_ 
ADVICE fo # YOUNG REVIEWER, witha 
SPECIMEN Of the art.* 
OU are now about to enter on a 
profession which has the means of 
doing much good to society, and scarcely 
any temptation to do harm. You may 
encourage genius, you may chastise su- 
perficial arroganee, expose falsehood, 
correct error, and guide the taste and 
opinions of the age, in no small degree, 
by the books you praise and recommend, 
All this too may be done without running 
the risk of making any enemies; or sub- 
jecting yourself to be called to account 
for your criticism, . however severe. 
While your name is unknown, your per- 
son is invulnerable: at the same time 
your own aim is sure, for you may take 
it at your leisure; and your blows fall 
heavier than those of any writer whose 
name is given, or who is simply anony- 
mous. There is a mysterious authority 
in the plural we, which no single name, 
whatever may-be its reputation, can ac- 
quire; and, under the sanction of this 
imposing style, your strictures, your 
praises, and your dogmas, will command 
universal attention, and be received as 
the fruit of anited talents, acting on one 
common principle—as the judgments of 
a tribunal who decide only on mature de- 
liberation, and who protect the inter- 
ests of literature with unceasing vigi- 
lance. 
Such being the high importance of 
that office, and such its opportunities, I 
cannot bestow a few hours of leisure bet- 
ter than in furnishing you with some hints 
for the more easy and effectual discharge 
of it: hints which are, 1 confess, loosely 
thrown together, but which are the re- 
sult of long experience, and of frequent 
reflection and comparison. And if any 
thing should strike you at first sight as 
rather equivocal in point of morality, or 
deficient in liberality and feeling; I beg 
you will suppress all such scruples, and 
consider them as the offspring of a con- 
tracted education and narrow way of 
thinking, which a little intercourse with 
the world and sober reasoning will spee- 
dily overcome. 
Now as in the conduct of life nothing 
is more to be desired than some governing 
Principle of action, to which all other 
principles and motives must be made 
ed ee 8 ee eee 
* This excellent essay having been printed 
for separate circulation, its merits led us to 
ask permission of the author to insert it in 
eur pages, in the confidence that it would 
highly gratify our readers, a 
Advice toa Young Reviewer. 
31k 
subservient; so in the art of reviewing I ~ 
would lay down.as a fundamental posi- 
tion, which you must never lose sight of, 
and which must be the main spring of all 
your criticisms-——Write what will sell. 
To this golden rule every minor canon 
must be subordinate ; and must either be 
immediately deducible from it, or at least 
be made consistent with it. Be not 
staggered at the sound of a precept, 
which upon examination will be found as 
honest and virtuous as it is discreet. I 
have already sketched out the great ser- 
vices which it is in your power to re 
mankind; but all your efforts will bet 
availing if men do not read what 
write. Your utility therefore, it is ple 
depends upon your popularity; and po- 
pularity cannot be attained without hu- 
mouring the taste and inclinations of 
men. a 
Be assured that by a similar train of. 
sound and judicious reasoning, the con- 
sciences of thousands in public life are 
daily quieted. It is better for the state 
that their party should govern than any 
other: the good which they can effect by. 
the exercise of power, is infinitely greater 
than any which could arise from a rigid 
adherence to certain subordinate moral 
precepts; which therefore should be vio- 
lated without scruple, whenever they 
stand in the way of their leading purpose. 
He who sticks at these can never act a 
great part in the world, and is not fit to 
act it if he could. Such maxims may he 
very useful in ordinary affairs, and for 
the guidance of ordinary men; but when 
- we mount into the sphere of public uti- 
lity, we must adopt more enlarged prin- 
ciples; and not suffer ourselves to. be 
cramped and fettered by petty notions of 
right, and moral duty. 
Whep you have reconciled yourself to 
this liberal way of thinking, you will 
find many inferior ddvantages resulting 
from it, which at first did not enter into 
your consideration. In particular, it will 
greatly lighten your labours to follow the 
public taste, instead of taking upon you 
to direct it. The task of pleasing: is at 
all times easier than that of instructing : 
at least it does not stand in need of pain= 
ful research and preparation; and may 
be effected in general by alittle vivacity 
of manner, and a dexterous morigerae 
tion (as lord Bacon calls it) to the hu- 
mours and frailties of men. Your re= 
sponsibility too is thereby much lessened. 
Justice and candour can only be required 
of you so far as they coincide with this 
main principle; and g little experience 
will 
