PREFACE. WE E should charge ourselves with ingratitude to the Public, did we fuffer another Volume to close, without expreffing our warmest acknowledgments for a degree of fupport furpaffing our most sanguine expectations, and, we believe, unprecedented in the history of periodical publications To have attained, within the course of three years, A SALE confiderably fuperior to that of any other work of the fame defignation, and equal to that of any literary journal in this country, is such a testimony of the approbation of our Readers, as we cannot contemplate without a degree of exultation. We will venture also to observe, that-confidering the principles upon which our work has been conducted, those which were formerly thought characteristic of a country, which boasts of its civil and religious freedom-the success it has met with is a pleasing proof, that the cause of liberty is not in so deserted a state as some of its desponding friends have imagined; and that, whatever may be the change in the sentiments of the higher classes, and the ignorant apathy of the lowest, the middle ranks, in whom the great mass of information, and of public and private virtue resides, are, by no means, disposed to refign the advantages of liberal discussion, and extensive enquiry. We do not, by this observation, intend to represent our work as properly a political one; but, we know, it could not be relished by those who think, that the best way of preventing the dangers of innovation, is to check all spirit of improvement, to stifle all research, and to preclude all information concerning foreign institutions which might possibly suggest unfavourable comparisons with our own. It is, on the contrary, our peculiar pride to have contributed to a more extensive acquaintance with the proceedings, civil and literary, of other countries, than has been usually obtainable from English publications. To continue to merit a distinction of this kind, shall ever be a leading object with us. We shall spare no pains to effect it; and we are happy to announce, that, by means of fome new literary connexions in AMERICA, we shall possess peculiar advantages in presenting to our Readers, accounts of the most interesting circumstances belonging to the United States. Though PREFACE. Though we confider the general plan of our work as now fully settled, yet we shall never be backward in making such alterations or additions as may fee n to be real improvements. A monthly article of COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE has appeared to us to be of this kind: we have lately adopted it, and hope to be favoured with the assistance of our correspondents in supporting it. We confider as another important improvement, the enlargement of our Retrospect of British Literature, and its extension on the same plan, to German, Spanish, and French Literature; in a future Supplement it will be also extended to the North of Europe, Italy, and America. We cannot too often repeat, that the communications we most value, are those which convey new and authentic information respecting matters of fact, important to the progress of useful knowledge, and tending to ameliorate the condition of mankind. Were all that is partially known, freely thrown into the general stock by reciprocal disclosure, we are convinced that more immediate good would result, than by purfuing the most promifing vein of discovery. We prefume to say, that the extensive circulation of our Miscellany renders it a peculiarly fit vehicle for this purpose; and we shall take care, by an early infertion of such matter, to forward the views of our correspondents. With respect to the literary articles necessary to make a pleasing variety in a work of this kind, as we hope we have not hitherto been deficient in attempts to gratify our Readers, so we shall continue, with the aid of our kind contributors, to make the best provision in our power. We acknowledge, with gratitude, the copious fupply of papers of this kind with which we have constantly been favoured. It has made a felection necessary, which we have always impartially conducted according to our best judgment; our only aim in this, as in other parts of our duty, being to deserve the approbation of liberal and enlightened Readers. LONDON, July 11, 1798. 2 |
