjedls fclefled for them.muft ultimately de- 

 |iend upon the encouragement the public Ihall give to this undertaking. 

 As a beginning however, the following incitements are humbly offered ts 

 fuch ingenious youths as are willing to engage in the honourable conteft for 

 literary glory. It is necdlcfs to add, that it is the honour of the victory, 

 rather than the value of the premium, that muft conltitute the principal 

 reward. 



To conclude, the editor will thankfully avail himfelf of every hint, tend- 

 ing to render his work more perfeiS in any refpeift ; nor does he defpair of 

 being able to furnifh a mifcellany, that fliall he entitled to fome ihare olr 

 the public attention. 



*,* A particular time cannot he fixed for beginning this publication ; as many neceffary arrangements muft firft be made, which may require 

 a longer time than is at prcfent expe(5led. The editor is indeed too anxious to have the work wxU done", to think of commencing it prema- 

 turely. Thofe at a diftance, however, who incline to encourage it, fliould lofe no time in forwarding their orders, as it is probable it may be begun 

 ly the time that a return from them can be obtained. It will be advertifed m the newfpapers before it commences. 



f.j.l' Subfcriptions for this paper will be taken in by all bookrellcrs, or others cntciiiled with cupii;s of the profpeelus, in every part of Great Britain. Or 

 orders and literary communications may be tranfmitted, poll paid, to the Editor, at the printing houfe of Mundell and Son, Edinburgh, where they 

 will be gratefully received and puniSlually acknowledged. 



'i-' In order to prevent miftakes, it is requefted that fubfcribers will pleafe to write their name and addrtfs in veiy diflimSl charaflers ; and mention 

 the place, or the poll town, where their copies are to be left. Let thefe direiSions be as diftinift and precife as poflilile. 



•^^* It is alfo requefted that fuch fubfcribers as refide in the country, will be pleafed to appoint fome perfon in a poft town to pay this paper for 

 them' when it falls due; and to mark that perfon's name, £5*2. as well as their own when they give their order fur it. .From thofe very remote parts of 

 the country, efpecially, lying beyond Invernefs, Fort William and Inveraray, where little commercial intercourfe takes place, no orders can be aafwered,— ' 

 unlefs this requifite be complied with. 



I't If no particulars are niarked,it will be undcrftood that the tomrron paper is intended, and it will be forwarded accordingly. Thofe, therefore, who 

 wilh to be fuiniihed either with the coarfc, or with the^nc paper, will pleafe to meaiion it in their order. ^ 



0- In thefrji, or fimt carl; Tiumter of thU ivorl, li'lll h gl-orr 

 refpe£1<d preceptor and m;icb ejlcemed patron and friend of the editor, 

 fojjihk, oftiiat truly great and worthy man. At few copies ivill be thrO' 

 ■will pleafe to fend their order i foon. 



end authentic anecdotet of the Lite ingenkm DoChr William Cullen, tit 



ipanieJ ■uilh a portrait, ■uhitb no paint fiall kc fpared to render at exaCi a liienefi at 



off at any time mon than are fulfribcj for, thofe ivho ivifb to he poJTffed ff this tverir. 



^*, Oh account of the mode offuilieatlin, and other eircumjlaniet, it icecmci mpoffible fit iookfellcrs to circulate this worl, in the ufual -way. 



