WH PREFACE. THEN the Monthly Magazine was first planned, two leading ideas occupied the minds of those who undertook to conduct it. The first was, that of laying before the Public, through its means, various objects of information and difcuffion, both amufing and inftructive, which have not usually made a part of the contents of fimilar Publications; or, at least, which have not appeared in them with thofe advantages which they might derive from fuperior knowledge, and literary talents. The fecond (which we are equally ready to avow) was that of lending aid to the propagation of those liberal principles refpecting some of the most important concerns of mankind, which have been either deferted or virulently oppofed by other Periodical Mifcellanies; and upon the manly and rational fupport of which the Fame and Fate of the age must ultimately depend. How far thefe two points have been attained, a perufal of the Numbers which compose the prefent Volume, will fufficiently enable the Public to determine. The Conductors of the Work, however, beg leave to take this opportunity of expreffing fome of their own ideas concerning the degree in which they have hitherto been fuccefsful in executing the particular parts of their defign. Gratefully confcious of the number and value of their literary correfpondencies, they know that they may confidently affume the merit of having ufhered to the world a greater variety of curious and important original matter, under the heads of Historical, Moral, and Critical Difquifition, than any other collection, during the fame period, can boaft. And fince they cannot but regard it as the first purpose of a Magazine, to ferve as an afylum for thofe lighter exertions of learned and ingenious writers which would otherwife be condemned to filence and obfcurity, they felicitate themselves, in no fmall degree, on the influence they have had in drawing forth fuch valuable ftores of this kind-stores which they are under no apprehenfion of exhaufting. It is not their prefent purpose to make particular acknowledg ments of favours received, or to claís them according to the estimate made of their value; yet they must be permitted to obferve, that fome of their most able, have alfo been their most copious, contributors; and that, not content with fugitive efforts, they have, by a continued feries of exertions, difplayed an active zeal to ferve the undertaking. It was a favourite object with the Conductors to obtain fuch notices concerning the prefent ftate of commerce, manufactures, arts, and population throughout the kingdom, as might tend to advance ftatistical knowledge to a degree much beyond what is hitherto poffeffed. Though they have been enabled to convey fome ufeful information of this kind, yet they are ready to confefs, that it is the point in which their fuccefs is the leaft adequate to their expectations; and they hope, this open avowal of their difappointment will stimulate their friends to new and more effectual exertions in a matter, of the peculiar importance of which all must be fenfible. In the interefting articles of Biographical Anecdotes and Remains of Eminent Perfons, they truft, they fhall not be found defective; yet their future profpects of fupply of this kind, are still more flattering than the past have been. |