PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS—That we are compelled by a regard to our own convenience, to make the change hereinafter specified in the Literary department of the SPECTATOR, by reason of the increasing number of publications that pour in upon us ; as well as their variety of character, and frequently, for newspaper pur- poses, their inefficiency, consisting as they do of strictly professional works, or books handling one point of recondite science—of mere compilations, drawn generally from one fountainhead, or school- books, in which little or nothing differs from others of the class save the type and shape—of projects and pamphlets on every sub- ject—of mediocre poetry, plays, and fiction—with a numerous list of hybrids. We therefore propose henceforth to publish a weekly list of whatever books we receive, be they many or few ; it being dis- tinctly understood that an acknowledgment of receipt is all we un- dertake to give. Whether we shall think fit to ensconce the book in our Library—to dismiss it at once with a brief notice or remark— or let it stand for ever in the naked simplicity of its titlepage—will depend on our will and pleasure, not springing from caprice, but founded on good and sufficient reasons. This determination, if it do not give satisfaction to the genus irritabile, will at least let them know the terms on which they venture ; whilst we trust it will save us from small disputes, with " fendings and provings," touch- ing the delivery or non-delivery of particular books ; the correspond- ence of authors, who can see but one matter in the world worth attending to; and the complaints of individual genius, or the joint memorial of its friends, who make interest for the encouragement of youthful aspirants.
In future, our list will only contain the receipts of the current week, up to Friday evening : the present one has a few publications of a somewhat older date.
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