Star.
London, England, 1824-09-28 00:00:00

LITERAR Y CRITICISM.

A Review has recently been commenced, which, from
its plan alone, independently of the ability with which it
is executed, cannot fail to enjoy a long and very pr o-
scerous career.
It has heretofore been the vice of these literary intelli-
gencers and dictators of public taste, that, instead of
presenting prompt notices of all new books as they apt .
pear, they affect to make selections, and being generally
the property of booksellers, they contrive to select their
own publications for the purpose of praising them ; and
those of rivals in trade, for the purpose of varying their
criticisms, by abusing them. Ta this capital fault they
add another, that of noticing few works till many months
after their appearance, by which the temporary objects
of the readers are balled, avid the utility of reviews, as
guardians against imposture, is defeated. These defects
of the old Reviews are as notorious as the sun at noon-
day, and their several plans, or rather their utter want
of all plan, permit no efficient remedy or improvement.
The universal passion for literary inquiry which cha-
racterizes the age, hAs therefore determined a junta of
men of letters to address a new and improved Rtview to
public curiosity, of which the plan is to analyze every
book rftsblished, without any exception and within a
month after its appearance. Four numbers have now
appeared, under the title of The Monthly C, Weal Gazdte•
and so great has been the industry of the Editors, that
they have, with sufficient fulness of: informar ion, noticed.
nearly 900 new books and pamphlets which have been
published within the past four mouths.
Such a work is of course a genuine register of all new
facts and opinions, and it puts its readers, without equi-
vocation, in full postession of the current literature in.
every branch. of knowledge and inquiry. Of the fair-
ness, learning, and ability, with which this Review has
thus far been conducted, no question has been raised,
while it has received the cheerful sanction of all p.irties
for its moderation, and has been generally engrafted on
public libraries, and eagerly adopted in all kinds °flue- .
rary establishments. Its ready introduction is at the same
time facilitated by the economy of its price, being but 2s.
per month, though Reviews of far less pretension are sold
at half-a crown, and others at treble its price. It was
the policy of its projectors, in fixing it at so low a price,
to remove every obstacle to its general reception, as a
convenient and even necessary adjunct of the Essays,
Reviews, the Edinburgh, the Quarterly, the Westmin-
ster, &c. In this respect, they are not likely to be tic.
appointed, for its circulation acrd also its authority bid
fair, as might have been anticipated, to rival either, or
even all of them.

As a complete register and faithful analysis of con-
temporary British Literature, this Critical Gaze:te w ill
present to all nations, and to Englishmen residing
abroad, a panorama of the literary novelties of•thd day ;
and the present mature state of our genius, taste, and
knowledge, renders it in this respect as rood a display
abroad as in utility it is gratifying and desirable at home

By Act of Parliament, all pledges of 10s. and tip-
wards must he sold by public auction, and the pawn-
broker is bound to shew the accounts of the sale, and pay
over any balance to the owner, if there be an over plus.
Several changes in the names of places aie contem-
plated in the vicinity of Finsbury-scriate. Old Bethlecn
is already transformed into Liverpool-street, to the no
small inconvenience of many of its inhabitants, tOio
have connections at a distance, not apprised of the
change. Broker's-row, on the East side of what was
Moollields, where the nuisance from what are termed
the•ll barkers"
_dragging pa;sengers into the Ito niture
shops continues unabated, is altered to Bloomfield-.
street : this change the latter gentry ale displeased
with—they declare the new title is in no degree '
tive of their business—and very inappropriate, since '
Moorfields disappeare.l. The new square ruid build 7
ings surrounding the London Institution will, it is ru.
moored, be named after certain distinguished per sonages,
and London Wall and several adjacent ancient stieeiis
be newly christened with courtly appellations. a
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la. •
My wife's so very tad," says. Will, ttuJ . , ,
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" r feet she neer eat, 'bold it :
• •so Imps her bed Mine's Worse 111161.14'1":-
01-Tbrivie bas jut 9ow sold it I" . , ".7:!„ 3A 7,-1

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