PREFATORY ADDRESS

ΤΟ

THE READER.

HAV

VING completed the First Volume of our critical and literary labours, it becomes neceffary to discharge a debt of gratitude, due from us to our readers, for the very liberal, and, we may fay, very extraordinary, encouragement which we have experienced at their hands. That this is no vain and empty boaft will be readily admitted by the public, when informed that our fale, though unpromoted by thofe collateral aids which are generally employed to extend the circulation of fimilar works, has amounted to THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY of each number. The fact may be eafily verified.

Our fuccefs, we are fully aware, has been much more than commenfurate with our merits; but while we make, with becoming humility, this fincere confeffion, we do not hesitate to prefer our claim to any portion of reward which

NO. I.

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364695

may

may be due to upright intentions, perfevering zeal, and useful industry. We look back with fatisfaction on our past exertions, and confidently challenge our adverfaries to produce a folitary instance of inconsistency of principles, or to point out the smallest difference between our profeffions, and our practice. If ever we shall be found to depart from thofe principles on which this work was avowedly established, may we experience that neglect and difgrace which must invariably attach to fo flagrant a breach of duty; but fo long as we strictly adhere to that line of conduct which we have hitherto purfued, we may be allowed to call for a continuance of that liberal encouragement which we have hitherto received.

But our fuccefs affords a much nobler theme for exultation than any that would arife from confiderations of a private nature. It clearly demonftrates, not fo much, indeed, the improvement or melioration of the public mind, as the existence of an innate rooted attachment to found principles, religious and political, which only requires to be called forth, in order to fhine with tranfcendent luftre, to bear down all refiftance, and to eftablish its triumph over every foe. Be it our task to afford occafion for the full manifeftation of fuch principles, to ftimulate the exertions of their ableft advocates, to enlarge the circle of their friends, and to reduce the number of their enemies. On

these,

thefe, and thefe alone, can we rely for the prefervation of our national establishments, amidft the fhocks of contending factions, the wrecks of furrounding governments, and the general defolation of the civilized world. They give an impulfe to the mental energy of man; and, by counteracting the pernicious effects of a temporising fyftem of policy, at once operate as a preservative against innovation, fecure the permanency of existing inftitutions, and impart dignity to the fupreme councils of a state. In short, they conftitute the vital principle of the body politic, whofe debility or vigour folely depends on their activity or relaxation. Let every Briton, then, cherish and foster them, with affiduous care and unceafing attention, as the only true fafeguard of a conftitution, under whose paternal wings the virtuous and the good may always find protection, freedom, and happiness. The malignant genius of JACO

but, if we be true to ourselves, he will try in vain, and his efforts will infallibly end in his own confufion and ruin.

We were fully prepared, on the establishment of this work, to encounter the determined hoftility of those whofe principles and whose efforts it

was its avowed object to combat and counteract. The declared champions of religion, morality, and focial order, as fupported by the existing establishments, ecclefiaftical and civil, of this country, we fully expected to incur the attacks of men whofe enmity to those establishments had long been matter of notoriety, and whofe labours had long been directed, in various ways, to undermine and deftroy them. The frequency and violence of thofe attacks, therefore, have created no furprize in our minds; much lefs will they contribute, in the fmallest degree, to relax our vigilance and energy. We fhall continue to discharge our duty with unremitting zeal, unabating perfeverance, and increased activity.

Honoured, as we have been, with the marked approbation of fome of the most distinguished ornaments of the Established Church, and of the firft Legal Characters in the country, any relaxation of our efforts would, indeed, fubject us to the imputation of ingratitude. Of the utility of our paft labours, (and, we muft obferve, that our ambition is not to fine, but to be useful,) a full conviction may be acquired by a careful comparison of the late numbers of the Monthly and Critical Reviews, with any of thofe that were published previous to the month of Auguft laft, when our firft number appeared. The other object of our immediate attacks, the Ana

lytical

lytical Review, has received its death-blow, and we have more reafon to congratulate ourfelves upon the share which we have had in producing its diffolution, than it would be expedient here to unfold. But neither the deftruction of the one, nor the affected moderation of the other, fhall occafion the fmalleft diminution of our vigilance or exertion. We know the spirit of Jacobinifm too well to be deceived by any appearances which it may affume that are foreign from its nature; we know its purpofe to be fixed and determined; though vanquished in one shape, it will rife up in another; and nothing short of its annihilation can juftify confidence, or produce fecurity. We fhall, therefore, continue to watch its motions, with anxious folicitude, and inceffant attention: we are not unacquainted with its fecret receffes; we have traced it from the root, through all its various ramifications, to the very fummit; and our efforts will not ceafe until we have not only lopped off every noxious branch, but felled the hideous trunk itself to the ground.

We may here, with propriety, obferve, that we have received fuch affurances of literary affiftance as juftify the promife of improvement in our future exertions.

It only remains for us to notice one or two objections that have been urged, by different correfpondents, to certain principles, or pofitions, advanced