of? How few will read or purchase forty-four large volumes of the Tranfactions of the Royal Society, which, in abridgement, are generally read, to the great improvement of philofophy? 27. How muft general systems of sciences be written, which are nothing more than epitomes of thofe authors who have written on particular branches, and whose works are made lefs neceffary by fuch collections? Can he that deftroys the profit of many copies be lefs criminal than he that leffens the fale of one? 28. Even to confute an erroneous book will become more difficult, fince it has always been a custom to abridge the author whofe affertions are examined, and sometimes to transcribe all the effential parts of his book. Must an enquirer after truth be debarred from the benefit of fuch confutations, unless he purchases the book, however useless, that gave occafion to the answer? 29. Having thus endeavoured to prove the legality of abridgements from cuftom, and the neceffity of continuing that custom from reafon, it remains only, that we shew that we have not printed the complainant's copy, but abridged it. 30. This will need no proof, fince it will appear, upon comparing the two books, that we have reduced thirtyfeven pages to thirteen of the fame print. 31. Our defign is, to give our readers a fhort view of the prefent controverfy; and we require that one of these two pofitions be proved, either that we have no right to exhibit fuch a view, or that we can exhibit it without epitomizing the writers of each party. The The following paffages, introductory to the Lives of Sir THOMAS BROWNE and ROGER ASCHAM, being omitted by Sir JOHN HAWKINS, are here reftored. SIR THOMAS BROWN E. THOUGH the writer of the following ESSAYS* feems to have had the fortune common among men of letters, of raifing little curiofity after his private life, and has, therefore, few memorials preferved of his felicities or misfortunes; yet, because an edition of a posthumous work appears imperfect and neglected, without fome account of the author, it was thought neceffary to attempt the gratification of that curiofity which naturally inquires by what peculiarities of nature or fortune eminent men have been diftinguished, how uncommon attainments have been gained, and what influence learning had on its poffeffors, or virtue on its teachers. ROGER ASCHA M. IT often happens to writers, that they are known only by their works; the incidents of a literary life are feldom obferved, and therefore feldom recounted; but Afcham has efcaped the common fate by the friendship of Edward Graunt, the learned master of Westminster * Entitled "Chriflian Morals," published not as Sir John Hawkins afferts in 1752, but 1756. school, fchool, who devoted an oration to his memory, and has marked the various viciffitudes of his fortune. Graunt either avoided the labour of minute inquiry, or thought domeftic occurrences unworthy of his notice; or preferring the character of an orator to that of an hif torian, felected only fuch particulars as he could best exprefs, or moft happily embellifh. His narrative is therefore fcanty, and I know not by what materials it can now be amplified. Dedication to Dr. JAMES'S MEDICAL DICTIONARY, 3 SIR, vols. folio, 1743. To Dr. MEAD. THAT the Medicinal Dictionary is dedicated to you, is to be imputed only to your reputation for fuperior fkill in thofe fciences which I have endeavoured to explain and facilitate; and you are therefore to confider this addrefs, if it be agreeable to you, as one of the rewards of merit; and if otherwife, as one of the inconveniences of eminence. However you fhall receive it, my defign cannot be difappointed; because this public appeal to your judgment will fhew that I do not found my hopes of approbation upon the ignorance of my readers; and that I fear his cenfure least whose knowledge is most extensive, I am, SIR, Your moft obedient humble fervant, R. JAMES, Dedication to the FEMALE QUIXOTE. By Mrs. LENNOX. Published 1752. To the Right Hon. the EARL of MIDDLESEX. MY LORD, SUCH is the power of intereft over almoft every mind, that no one is long without arguments to prove any position which is ardently wifhed to be true, or to justify any measures which are dictated by inclination. By this fubtil fophiftry of defire, I have been perfuaded to hope that this book may, without impropriety, be inscribed to your lordship; but am not certain that my reasons will have the fame force upon other understandings. The dread which a writer feels of the public cenfure; the still greater dread of neglect; and the eager wifh for fupport and protection, which is impreffed by the consciousness of imbecillity, are unknown to thofe who have never adventured into the world; and I am afraid, my lord, equally unknown to those who have always found the world ready to applaud them. 'Tis therefore not unlikely that the defign of this address may be mistaken, and the effects of my fear imputed to my vanity. They who fee your lordship's name prefixed to my performance will rather condemn my prefumption than compaffionate my anxiety. But, whatever be fuppofed my motive, the praife of judgment cannot be denied me; for, to whom can timidity fo properly fly for fhelter, as to him who has been fo long diftinguifhed for candour and humanity? How How can vanity be fo compleatly gratified as by the allowed patronage of him, whofe judgment has fo long given a standard to the national taste? Or by what other means could I fo powerfully fupprefs all oppofition, but that of envy, as by declaring myself, My lord, Your lordship's obliged and moft obedient servant, Dedication to SHAKESPEAR illuftrated; or, the Novels and Hiftories on which the Plays of Shakespear are founded, collected and tranflated from the original Authors. With critical remarks. By the Author of the Female Quixote, 1753. To the Right Hon. JOHN EARL of ORRERY. MY LORD, I HAVE no other pretence to the honour of a patronage, fo illuftrious as that of your lordship, than the merit of attempting what has by fome unaccountable neglect been hitherto omitted, though abfolutely neceffary to a perfect knowledge of the abilities of Shakespear. Among the powers that muft conduce to conftitute a poet, the firft and moft valuable is invention, the highest seems |