municate researches into antiquity, strictures on the theatre, essays on curious topics of literature, memoirs of distinguished personages, select and original pieces of poetry, and discoveries and views in all the different branches of philosophy and science.

THE other division of their undertaking will include an account of the more capital literary performances which appear in England, and of every new production which is published in Scotland. In the reports which they are to offer concerning the merit of the different authors who shall fall under their observation, they will conduct themselves with candour and impartiality. While they ascertain the advances of knowledge, they will endeavour to encourage the pursuit of it; and it will be much more agreeable to them to commend than to blame. They will pronounce their opinions with freedom, but will not stoop to indulge in ill nature or in satire. Their commendation will be tinctured with no malicious reserve, and their censure will not rise into petulance or acrimony. To procure the public approbation, they will be studious to deserve it.

ACTUATED by honourable motives, they have become candidates for the public favour; but, if it shall be found that they are unequal to the task they have imposed on themselves, they will not obstinately persist to solicit attention. They will listen with deference to the general opinion that is formed of their undertaking, and of their ability to execute it; and they will know from its tenor, whether they are to continue to deserve respect and encouragement; or, whether they are to relinquish an attempt, to which their ambition had taught them too fondly to aspire."

By the contract of copartnery, the partners in the Edinburgh Magazine and Review were, the late ALEXANDER KINCAID, Esq. his Majestys printer and stationer for Scotland, a most worthy and respectable bookseller, who died in the office of Lord Provost or Chief Magistrate of Edinburgh, in January 1778; Mr WILLIAM CREECH, his partner in the bookselling business; GILBERT STUART, Doctor of Laws; the late WILLAM KERR, Esq. surveyor of the General Post Office for Scotland; and Mr WILLIAM SMELLIE: And the following is an abstract of the

conditions of their agreement, taken from the original corrected scroll copy.

1. THE whole to be formed and conducted by Dr STUART, who engaged to furnish the press with copy.

2. The paper to be supplied by Messrs KINCAID and CREECH, who were to be allowed the price out of the proceeds of sale.

3. The printing to be performed by Mr SMELLIE, who was to be paid at the ordinary rates out of the sales;-who was regularly to compile the last half sheet of every number, to consist of foreign and domestic occurrences, or the news department, and other articles ;-to keep the accounts of the concern; to answer all letters relative to the concern ;—and to review certain articles, as should be agreed upon between him and Dr STUART.

4. Mr KERR engaged to give every assistance consistent with the duties and privileges of his official situation, in advancing the interests of the concern; for which purpose only he seems to have been invited to become a partner, as his share was to cease on the event of his death or demission from office.

5. The profits, divided into six shares, were to be thus distributed among the parthers: One to Messrs KINCAID and CREECH conjunctly; one each to Mr KERR, Dr STUART, and Mr SMELLIE; and two, under the idea of copy-money, to Dr STUART and Mr SMELLIE, as authors and conductors, to be divided between them as they might agree.

In the conduct of the Edinburgh Magazine and Review, the whole of the article History, or News, as already mentioned, was confided to the sole management of Mr SMELLIE; besides which he wrote several essays for the Magazine part, but which these were cannot now be ascertained. He gave a copy of this work to his son, on which he had marked with his initials all those Reviews of his writing which he thought proper to acknowledge. These were:

1. Kameses Sketches of the History of Man, Art. III.

2. A small part of Lord Monboddo on the Origin and Progress of Language.

3. Revelation, the most effectual means of civilizing and reforming mankind; a sermon, by Robert Henry, D. D. 1773.

4. Worthingtons Scripture Theory of the Earth, 1774.

5. The Druids Monument, a tribute to the memory of Dr Goldsmith, by the Author of the Cave of Morar, 1774.

6. Considerations on the Broad-cloth Manufacture, 1774.

7. Buffons Natural History, in French, 1774.

8. Goldsmiths History of the Earth and Animated Nature, 1775.

9. Pringles Discourse on the Torpedo, 1775.

10. Hamiltons Observations on Mount Vesuvius, 1775.

11. Essays on Agriculture, by a Farmer, 1775.

12. Dr Hardys Sermon before the Commissioner, 1775.

13. Jenkinsons Botany, 1775.

14. Harrises Philosophical Arrangements, 1775.

15. Clark on the Shoeing of Horses, 1775.

16. Boutcher on Forest Trees, 1775.