Y I were needless to expatiate on the great ada

vantage of Literary Journals, since ihere is no

Man of Letters, whofe private experience does not more strongly convince him, tbàn all the words we could employ, bow very beneficial; as

well as entertaining, they are to all persons, whose · Curiosity leads them to enquire into the several

Transaktions of the Learned World. Such Pieces, if tolerably drawn up, give the Reader, not only a general Idea of the most valuable Books publisk'd in all parts of Europe ; but also present to him at one view, as it were, their entire History, their Plan, their Analysis, and those Passages whose Beauty distinguishes them from the rest. A Journal ought to resemble a Map; and as this presents us at first sight, in the plainest manner, and in a very narrow compass, with the whole extent of one or more large Countries ; in like manner a Work of this kind, bould display in a few Sheets, whatever is included in various and voluminous Treatises. ; . These are well known to be the qualities of a good Journal; but to draw up one that Mall answer this character, hoc opus, hic labor. As to our own, we propose'the method following.

I. To take notice of none but the most valuable Books, and such as are last publib'd, and have not been mention'd by any other of our Journalists. Of these, whether Latin, Italian, French, English, &c. we shall give a faithful Extract. The Choice

A 2

- And.

and Novelty of Books is what chiefly recommends a Journal; and with regard to these two very ellential points, the Correspondence we have already fettled is fuch, that we may confidently affirm, no Work of any Figure or Reputation, will be publib'd in any part of Europe, but we fall immediately give an account of it. To treat of Books already mention”d by others, would be of no fervice, and to take notice of trifling Pieces, is not önly.idle, but prejudicial; as it can have no other tendency, than either to mislead the Reader, by setting å Work in a false light; or to mock and of fend the Author; by the disadvantageous Character zvé pall be obligd to give of his Labours. Not but we Yhall likereise take notice of ancient Authors, and particularly of the Classics, whenever we may be prompted to it, from any nez. ånd valuable Edition of thein, that inay be publish'd from time to time. In oưr. Extraits of Histories, the most valuable branch of Polite Literature, we all be extremely careful not to omit any Circumstance worthy our Attention, by which means the Reader Szeill be as thoroughly acquainted with the most res markable Particulars, as if be bad perused the Histories at length. As to other Books, we shall first give a short Extrast of the several Particulars they treat of, and then select fome Passages, whole Beauty or Novelty may claim à more immediate notice. These Extracts will enable such as have not much time upon their bands, to treasure up a great number of excellent Observations, in the various Branches of Literature ; and at the same time acquaint them with whatever is worthy observation, in the Works of those Writers who are the Ornament of the Age,

II. Our Journal will include all SubjeEt's ; Divinity, Philosophy, Mathematics, Physic, particularly the Belles Lettres, and History: nor will Dissertations on Medals, Inscriptions, and other valuable Remains of Antiquity be omitted. In a word,

Floriferis ut apes in faltibus omnia libant,
Omnia nos itidem.-

As our Journal is intended for general use, it consequently ought to be adapted so as to suit all Taltes.

In fine, as Authors, who have written on any particular Subje£t, are sometimes collected into a Body, and such Colle&tions (well to so many Von lumes, that it is afterwards a difficult matter, to find out any one of those Author's singly, whom we might be desirous of perusing ; in our account of those Works, we mall first set down the Names of such Writers, according to the Period in which they flourib'd, and the particular Volume in which their Works are printed. The advantage of this is well known to all who have such Works in their Libraries.

As to our Criticism, the most arduous as well as important Province of a Journalist, we Mall tay. it down with the greatest Modesty, Caution, and Impartiality, and all make every Consideration subfervient to Merit. The Country or Religion of a Writer, Mall no ways influence us, in our commendation or censure of his Works. Exalted Genius's are born in every Climate and every Religion ; and to Merit only, the Encomiums of a Journalist ought to be devoted. The same Mcderation and Candozir will appear in our Cenfures,

. whenever

whenever they may be necessary. 'Tis well known,
that Men: of the greatest Sagacity and Learning
are liable to Mistakes ; quisque suos patimur
manes : nor ought such to be offended, when, for
general benefit, their Lapses pould be expofeds
provided it be done, as it mall ever be by us, in a
manner that speaks the Gentleman and the Scholar..

A Journal built on this Foundation; muft na-
turally meet with Success, since if it be true, that,
omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci,
what can be more useful or entertaining than a
Work of this kind? So many Books are daily pub-
lis'd, that no private Fortune is sufficient to pur-
chase them all ; nor is Man indulg'd a length of
gears requisite for the perufal of them. What then
can be a greater advantage to the Studious, than
to have a genuine account of their juft value,
and the exait Contents of them? By this means
be will be told either to stop here, or to purchase
Such Books as may be useful; and prevent his be-
ing impos.d upon by bigh-founding Titles, which
too often, to use an Expresion of Persius, is merely
dare pondus idonea fumo. What can be a greater
satisfačtion to a Lover of the Muses, than with
so little labour, to acquaint himself with those
new Discoveries which daily improve and refine
the Understanding ; with the several new Obser-
vations, whether celestial, physical, or anatomical ;
with those new Experiments, which, with a single
puff, overturil the imaginary Systems that have
been form’d on ill-grounded Hypotheses; with the
learned Disputes which are now on the Carpet ;
with the different Opinions which arise; with
the Errors which are exploded; and, in a word,
with every particular that may occur from time
to time in the Republic of Letters? 'Tis certain,
that nothing is so well calculated as such a Journal

as