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want of care or judgment in their respective editors they are all forgotten, or neglected. From these the mifcellany known by the name of Mr. Pope perhaps ought to be excepted; tho' that, indeed, cannot properly be ftyl'd a collection of poems by different hands, which is fuch a one as we are speaking of at prefent; the greater part consisting of pieces by Mr. Pope only. The best miscellany at this day extant in our language, and the first complete one of the kind which we have feen, is that lately publish'd at London by R. Dodfley, which boasts the greatest names of the present age among its contributors.

As to the poetical collection here exhibited to the public, we apprehend it challenges no fmall degree of regard, as it was made under the immediate infpection and conduct of feveral very ingenious gentlemen, whose names it would do us the highest honour to mention; and as it contains a variety not to be found even in the admirable collection last spoken of; I mean the Intermixture of poems both Scotch and English. Nor is this variety less agreeable than ufeful; as from it, we have an opportunity of forming a comparison and eftimate of the taste and genius of the two different nations, in their poetical compofitions.

It will be neceffary to take notice, that our chief care has been to furnifh out the following mifcellany with those pieces (regard being firft had to real merit)

which have laid unknown and unobserv'd from their MANNER of publication; several of them having been printed by themselves, and fo perished as it were for want of bulk, and others loft amid the rubbish of collections injudiciously made, and perhaps not easily to be met with. Nor will it be improper to mention, that in order to render our volume ftill more complete, we have had the favour of fome original poems, written by a late member of the university of Aberdeen, whofe modefty would not permit us to print his name: and from these ingenious effays, the public may be enabled to form fome judgment beforehand of a poem of a nobler and more important nature, which he is now preparing. Nor must we forget to return our public thanks to this gentleman, for the fervice he has been to us, not only in making this collection more excellent by his own contributions, but in felecting fuch pieces of others as were fuitable to our defign.

It is hoped that the ancient Scottish poems (amongst which THE THISTLE AND THE ROSE, and HARDYKNUTE are more particularly distinguished) will make no difagreeable figure among thofe of modern date; and that they will produce the same effect here, as Mr. Pope obferves a moderate use of old words may have in a poem; which (adds he) is like working old abbey-ftones into a modern building, and which I have fometimes feen practised with good fuccefs.

Upon the whole, as we have been favour'd with the best affiftance in compiling this volnme, no further apology is neceffary; and as the approbation of the public has been already fecured to these poems separately, we hope they have no lefs reafon to claim it when thus published together.

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