With respect to the History of Literature, foreign and domeftic, their own ideas have, in fome measure, fluctuated; but the plan they have finally adopted of HALF-YEARLY RETROSPECTS on this fubject, will, they imagine, give general fatisfaction. They believe they may take fome credit for the Monthly Notices of Works in hand, at home and abroad, which the communications of learned friends have enabled them to give. The term Magazine-poetry, has ufually been confidered as fynonymous with the moft trivial and imperfect attempts at writing verfe. It has been their earnest wish, to establish a very different character of the pages devoted to this pleafing object in the Monthly Magazine, and if they can lay any claim to judgment in poetical merit, they may venture to refer to many of their correfpondents' favours as proofs, that true genius and correct taste have not difdained to prefent their productions to the public through the medium of a periodical Mifcellany. It has been very much their defire, in point of Domeftic Intelligence of every kind, to distinguish themfelves above their competitors; and they are happy to find, that the plan, adopted for the arrangement of this article, has met with general approbation. They lament the inaccuracies into which they have occafionally been led by too implicit a reliance on the public prints of the country and metropolis; but, they believe, the connections they have eftablifhed will hereafter fecure them from fimilar errors, and, at the fame time, render their information more complete. They fhall always annex much value to that fpecies of temporary biography, which accompa nies the notification of the deaths of individuals in a Monthly Obituary; and they beg leave to refer to fome very interefting articles of this kind, with which they have been favoured, as models for fuch future communications as their friends may please to oblige them with. They think it unneceffary to particularize thofe inferior departments of their Mifcellany, in which they have attempted to open new fources of entertainment and inftruction for their readers; fince a flight infpection will readily point them out: but they beg leave to hint at the value of one of thefe-the Monthly State of Difeafes in London-fince they are certain, from the accuracy and judgment with which it is drawn up, that it must be thoughtpeculiarly worthy of notice by their medical friends. With refpect to copper-plates, as the Conductors made no fpecific promise to the public, no explanation can be requifite as to performance. Yet they will take this occafion to fay, that it is not from penurioufnefs that the latter Numbers are unfurnished with fuch additions, but because no fubject offered of that kind, which alone appeared fuitable to the purposes of their Mifcellany. When fuch fhall again occur, their exertions to add to the gratification of their friends in this point, will not be wanting. To conclude:-The public encouragement which they have fo liberally received, to a degree, indeed, furpaffing their moft fanguine expectations, cannot but animate them to redouble all their efforts; and while, to the benefit of experience, they shall go on adding every advantage arifing from established character and increafing connections, they may fafely pledge themfelves to continue to deferve that preference, which comparative merit alone can render permanent. |