Spirit of the English Magazines

MONTHLY MAGAZINES have opened a way for every kind of inquiry and infor
The intelligence and discussion contained in them are very extensive and various; a
have been the means of diffusing a general habit of reading through the nation, which in
tain degree hath enlarged the public understanding. HERE, too, are preserved a multi
useful hints, observations, and facts, which otherwise might have never appeared.--- Dr A

BOSTON:

PUBLISHED BY MUNROE AND FRANCIS, No. 4, CORNHILL,

Corner of Water-Street.

SUBSCRIPTIONS RECEIVED ALSO BY THE FOLLOWING AGENTS:---HENRY WHI
CHARLES WHIPPLE, NEWBURY-PORT; CUMMINGS & HILLIARD, CAMBRIDGE;
PORTSMOUTH; JOSEPH JOHNSON, PORTLAND; A. PHELPS, GREENFIELD; G
WORCESTER; J. PRENTISS, KEENE; E. GOODALE, HALLOWELL; T. DICKMAN
E. F. BACKUS, ALBANY; JOHN JOHNSON, PROVIDENCE; COOK & HALE, HAR
N. LONDON; RUSSEL HUBBARD, NORWICH; J. BABCOCK & SON, N. HAVE
NEW YORK; A. SMALL, PHILADELPHIA; COALE & MAXWELL, BALTIMO

Published half-monthly, at $5 per annum.

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE various and lively character of the English periodical publications is in

disputably unrivalled, not only in America, but in Europe; yet as domestic
patronage in England is sufficiently liberal to govern the views of their editors,
English Magazines abound with matter, which loses all its interest, out of the Uni-
ted Kingdom. To procure, therefore, what delights and instructs us, on this side
of the Atlantic, we have been obliged to purchase much, in which we could not
have the most remote concern. This has been an objection, and the only objec-
tion that has been experienced, in the republication of entire English periodical
works in this country; and it is this, that we proposed to obviate by our present
plan. Having secured a regular supply of the most popular productions of the
Magazine class, issued in London, our first object is to select such of the content',
and such only, as are calculated to interest readers in the United States.

But the exclusion of merely local matter is not the only improvement we ha had in view. Notwithstanding the acknowledged merit of the London Magazin a perusal of any one will satisfy the most ordinary critic, that they contaip pa and dissertations of various merit. The Atheneum has the peculiar and obvi advantage of embracing the most elegant, interesting, and instructive production several rival publications, without " their imperfections on their head" such : specimens of genius, erudition and research as must please in any country, w refinement prepares the mind for sound instruction and chaste amusement.

Lof

In an experiment on our plan, we have now completed the first volume of
Excerpte, and confess ourselves fully gratified with the candour and encourage
which have attended our exertions. The novelty of the undertaking, and a n
fear of something unpleasant, particularly in controversial politics, subjected ch
first, to the necessity of letting the appearance of the publication establish itz
on public patronage. If this judicious caution rendered our enterprise ha
in the commencement, the result has given us better grounds of conf
could have proceeded from gratuitous favour. The flattering increase
scribers, we are persuaded, has not been produced by our promises, t
amination of our successive numbers.

Yet we are not so inflated by the approbation which this comp
ceived, as to presume there is not still room for improvement. The appeal for

11 11 400

523 959

257

319

140

519

matter before us gives ample scope for nice discrimination. Progressive familiarity with our duty, we trust, strengthens our capacity to perform it, while our own judgment is aided by an attentive regard to the enlightened taste of our readers. Our middle course, between papers too erudite for general interest, and paragraphs too trivial for the respectability of such a selection, must become more distinct from experience.

By issuing a number, consisting of forty pages, large octavo, in the beginning and middle of each month, we have been enabled to put our subscribers in possession of the work earlier than it could be published in monthly numbers. The satisfaction which we understand has been derived from this prompt circulation determines us to continue the same plan. Eight additional pages of London paragraphs, appended to the last number of each volume, and eight of indices and title-page, will increase the number of pages annually to about one thousand.

To those who are swelling our list of patrons, we take this opportunity to return our cordial thanks; and not less to those, who by the public expression of their approbation have extended the knowledge that such a publication exists. We can now, without hesitation, announce that it will be permanent, for the sources from which we draw are inexhaustible, the encouragement which we receive is decisive, and the present bright prospects of our country promise an increasing partiality to such literary works, as depend on the views and interests of no party, and are addressed to the good feelings and cultivated taste of the community.

Boston, September 15, 1817.