ADVERTISEMENT.. THE time has at length returned when the EDITORS of the ANTHOLOGIA HIBERNICA muft addrefs the Public. Upon fuch an occafion, when all the formalities of language are neceffary to engage attention, they feel themselves more than commonly affected to declare, that in this capacity, they now fpeak to them for the last time, and this task being once accomplished, they lay down their office, and shall address them no more!-After a declaration fo oppofite to that prefixed to their preceding volume, many will no doubt be surprised and many more be disappointed. With those who are disappointed, they join their own regret; and to those who are furprised, they fhall explain their reafon. From the commencement of the undertaking, the Editors have indefatigably laboured to exalt their work to the firft ftandard of eftimation. Whatever could be reaped by diligence, or be gained by coft, whatever could promote science and literature, they spared no pains to procure: they supposed themselves devoted to the cause of learning, and their labours were unfelt in the discharge of their duty. But occurrences which must always be expected in the prefent ftate of human viciffitude, have lately happened, which have defeated at once both their pursuit and defign: Some of their affociates have been difperfed to remote distances, and fome have entered into profeffions which exclude all opportunities of fimilar literary difquifitions; in2 VOL. IV. b duced duced by these circumftances, they relinquish their task, which, however it may infure favour when properly conducted, muft always produce contempt by a falfe and awkward appearance. 1 If they might be permitted to take a retrospect of their own work, they would, perhaps, point out more original matter, and more entire publications than have yet appeared through the medium of any periodical undertaking. A confiderable part of their work they have devoted to the antiquities of their country, to the developement of times that are past, and of grandeur that is now forgotten. They flatter themselves that they have facilitated a path through the intricacies of mathematics, and accounted for fome of the wonders of creation in the PHILOSOPHY OF NATURE. The effays of timid genius have met with their encouragement and fupport, and the engravings of the first artists have been procured for their illuftration and embellishment. More than this they might fay without the imputation of vanity, but opinion feldom waits the decifions of justice, and he who is determined to cenfure will not cafily be induced to commend. Whatever may be the temper of the world, they fhall not fhrink at its fentence, being confcious of the rectitude of their own intentions, and content with the recompenfe of felf-approbation. They have laboured to deferve the good wifhes of mankind, and they shall always look with pleasure to that portion of their time which has been studiously employed in the cultivation of fcience, the propagation of truth, and the diffufion of knowledge, through the medium of the ANTHOLOGIA HIBERNICA. |