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Believing that a work like that proposed in the foregoing Prospectus, conducted ably, and on right principles, would exert an important influence, I wish the present effort great success.

MANTON EASTBURN.

Boston, March 16, 1847.

I concur with Bishop Eastburn in the foregoing opinion; and from what I understand of the gentlemen interested in the proposed work, I should confidently anticipate that it will be well conducted. Cambridge, 17th March, 1847.

EDWARD EVERETT.

Such a work as is contemplated in the foregoing Prospectus will be useful in diffusing a knowledge of the various efforts of the European mind in our age; particularly those which are now little known in our country, and are inaccessible to many persons, because they are locked in foreign languages.

CHARLES Sumner.

Boston, March 17, 1847.

The plan of the work is such as meets a want in our community of literature, that is in no way at present supplied. It differs from that of the Foreign Quarterly, which gives but a very imperfect view of what is going on upon the Continent of Europe in the Republic of Letters. If fully carried out, the Daguerreotype will succeed that in this country, and be more useful and satisfactory. I would hope that such a work may speedily commence, under the most encouraging prospects of public favor.

Theol. Sem., Andover, March 19, 1847.

MOSES STUART.

The plan strikes me favorably; and I have no doubt that a journal of the kind, ably conducted, will commend itself to the approbation of the public.

Cambridge, 20 March.

C. C. FELTON.

Other gentlemen also have commended the proposed work.

INTRODUCTION.

A new candidate for public favor is generally expected to state the grounds upon which he rests his claims for that patronage to which he aspires. In accordance with this rule we proceed to make a few introductory remarks, which will, however, be as brief as the occasion permits.

And first we would observe that we are entering upon ground which is as yet unoccupied. We aim at no competition with any already-existing work. We know that there are works, the design of which may at first sight appear to be somewhat similar, and we gladly recognize their value; but an examination of the plan which is detailed in our prospectus will prove the correctness of the remark made by the distinguished scholar to whose commendation we refer, that the "want" which we propose to meet "in our community of literature, is in no way at present supplied."

The DAGUERREOTYPE is, as the name imports, designed to reflect a faithful image of what is going on abroad in the great Republic of Letters; and, in order that this purpose may be accomplished, it will be our aim to make the several parts of which it shall consist combine together, and produce one harmonious whole. England, France, and Germany will yield to us the treasures of their periodical literature; and it will be our task to select from the heterogeneous mass whatever seems to be of greatest value, as indicating and portraying the mind and the manners, the tone of public opinion and the direction of the public taste, in those three greatest nations of Europe, thus to present the American reader with a picture in which the characteristic features will all be reflected, and of which, though the lights and shades may at times be somewhat strongly marked, the general fidelity will be unquestionable.

In accomplishing this work, we hope both to amuse and to instruct our readers. The citizens of these States are frequently charged by foreign writers with national vanity;

but there is one characteristic of vanity in which we are certainly wanting, namely, an unwillingness to learn. We are never backward in taking advantage of the experience which others have gained, or of the knowledge which others have acquired. We appreciate and apply to our own use every great discovery in science, and art, and literature, as freely and as unhesitatingly as we communicate the not unimportant additions which we have ourselves made to the great stock of human knowledge. If it is not literally correct, as has been stated by an American journalist, that the English Reviews "do our thinking for us," we yet need not blush to own that they contain profound ideas, delicate criticisms, gems of sparkling wit, and light and airy fancies, which we might look for in vain among similar productions of our own country; and we are not too proud to be amused, delighted, and instructed by the fruits of foreign intellect.

The influence of English literature upon our own moral, political, and social condition, as well as the pleasure and advantage which we derive from it, have long been admitted, and gratefully acknowledged. With that of Germany and France, on the other hand, the great body of our people are wholly unacquainted. Germany has very generally been regarded as a deep mine, whence scholars, with almost infinite labor, have extracted a few costly treasures; France as a luxurious hotbed, whence a few rank weeds have been transplanted, to corrupt our moral atmosphere with their poisonous exhalations; they have yet to be known as highly-cultivated fields, teeming with wealth, and capable of affording an abundant supply of rich and wholesome nourishment.

One of the most fertile departments is the periodical literature, in both these countries. The excellence and variety of that of Germany seems not to be suspected even by those who have some knowledge of German books. It is nevertheless a fact that Lessing and Nicolai, that Wieland and Schiller and Goethe, that Herder and the two Schlegels, were all editors of periodical publications; and that many of the imperishable productions of those master-spirits of their age, were first given to the world through the humble pages of reviews and magazines. And although these great lights have long since been quenched, the influence which they imparted to this branch of literature has been maintained with undiminished vigor; and each author of celebrity, each writer whose thoughts and words have power to stir the surface of society, and to give a direction to the current of the popular will, from Neander and Hengstenberg in theology to Gutzkow and Heine in the regions of romance and wit, each one is actively employed in the service of this important branch of literature. Nor is it otherwise in France, where a single review could at

one time number among its contributors such writers as Cousin, De Vigny, De Balzac, Thierry, Remusat, Marc Girardin, George Sand, Nodier, and Dumas.

The periodical literature of the present age is in fact one of its distinctive features; a feature belonging to the same class as railroads, and steamboats, and electric telegraphs. It is a mighty engine for the rapid diffusion of ideas among the masses of mankind, and so for the education of the people. Some persons have regarded it as an evil, and have inveighed against the levity of the age, which is content to glean a superficial knowledge of important subjects from such sources, instead of studying them in ponderous and learned works. But such persons take a narrow or false view; the number of learned works is not smaller than it has been at any previous time, and the number of those who gain a deep and thorough knowledge of their contents is not less; but the number of well-educated persons is vastly increased, and the subjects of which a well-educated person is expected to have some knowledge are multiplied in variety and extent.

We will take a recent example to illustrate this position. Very valuable and interesting researches have lately been instituted in the interior of Asia by German and English scholars, who have discovered and succeeded in deciphering some ancient cuneiform inscriptions, which throw very remarkable light upon some obscure passages in history. Learned works have been published on the subject, and have been studied by a few hundred individuals, and so far the matter proceeded just as it would have done eighty or a hundred years ago. But what takes place next? why, an English, a German, and a French Review each publish a paper on the subject; a paper giving a brief but sufficient account of the discoveries in question, of the method adopted in deciphering them, and of the results obtained; these Reviews are read by many thousands in each country, and thus within a few weeks there is added to the floating capital of knowledge in the civilized world an increase, which, without this medium of circulation, would have been knowledge stored up in the memories, or perhaps only in the libraries, of a few individuals.

But, furthermore, periodical literature is attended by another very great advantage, which has been overlooked by those who despise its fragmentary nature. It enables all who are unable to write books, but who have nevertheless conceived profound or brilliant

* This, as many of our readers know, is but the assumed signature of a lady, Madame Dudevant.

ideas, to make them known for the benefit of mankind. And of such there are two very large classes. There is one class who cannot write books, because they cannot afford to publish them; —very few works upon history, philosophy, and art, have at any time been remunerating to their authors, while for a good article upon these subjects the editors of reviews willingly pay a liberal price. There is a yet larger class, who can write a striking and thoughtful essay, an essay worthy of being read, and well calculated to instruct and interest its readers, but whose books on the same subject would be filled with common-places, and unreadable through very dullness.

Such are some of the causes which have raised the periodical literature of Europe to the high position which it holds in public estimation, and have contributed to its excellence and its usefulness. We have only to add a few words respecting the manner in which our own task will be performed.

We have already stated the principle by which we shall be guided in making our selections, and our name implies that we must portray every important feature. No partial or sectarian views must govern our choice, and even opinions from which we dissent must (when not of irreligious or immoral tendency) often find a place in our pages. A painting may omit a blemish, or adapt a feature to the artist's fancy, but a reflected image must be faithful to its prototype.

Our selections will be made from the whole range which lies before us; we cannot, then, hope that each number will be entirely suited to the taste of every reader; but we do hope on the whole to amuse or instruct each one. At a public feast, where thousands are to be supplied, each individual guest must not expect to find every dish suited to his own palate, but must be contented if there is a sufficiency that is pleasing to his taste and calculated to afford him nourishment and strength. It will be our constant aim to provide something to suit every variety of taste, except such as is palpably depraved; and we confidently hope that no guest will leave the entertainment which we shall furnish, without feeling himself refreshed and invigorated.

With this expression of our wishes and intentions, and in the hope of receiving the generous support of an enlightened public, we proceed to the task which we have undertaken.

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