CONTENTS of the FOREIGN ARTICLES, N. B. For the CONTENTS of the Foreign Articles in the COR RESPONDENCE, inferted in the Reviews for July, Auguft, Octo- THE MONTHLY REVIEW, For JULY, 1778. ART. I. Mifcellaneous State Papers: from 1501 to 1726. 4to. 2 Vols. 11. 16 s. Boards. Strahan and Cadell. 1778. LTHOUGH it will be acknowledged, that it is not a fufficient reason for publishing letters, and other papers, that they were written long ago, and by perfons of eminence and diftinction in the period in which they lived, it is not too haftily to be afferted, concerning any publication of this nature, that it is trifling and unneceffary; or that a work which may appear fo to any particular individual, is in reality fuch with respect to the Public at large. What one clafs of readers may pronounce 'dry and uninteresting,' another may find to be full of information, or entertainment. Miscellaneous collections of this kind fuit the tafte of a great diverfity of readers, and answer feveral valuable purposes. They are of great ufe in cafting new light on hiftorical facts, afcertaining the merit of celebrated characters, and illuftrating the general manners, or particular cuftoms, of different countries or periods. And even those parts which are moft dry and tedious, may meet with readers to whom they will afford entertainment, or they may be of ufe to perfons engaged in fome particular courfe of ftudy. It is therefore, in fome measure, rather defirable, that compilations of ancient papers should be copious and even redundant, than that they fhould be curtailed by too nice and scrupulous a selection. In faying this, we rather mean, however, to give a general reafon for admitting a great variety of matter into collections of this kind, than to offer an apology for the voluminous appearance of the prefent work which will, we doubt not, be found as interefting as moft other. publications of a fimilar nature. Our Readers will naturally expect that we fhould give them foine general account of the contents of thefe volumes, and the VOL. LIX. B views views with which they are made public and we cannot do this fo properly as in the Editor's own words: The principal idea which has prevailed in the choice of the materials, has been, not to dwell too long on any one fubject, or any one period; and to felect fuch papers as mark moft ftrongly the characters of celebrated Princes and their minifters, and illuftrate fome memorable æra, or remarkable feries of events, It seems fuperfluous to obferve, that the introductions prefixed to most of the articles will connect (as far as was practicable) the different divifions of the work with general hiftory, and lead the reader's attention to fuch points as he may think deferve it beft. Notes are occafionally inferted at the bottom of the page, with the fame view: and it is hoped they will not be thought either tedious or trifling. The Editor is well aware of the difguft which often arises to a delicate tafte, from the antiquated ftyle and ftiff phrafeology, which unavoidably occur in these publications of hiftorical documents. It is prefumed, however, that many nervous and able difpatches will be found here, of a remote date, which do credit to the compofitions of those early times, on topics of bufinefs. And it may be fairly afferted, that new lights are thrown on the conduct and characters of fome eminent perfons; as Burleigh, Wallingham, Leicester, and Charles I.; notwithstanding that part of our history may appear to fuperficial readers to have been already exhausted. • Some facts and incidents of fmall importance may, indeed, be pointed out, in the courfe of the papers, as languid and uninterefting. But it is to be confidered, that in every picture there must be fome fhades; and that it was impoffible to avoid this objection but by giving broken extracts; by which mode the connection and arrangement of the writer's narrative and fentiments would have been greatly disturbed. The reader will confult his tafte, and turn over thofe pages, where nothing attracts him: though the Editor flatters himself that many fuch will not be met with. He will not attempt to recommend himself at the expence of those who have gone before him; and therefore declines giving any reasons why the plan he has adopted may deserve the preference. • Whoever looks into thefe Volumes will be better prepared for his future entertainment, if he pleases to confider the work before him as an historical picture gallery, where the different modes and fathions of upwards of two centuries are exhibited in regular fucceffion. The politics and fentiments of Henry VIII. and Elizabeth's time, differ as much from thofe of William III. and of George I. as the ruff and fardingale in the habits of the former, from the hoop petticoat, and long pockets of the latter. There may be pieces of inferior mafters in the gallery; but, doubtlefs, fome Titians and Vandykes will be diftinguished -The relation of the Princess Catherine's reception, with which we open, and of the late Queen of France's marriage, with which we conclude, as they reprefent the fashions and ceremonial of the refpective times, may be thought good companions to the picture of the Champ de Drap d'Or, in Windfor caitle.' From |