The Critical Review was a British publication appearing from 1756 to 1817. It was first edited byTobias Smollett, from 1756 to 1763. Contributors includedSamuel Johnson,David Hume,John Hunter, andOliver Goldsmith.
TheEdinburgh printer Archibald Hamilton started publishingThe Critical Review in 1756 with Tobias Smollett as its first editor. The content was mainly book reviews, which were often long and favourable, with copious verbatim quotations.[1] TheTory andHigh Church perspectives of contributors came through clearly, however. Besides Smollett, the writers of the first two volumes have been identified asJohn Armstrong,Samuel Derrick,Thomas Francklin, andPatrick Murdoch.[2]
In 1758, the periodical reviewedJames Ralph’s pamphletThe Case of Authors, describing it as a just appraisal of the difficulties facing professional authors.[3]
After alibel against AdmiralSir Charles Knowles in theReview, Smollett was sentenced to afine of£100 and three months inKing's Bench Prison. In 1763 he retired from theReview, but left it as an influential publication.