The Monthly Review, Or, Literary Journal, Volume 56

Front Cover
Ralph Griffiths, G. E. Griffiths
R. Griffiths, 1777 - Books
A monthly book announcement and review journal. Considered to be the first periodical in England to offer reviews. In each issue the longer reviews are in the front section followed by short reviews of lesser works. It featured the novelist and poet Oliver Goldsmith as an early contributor. Griffiths himself, and likely his wife Isabella Griffiths, contributed review articles to the periodical. Later contributors included Dr. Charles Burney, John Cleland, Theophilus Cibber, James Grainger, Anna Letitia Barbauld, Elizabeth Moody, and Tobias Smollet.
 

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Page 210 - ... religious factions, they seemed to be disarmed in my behalf of their wonted fury. My friends never had occasion to vindicate any one circumstance of my character and conduct: not but that the zealots, we may well suppose, would have been glad to invent and propagate any story to my disadvantage, but they could never find any which they thought would wear the face of probability. I cannot...
Page 213 - Upon the whole, I have always considered him, both in his lifetime and since his death, as approaching as nearly to the idea of a perfectly wise and virtuous man, as perhaps the nature of human frailty will permit.
Page 208 - In 1752, the Faculty of Advocates chose me their Librarian, an Office from which I received little or no Emolument, but which gave me the Command of a large Library. I then formed the Plan of writing the History of England...
Page 213 - His temper indeed seemed to be more happily balanced, if I may be allowed such an expression, than that perhaps of any other man I have ever known. Even in the lowest state of his fortune, his great and necessary frugality never hindered him from exercising, upon proper occasions, acts both of charity and generosity. It was a frugality founded not upon avarice, but upon the love of independency.
Page 210 - I took a particular pleasure in the company of modest women, I had no reason to be displeased with the reception I met with from them. In a word, though most men...
Page 211 - I could not well imagine (said he) what excuse I could make to Charon in order to obtain a little delay. I have done every thing of consequence which I ever meant to , do, and I could at no time expect to leave my relations and friends in a better situation than that in which I am now likely to leave them. I therefore have all reason to die contented.
Page 363 - ... found means to convey a small box filled with gunpowder, and out of the box hung a long thin match that was to burn slowly, and was hidden among the leaves of the trees.
Page 430 - A man who thinks he is guarding himself against prejudices by resisting the authority of others, leaves open every avenue to singularity, vanity, self-conceit, obstinacy, and many other vices, all tending to warp the judgment, and prevent the natural operation of his faculties. This submission to others is a deference which we owe, and indeed are forced involuntarily to pay.
Page 332 - At eve within yon studious nook, I ope my brass-embossed book, Portray'd with many a holy deed Of martyrs, crown'd with heavenly meed : Then, as my taper waxes dim, Chant, ere I sleep, my measured hymn ; And at the close, the gleams behold Of parting wings bedropt with gold.
Page 209 - I returned to that place, not richer, but with much more money, and a much larger income, by means of Lord Hertford's friendship, than I left it; and I was desirous of trying what superfluity could produce, as I had formerly made an experiment of a competency. But in 1767 I received from Mr.

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