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want of care or judgment in their refpective editors. they are all forgotten, or neglected. From these the miscellany 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 such a one as we are speaking of at prefent; the greater part confifting 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 seen, is that lately publish'd at London by R. Dodfley, which boasts the greatest names of the prefent 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 inspection and conduct of several very ingenious gentlemen, whofe 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 lefs agreeable than ufeful; as from it, we have an opportunity of forming a comparison and estimate 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 furnish out the following mifcellany with thofe pieces (regard being firft had to real merit)

ich have laid unknown and unobserv'd from their .NNER of publication; feveral of them having been nted by themselves, and fo perished as it were for int of bulk, and others loft amid the rubbish of llections injudiciously made, and perhaps not eafily be met with. Nor will it be improper to mention, at in order to render our volume ftill more comlete, we have had the favour of fome original oems, written by a late member of the university of berdeen, whofe modefty would not permit us to rint 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 muft we forget to return our public thanks to this gentleman, for the service 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 fame 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 sometimes feen practised with good fuccefs.

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

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