THE IRISH SHIELD AND MONTHLY MILESIAN; A HISTORIC, LITERARY, AND DRAMATIC JOURNAL. EDITED BY GEORGE PEPPER. "Whate'er may be our humble lot, By foes denounced-by friends forgot- GEM OF THE OCEAN!-LOVELY EMERALD ISLE!" VOL. I. LABOR OMNIA VINCIT. New-York: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY CALEB BARTLETT,- AT NO. 76 BOWERY. 1829. HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY FROM THE BEQUEST OF EVERT JANSEN WENDELL 1918 TO LADY MORGAN, TO HER WHOM BYRON PRONOUNCED "THE MOST TALENTED WOMAN IN EUROPE," AND MONTHLY MILESIAN, A HISTORIC, LITERARY AND DRAMATIC JOURNAL. In presenting the first number of the IRISH SHIELD under a new form, and arrayed in a new dress, it is necessary for us to introduce it to our readers with a few prefatory observations. In publishing the seven preceding weekly numbers of this Journal, we had to struggle with opposing difficulties, and the hostility of a little, but malignant faction, that for interested motives, enlisted themselves under the standard of a despicable pair of English hypocrites, and ignobly sacrificed Irish feeling and Irish sympathy, at the shrine of VENALITY. But their impotent enmity has been a source of benefit to us; it has multiplied the ranks of our friends, and created a basis of growing stability and importance, on which we shall build the superstructure of this publication's prosperity. The PATRONAGE of our countrymen is our treasury. It will enable us to furnish a monthly Journal of high literary desert, and to surmount all the difficulties which competition may throw in our way. The compliments that have been paid to us from our cotemporaries, throughout the union, and the Canadas, make us look back with pleasure ; and forward with a confidence that predicts success. The promises of our friends, and the support of our patrons, furnish us with fresh matter for congratulation-fresh hopes-and fresh incitements. We have now only to continue with care, what we have hitherto conducted with spirit, and our little bark will sail smoothly, "both with the wind and stream" of popular favour, while the hallowed cause of our dear native land, shall be our guiding star on the ocean of publicity. Our Irish readers will always find us in the advocacy of our country, supplying the deficiency of talent by the ardour of our zeal, and the sincerity of our devotion. "Sparta," it is true, "has many better sons," in America, but not one more ardently attached to her in filial affection. We shall give our readers a Journal in which the historian, scholar, dramatist, and artist, may be able to gather fugitive flowers of information, to weave in their garland of fame. By every exertion the editor will be assiduous in the endeavour to produce a monthly publication, every way calculated to meet the eye of men of learning, taste and science, and one which may, by a happy admixture of subject, be found to contain something to gratify the taste of all; and thus, at the same time, render it acceptable in the circles of gayety and refinement. The memoirs of the illustrious patriots of Erin, who poured out their blood as an oblation on the altars of liberty, and blessed their oppressed country with their last sigh, on the scaffold of their martyrdom, shall be emblazoned on the IRISH SHIELD. The history of the feudal castle of the chieftain-of the monuments of the Druids, and the venerable abbeys, where in the days of our glory and renown, the Princes of Europe received the lights of religion and the blessings of instruction, shall be traced and illustrated in our Topographical survey of Ireland. We only ask a fair TRIAL from our countrymen, as to the proportion the IRISH SHIELD will maintain in its career between its actual merits and its engagements. We shall give our readers, occasionally, a compendious detail of the proceedings of the Catholic Association in Dublin, as well as the speeches in Parliament regarding Irish affairsin fine, we shall avail ourselves of every internal and extraneous means, that industry and VOL. I.-1. |