Old Maid in London, Middlesex

Impartial taste in a literary collection praised for virtue

The writer notes two manuscript volumes teem with essays not yet printed and warns of selective publication by the Doctor's permission. He praises the collection for merit over name, avoiding offense to piety, with few prologues and epilogues and limited quotations from Dryden or 17th century poets. Gilbert West Ey is cited as a notable author, described by Dr Hartingley as a gentleman scholar poet and Christian. Lady Winchelsea's death poem is mentioned as distinguished by its bold opening.