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INTRODUCTION 
JO THE 
LITERARY HISTORY OF THE PRESENT PERIOD, 
[TO BE CONTINVED OCCASIONALLY. } 
oe ee 
AS we mean to dedicate a fpecial ar- 
ticle of our Mifcellany to the ge- 
neral Hiftory of Letters, both domeftic 
and foreign, we will, in this Number, 
give, by way of Preliminary, a concife 
retro{peétive view of the ftate of learn- 
ing in Europe, fince the commencement 
of the prefent century. 
In comparing the prefent century 
with thofe immediately preceding, it 
will not be found, that fo much has been 
done toward the improvement of {ci- 
ence, as may be imagined by fuperficial 
obfervers, and might have been expected 
from progreifive experience. The phi- 
lologifts, orators,: poets, hiftorians, and 
novellifts, of the fixteenth and feven- 
teenth centuries, were by no means in- 
ferior, and were in fome refpects fu- 
perior, to thofe of the eighteenth. In 
mixed mathematics, particularly in aftro- 
nomy, fome valuable, at leaft curious dif- 
coveries have been made, from the great 
improvement of telefcopes, and other in- 
ftruments of obfervation. | Mechanics 
have been carried to a much greater 
degree of perfeétion; and natural and 
experimental philofophy have acquired 
& certitude and accuracy, beyond what 
they had in any prior period: pharmacy 
has alfo been purified from the dregs of 
former times; anatomy and chirurgery 
have been eagerly and fuccefsfully cul- 
tivated ; and the 
healing art have been fimplified and 
better arranged. 
Such are the parts of fcience, with 
re{pect to which our age can boaft fome 
fort of fuperiority; for, with regard to 
the fine arts, as they are termed, we ap- 
prehend they are rather languifhing 
than acquiring vigour. A partial or 
Jocal improvement, in fome of them, 
may have taken place, and has, no 
_ doubt, taken place in this nation; but 
we greatly miftake, if on the whole, 
they have not Joft more than they have 
gained. 
Whether in political, moral, or re- 
ligious knowledge, we are a whit wifer 
than our forefathers, appears to us a 
problem, that may be difputed with 
| MontHiy Mac, No. I, 
principles of the' 
equal plaufibility on both fides of the 
queftion. It is true, the general prin- 
ciples of focial compacts and civil infti- 
tutions have been more thoroughly can- 
vaffed, and perhaps better underftood ; 
the natural rights of man more clearly 
afcertained and more ftrongly afferted ; 
the various forts of government better 
difcriminated and more impartially ap- 
praifed : but how far thefe fine theories 
are compatible with practice, or are likely 
to be attended with permanent bleffings 
to fociety, is yet to be feen. 
New fyftems of ethics have likewife 
been created, and bafes of various forms 
have been contrived for the ftatue of Vir- 
tue; yet we think it muft be confeffed, 
that the goddefs is not more fincerely 
worfhipped, nor her votaries more nue 
merous, than in the days of our predecef- 
fors; we fear the reverfe is true. 
As to theology, or the fcience of re- 
ligion, it has certainly undergone fome 
confiderable changes within thefe fifty 
years, and is apparently on the eve of 
ftill greater alterations ; but whether 
thefe alterations will produce a more ge- 
nuine religion, that is, amore exalted idea 
of the Supreme Being, a greater refpect 
for his behefts, and a more humble fub- 
miffion to his will; in fhort, a more 
fervent and difinterefted piety, feems to 
us highly problematical : Time, the great- 
eft inftruétor, will fhow how far our mif< - 
truft is grounded. 
One thing, however, may be ad- 
vanced as true: religion in general 
wears a more amiable face; intole- 
rantifm is no more her infeparable com- 
panion; and mankind feem willing to 
go to heaven, without joftling one an- 
other on the road, The principles of 
religion too have been more minutely 
examined ; many inveterate prejudices 
exploded ;_ revelation grounded upon 
more rational motives of credibility; a 
number of various corruptions eliminated 
from the facred volumes with which the 
hand of time had tarnifhed them; and 
biblical criticifm eftablifhed on fuch 
principles, and guided by fuch rules, as 
mutt neceflarily tend to its perfection. 
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