UNIVERSAL MAGAZINE, NEW SERIES. CONTAINING ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS IN HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY, THE BELLES LETTRES, &c. &c. VOL. VII. JANUARY to JUNE, INCLUSIVE. 1807. LONDON: PRINTED FOR H. D. SYMONDS, NO. 20, PATERNOSTER-BOW; [Price 10s. 6d. Half Bound.] Printed by C. Squire, Furnival's-Inn-Court. PREFACE. THE commencement of a new year naturally excites the mind to a retrospection of the past, and anticipations of the future. According to the events which have occurred, or the opinions which have prevailed, the periodical revolutions of time, as they serve admirably to mark and distinguish the course of human affairs, become proportionably interesting. If reflections of this nature ever were suggested with unusual importance, they ought at this time to be received with peculiar attention. Every thinking person must see and acknowledge the difficulties with which we are encompassed, and the dangers with which we are menaced, Qur situation cannot be disguised. Though the circumstances of our country do not authorise the injudicious and unmanly lamentations of despair, they are such as demand the best exertions of patriotic wisdom; they are evidently those which call for information, energy, activity, firmness; for public fortitude and public spirit; for integrity and ability in the government-for loyalty and alacrity in the people. Amidst the unprecedented transactions which, within the last four years, have been exhibited in rapid succession on the great theatre of the world, the philosopher looks in vain for any clue to direct him through the labyrinth into which he is led by attempting to investigate causes, connect their effects, and predict their probable results. He looks in vain, too, for the increasing perfection of human reason, and the establish A 2 |