THE BRITISH CRITIC, FOR JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, MAY AND JUNE. MDCCC VI. Σαν δὲ, παρακολσθῆσαί τε καὶ εἰδῆσαι, εἰ ὀρθῶς λέγω. THEOPHRAST. VOLUME XXVII. London: PRINTED FOR F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON, Printed by Bye and Law, St. John's Square, Clerkenwell PREFACE. WR RITERS of great eminence have confeffed that they had their hours of apparent infpiration, and of comparative dereliction of talents; and every man must be fenfible of a difference, from caufes beyond number, in his inclination and ability to employ thought, and exert his powers of compofition. Johnfon indeed said, that a man can always write "if he will fet himself doggedly to it;" and true it is, as we at prefent experience. But very doggedly indeed does he go to it, whofe mind is oppressed by any recent affliction, or difturbed by any painful apprehenfion. The periodical writer, as Johnson also knew, is bound to this neceffity more strongly than any other. Willing or unwilling, dupofed or indifpofed, he muft count the fteps of time; and write under his inexorable orders. The evil of this is not ideal; while we defcribe we feel it; and with, at the moment of writing, for a refpite from our labour, which it is not poffible to obtain. If our Preface, therefore, fhould take the tinge of our minds, the benevolent reader will excufe it; recollecting that we write at prefent, not be cause we would, but because we muit; with little inclination to be eloquent, and none whatever to be gay. The caufes of this feeling fome readers will divine, and others not; but to us, Mens intus magno curarum fluctuat æftu. |