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THE

MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

NEW SERIES.-EDITED BY JOHN A. HERAUD, ESQ.

VOL. I.]

JANUARY, 1839.

OUR NEW YEAR'S GREETING.

[No. 1.

DEAR READERS OF 66 THE OLD FAMILIAR" MONTHLYMAY the New Year be happy, as, doubtless, the Christmas has been merry! We say doubtless, as by way of surmise, because we knew you not then; and, indeed, our relation with you even now begins. More than once, however, we have discovered, that we have been well known where we have been all-unknowing;-no stranger to them who have been strangers to us. Most authors, however limited their fame, must have experienced this professional peculiarity; and it is, therefore, not without some degree of confidence in the belief that we may be received as an old friend or acquaintance, that we venture into your society-addressing you not too familiarly, yet without diffidence.

The proprietors of this Magazine have already appealed to you in terms so laudatory to our pretensions, and so full of expectation from our efforts, that whatever our sang froid, we cannot help feeling the burthen of the responsibility with which we are invested by their good opinion and better promises. It becomes us to assume our new office with modesty, nevertheless with courage, and that resolve which, we are told by a poet admired in our youth, but somewhat too much neglected now-a-days, is the "column of true majesty in man." Noble determinations precede noble actions, as the gorgeous sunset foretells a glorious morrow.

Every deed performed by man has reference to a proposition already conceived and executed in the mind. There has already risen and set a prior state, itself connected with an ever-during intelligence, which is not us, but in us-as the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. Nay, we ourselves, as the purposers of excellent designs, are but, as it were, propositionsaxioms divinely uttered-echoes of the one word-diverse forms of one eternal affirmation. What wonder, then, that our own propositions should be but results-derivations from previous performances --and be related, as well to what goes before as to what comes after? Even so, if, in giving an Example of what a Magazine should be, we seek to erect a standard for this species of literature in futuró, we are not without obligations to the specimens in this kind that have preceded.

N. S.-VOL. I.

B

The original Proposition, or Idea, of a Magazine, was very humble and limited in its scheme and scope. It was an infant desire, not yet cradled; for it was born without means; and, in fact, was a premature anticipation of manly vigour scarcely to be expected from such an unripe birth. The publications of this class that we now have differ more from the Negotiator's Magazine, and other productions under similar titles, than the man does from the child. Works so denominated, in the beginning, were not even periodical, nor became so, until the eighteenth century, when Cave, the celebrated printer, started the Gentleman's Magazine; which, however, was indebted to Dr. Johnson for its ultimate prosperity. At best but a compilation, with serious "defects in its poetical article," and no less sad deficiences in all its other departments-mainly supported by "low jests, awkward buffoonery, or the dull scurrility of either party;"-Dr. Johnson introduced into it learning and argumentation, devoting thereto the best years of his life as a mere literary labourer (says Boswell) "for gain, not glory," and solely to obtain an honest livelihood. To him are due, in a great measure, the parliamentary debates, jeux d'esprit, and prefaces, for which, during many lustres, the work was celebrated.

It was, however, principally to the parliamentary reports, the eloquence of debate in which proceeded altogether from Dr. Johnson's own mind, that the success of the Gentleman's Magazine was owing; Cave, meanwhile (poor mechanical dreamer!) flattering himself that it was due to those parts of the work which he conducted, and which were, it seems, merely the abridgment of weekly papers written against the ministry of the day, such as the Craftsman, Fogg's Journal, Common Sense, the Weekly Miscellany, the Westminster Journal, and others; besides the marshalling of the pastorals, the elegies and the songs, the epigrams and the rebuses, that were sent him by various correspondents. So blind is the mere tradesman to the merit of the literary ware by which he lives! He prospers, not because of his skill, but in spite of his mistakes.

Among all the Magazines, however, that have, at different periods, had their day, or, at the present time, continue to flourish, not one appears to have been projected with a higher purpose than that of ephemeral existence. Intended for popular perusal only, their proprietors and editors seem never to have conceived the intention of fitting them for a permanent place in the library of a scholar or a gentleman. Such periodicals as now exist, indeed, are addressed mainly, if not absolutely, to narrow prejudices, prevalent errors, and party feelings. Vain is it to expect from them either faithful criticism, or truly liberal speculation, in the fruitful and ever expanding fields of Philosophy, Politics, or Religion.

We write from a pretty extensive knowledge of the subject, and know of no worse evil under the sun than what the editors of these publications suffer, by reason of the contracted views of proprietors and publishers. What we have above stated of Cave, on the authority of Dr. Johnson himself, is true of his successors to the present day. The ideal of a publisher is a man who is the negation of all principle, and, therefore, indifferent to the opinions pro

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