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971709 THE

PREFACE.

HE business of this article comprises an important duty to ourselves and to the public. If our page have any claims to excellence, it is here that we are to specify those claims; and if we meditate any neceffary improvements, those improvements should be distinctly pointed out.

The plan on which our labours were first submitted, was entirely of a literary nature. Politics we unequivocally disclaimed. And, on a retrofpect of our conduct, we trust it will be found, that we have favoured no party; nor shewn a folicitude for the investigation of passing scenes, further than they were connected with philosophy. Guarded as we have been, and careful as we are to fulfil, on every occafion, the promises with which we rose, we do not flatter ourselves with perfection in these particulars, or think that our best endeavours have been equally and favourably received. It is enough if we are generally fuccefsful: for we remember the Man, the Boy, and the Ass. But, in difcarding politics, we did not mean to discard every incident of the day, when connected with our immediate views. A late trial, on the merits of Paine's Age of Reason, came exactly under this defcription. We have therefore opened, in the present number of THE MONTHLY VISITOR, a Literary and Philosophical Regifter, where occurrences that tend to illustrate the manners and the morals of the age, will regularly appear. From those who are enabled to give it, we request every information on these interesting topics. Under this head we shall also rank-all those accidents and events that are engendered by human

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human paffion, or the phenomena of the natural world. To the obfervant mind, this improvement

needs not illustration. Authentic narratives that explain, in a fimple and perfpicuous language, the dispositions and pursuits of man; that apply to every circumstance and nation, universal as nature herself, are objects deserving of our attention.

THE DRAMA, in every sense important, shall continue to receive from us that serious investigation which it demands. Our judgment may err; but it shall err through mental fallibility.

Six months have but evinced to us the propriety of the manner in which our LITERARY REVIEW has been conducted. Unincumbered with a fuperfluous leaf, we never designed to notice each noteless production of the hour, nor, on the other hand, to infult our readers, by giving them a catalogue of books instead of a review.

Poetry, as generally given in periodical works, had long been the subject of derifion, when we promised that THE PARNASSIAN GARLAND should claim even a critical respect. Our readers will know whether we are presumptuous when we say, that we do not blush for our promife.

England is unrivalled in the typographic-and not less so in the graphic arts. It might be expected that we should avail ourselves of these advantages; and we have, to the utmost of our power.

Among the numbers who have addressed us as CORRESPONDENTS, we have a few to thank; and we thank them most fincerely. "A Student of Lincoln's-Inn" was an early contributor, and a real ornament to our miscellany. Why have we not heard from him of late?

Mr. Huband, of the Middle-Temple, will accept this acknowledgment of his favour; and we are furprized that a rejection of one piece, should have induced him to difcontinue his friendship.

Mr.

Mr. Walker is well-entitled to our thanks; for there are few who can diftinguish between reproof and ill-nature.

To the Reverend Mr. Evans we hold ourselves highly indebted for the Memoirs of Edward Gibbon.

We do not forget Mr. Jackson, and we hope that he will not forget us.

If custom had been our guide, we should first have thanked our fair and elegant correfpondents. But nature is paramount to custom with beings uncouth as authors; and this might excuse us to those who think, that man was made before woman. Ladies, however, difpute the fact: at least, they practically difpute it. Such being the cafe, we shall give them a better reason for our conduct; and, what is more, a true one withal. So highly do we estimate their favours, that, had we ac acknowledged the fulness of our fentiments to them, anterior to what we felt from the goodness of our male friends, nothing but words, most nerveless words, might have fallen to the share of the latter. To be ferious

We have heard much of the "St. Leger" family; and we efteem ourselves honoured in the communication of a " Moral Sketch," which appeared under the name of St. Leger. We grant that the style was manly, but we know that the hand-writing was fe

minine.

Already have we endeavoured to express the politeness of Miss Anna Maria Porter. We may not fay what we think, without incurring the imputation of flattery. Will she take then the infertion of her poems, as a proof of our esteem for her talents ? Delicate indeed is our fituation: and while we are thus awarding to those who have deserved them, the honeft effusions of gratitude, there are many who will deem themselves either flighted or abused.

The duties which our station imposes on those who wish to fupport it, should mitigate this enmity

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to us. If it fail of that happy effect, it must leave us, this folitary, but lafting confolation-that we have acted up, in some instances, to those principles from which we ought never to deviate.

In a day when protestations are used, till oaths become a mark of infincerity; and at a time when no one will be heard, who does not speak without hea reason or meaning, it is difficult to speak of any thing. How nations can away with such a taste, is to us aftonishing. The analogies of common experience should teach them to discountenance this turpitude. Who does not know, that the warmest protestations of a lover are no security for the constancy of a husband? The complexion of the age is against us; for we cannot confent to promife what we never intend to perform. Alas! - this frivolity, this infincerity; this lightness of head, and this giddiness of heart, have violated our purest scenes. We refuse to believe each other, because no one believes himfelf!

Prefaces are, sometimes, thought tiresome; and we have no ambition to be tedious. The properties of THE MONTHLY VISITOR are not now to be explained. Here, it will fuffice to say, that the men who have combined those properties, are refolved to continue their exertions with unyielding affiduity. They know the inequality of the times, they are not infenfible to the difficulties of the way; but they rely on a difcriminating public.

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