THE

PHILOMATHIC JOURNAL,

AND

LITERARY REVIEW;

CONDUCTED BY

THE MEMBers of thE PHILOMATHIC INSTITUTION.

"" WISDOM IS THE PRINCIPAL THING."

"Because the spirit of man cannot demean itself lively in this body, without
some recreating intermission of labour and serious things,- -* *** civilize, adorn
and make discreet the mind, by the learned and affable meeting of frequent
Academies, and the procurement of wise and artful recitations, sweetened with
eloquent and graceful enticements, *** that the call of WISDOM and VIRTUE
may be heard every where."-MILTON.

LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, BROWN, AND GREEN,
PATERNOSTER ROW;

WHEATLEY AND ADLARD, 108, STRAND;

Cox, 11, BERNERS STREET, OXFORD STREET;

SOLD ALSO BY BELL AND BRADFUTE, AND BLACK, EDINBURGH;
WARDLAW AND CUNNINGHAME, GLASGOW;
AND HODGES AND M'ARTHUR, DUBLIN.

J. and C. ADLARD, Printers, Bartholomew Close.

PREFACE TO VOL. II.

THERE is not a view of the present age more interesting than that afforded by the evident desire for knowledge, and the multiplied means adopted for its diffusion.

In no existing state is this desire more general, nor are those means more accessible, than in Great Britain; which, indeed, may be said to exhibit the most civilized and benevolent community presented in the history of the world: a distinction which, happily, its constitution, and the talents and dispositions of its inhabitants, alike qualify it to retain.

It is particularly gratifying to observe, that the earliest associations with which the youthful mind can be familiar, are calculated increasingly to excite the desire to which we have referred, and that the means of its gratification are daily extending to each sex, to every rank of society, and every period of life; while the improving condition and growing happiness of the lower orders of men, the increasing intelligence and acknowledged importance of those in