THE [Embellished with, 1. An Emblematical FRONTISPIECE. 2. Portrait of Mrs. INCHBALD. 3. VIEW of GWALIOR, in the EAST-INDIES. And 4. An engraved TITLE-PAGE and Account of the Life and Writings of Mrs. An Account of Gwalior, in the Eaft-Indies 6 Extracts of Original Letters from Dr. Ara Hints for regulating Mr. H. Hope's Stu- dies. By the late Earl of Kinnoul Characters of the Boxers in Broughton's Effay on Snuff-taking. By Earl Stanhope ib. Poetry: including Ode for the New Year. Written by the Rev. T. Warton, Poet- Laureat Invocation to Horror-Ode to Mrs. Siddons-To Indifference- Ode to Death-Thoughts on Walking in Eton College-To Maria, or her Wedding-day-To a Lady, with a Pre- fent of Pope's Works. By the Hon. Theatrical Journal: including Epilogue to the Agreeable Surprife, written by Hoare's Tragedy, entitled Such Things Were; with the Prologue and Epis logue to it-Alteration of Beaumont and Fletcher's King and no King, &c. Account of the late F. Pilon, Efq. Monthly Chronicle, Préferments, Mar riages, Monthly Obituary, Barometer, TH PREFACE. HE utility of periodical publications, their general power of enter tainment, the knowledge which has been diffused through every part of the known world by means of them, and the improvement in arts, sciences, literature, and civilization, which may be ascribed to them, are fo universally known and felt, that it would be a waste of time to attempt to prove what no one will deny, and which requires only the fighteft obfervation to perceive. In spite of the fplenetic fneers of faftidious pride, in fpite of the interested cavils of dulnefs and ignorance, what is known to be beneficial will continue to be approved; what is found to convey knowledge and amufement will ftill be fought after and applauded, It would be no vain boasting to affert, that in the various walks of fcience and literature more knowledge has been conveyed to the public by this fpecies of publication, than through any other channel whatever. Much of the improvements of the prefent times may, without arrogance, be claimed by the influence of Literary Journals, and the facility with which they are disfeminated. At one period or other of life, who can fay they have not received improvement, amufement, or rational pleasure, by means of these monthly publications? When the names of the most eminent of the prefent day pass in review before us, which of them can be pointed out whofe owner has not contributed his affiftance at fome period to a periodical publication? Here the modeft and unaffuming first try their powers: here the diffident may acquire confidence; the inquifitive information; the doubtful fatisfaction; and the benevolent the opportunity of communicating happiness. Of the Eminent who have already passed away (and many of them highly deserving), the memorials of not a few will be preferved in no other repository. Amidst the multiplicity of publications of this fpecies, it cannot be denied but that fome are perverted to improper purposes, and fome executed with fo little judgment, that no advantage to the public is derived from them. Thefe, however, are too fhort-lived to deferve particular notice. The contempt which they experience fortunately configns them to oblivion. After fix years experience, the EDITORS of THE EUROPEAN MAGAZINE would be wanting to themfelves were they to doubt whether the manner in which they have conducted their work had been acceptable to the public. A continued increase in their fale, and their frequent orders from abroad, fufficiently convince them that their labours have not been fruitless or in vain. Perfeverance in the same line of conduct, they will confider as the best return they can make for the uncommon favour they have experienced. The fame attention will be employed for the time to come, and they doubt not with equal fuccefs. The PLATES which have ornamented this Work are fuch, as the PROPRIETORS have repeatedly received the warmest approbation of from various quarters. The fame artifts continue to be employed, and many portraits and subjects are at this moment executing to adorn the ensuing volumes. To folicit a comparison with other works of this nature is unne ceffary. It may be confidently afferted, that in this particular no Monthly Publication can ftand in any kind of competition with the prefent. For the Biographical department they have been favoured with fuch authentic materials as cannot fail to enfure the approbation of the world, Correctness is the principal merit to be looked for in articles of this kind; and in this particular their materials will hereafter confiderably affift the Hiftorian and Biographer. The ufe which is frequently made of them by very refpectable publications is fufficient praise. In recording the lives of many eminent perfons, the most confiderable aid will be derived from the present work. After fo long an acquaintance with the public, the EDITORS prefume they may take the liberty of abridging the ceremonial employed on fuch occafions as the prefent. They therefore will conclude by obferving, that as they do not apprehend being neglected fo long as their attention is alive to the performance of their engagements, fo they will defire no encourage ment when they fhall in any degree relax their affiduity in furnishing fuck an entertainment as will be useful and amusing to all ranks and claffes of readers. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS, The impofition attempted to be practifed upon us by E. C. is received with the contempt je deferves. The Verfes pretended to be written in the Chancel of Bottisford Church are ftolen from the Poetical Calendar, Vol. II. p. 49. R.'s favour in our next. We shall be glad to hear from Capt. Fidget when his Mufe is not directed to politics. We are forry that we omitted to mention fooner that the Tale on Gropping cannot be inferted. Other Correspondents shall be noticed in our next. |
