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character,) to issue, without briefly stating to the readers of Felix Fur ley the circumstance under which the undertaking has originated. It cannot have escaped the observation of any reflecting mind, that the mysteriousness, or mystification, as a Buonapartist would call it, of the Metropolitan Press has during the last few years been equalled only by its licentiousness: that its gross perversion of truth has become almost as proverbial as its venality; and that it is a task of no easy attainment in the Country to know how to read and appreciate the contents of a London Newspaper. In the firm persuasion that an antidote to these noxious ingredients, of which much the greater part of the Press is composed, would have been found, and an effectual renedy applied, by the far-famed CONSTITUTIONAL ASSOCIATION' in the performance of one of the Resolutions entered into at its formation, viz. That they will encourage persons of integrity and talent in the literary world to exert their abilities in confuting the sophisms, dissipating the illusions, and exposing the falsehoods, which are employed by wicked and designing men to mislead the people,' we can

confidently state, that several Gentlemen in this part of the kingdom were induced to become subscribers to it; and that they have for months past been in anxious expectation of seeing this pledge redeemed. We know likewise, that had such encouragement been given, there were men of talent ready to step forward in the cause, and whose productions might perhaps at this period have gone far to have stemmed the torrent of sedition, blasphemy, and lies with which the Nation has latterly been deluged. That cause still exists for such exertions is evident from an Address published no longer ago than last week by this Association, in which it is stated, that it would be impossible to form any idea of the actual state of the Press without a minute inves tigation of the mass of sedition and impiety, which is still dispersed, almost with impunity, throughout the Empire-Without in this place stopping to inquire into the merits of the Association, or the good it has performed, which we allow to have been very great, but by no means commensurate with the powers placed in its hands, it is sufficient to state, that a few literary friends of the Editor have for some time past conceived, that a Publication of the nature now projected might meet with encouragement, and in some degree effect part of that object, which, if the Constitutional Association has not totally abandoned, it has hitherto neglected to perform. In reliance upon this literary assistance, and upon that of the Author of a recent politieal pamphlet, which excited no ordinary degree of interest (we allude to the Letter from the King to his People,') we have been induced to project the present periodical. The principles which it is intended to inculcate and support, and a more ample detail of its contents, will be given in the Preface to the First Number. It will at present suf fice to observe,-1st, that the manner in which we have for years past conducted this Journal, will, we trust, be a sufficient pledge, without entering into boasting professions, that we shall do all in our power to uphold the Constitution in Church and State-and 2ndly, that the Publication will contain Eighty pages of original and varied matter— part of it to be appropriated to the discussion of passing events-part to a review of the age of GEORGE THE GOOD-a due portion will also be enlivened by pieces of humour and satire upon the leading doctrines and characters of the most notorious of our modern Whiglets and Radical Reformers; and to relieve the monotony of political subjects, which certainly are meant to form a leading character of the Publication, several pages will be devoted to general Literature.-For the reasons stated in the Advertisement, Gentlemen intending to purchase the Publication will please to order it from their respective Booksellers, in the same manner as they do any other monthly pamphlet."

We have, even with the short notice given of this Publication, to thank various Country Correspondents for the following Contributions :

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Letter to Cato, on the Management of "the Constitutional Association." The Pursuits of Radicalism. Humbug. Description of " Lunatickibus," a newly discovered Island in the North Seas. Reply to young Mr. Lambton's Speech, 'at a common Brawl, held at the London Tavern, on Thursday the 25th of October; promised to a certainty, and to a certainty it shall appear. William Cobweb. The Radical Library. Non mi Ricordo; or, MAJOCCHI turned Lawyer, and BROUGHAM Witness.State of Agriculture, and Hints as to the Poor Laws. Lady Puff's Italy. Thèse, or the greater portion of them, will all appear in No. 2.

NOTICES.

The Author of the Letter from the King to his People, will sign all his articles with W., and will be personally and politically answerable for

them..

The Appendix will never extend beyond sixteen pages, any short of that quantity will be filled up with original writing; and any document not completed (as in the present case,) will follow on in the next Number.

The Editors of this Periodical wish to conduct it, as much as possible, upon the fair principle of personal responsibility; they will never degrade themselves by becoming anonymous assassins: or ever, but on unavoidable occasions point at, or particularize individuals,—and in no instance but as connected with the policy of the nation.

Country Gentlemen may readily communicate to Mr. Gutch, at Bristol ; or, under cover, to Messrs. Rivingtons', London; through the medium of their bookseller in the country, by which means they will preserve a capability of reference, for the purpose of correspondence, and responsibility.

Advertisements should also be left with Messrs. Rivingtons', on or before the 25th of each month. Country Newspapers so addressed (when they contain any subject deserving remark,) may also be sent in the same way, and will be most acceptable, marked with a where the attention is to be directed.

The Appendix is in the room of an Obituary, &c. &c. &c.

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THE DESIGN.

THE term CONSTITUTIONAL has a variety of signification:-In its first meaning, it is to be taken as individually characteristic of the many fundamental laws and institutions, which, by an united co-operation, form The Constitution. In another sense it may be understood, as expressive of the fitness and propriety of any new legislative problem, in reference to the spirit of the Constitution itself. In a third case, it may be applied to any institution or undertaking in support of the Constitution, and it may also be coupled with the results or advantages of it. These distinctive applicabilities require the several and various powers of discrimination, contrast, and elucidation.

It is upon such distinctive divisions that this Publication will be arranged; but to lay down a precise plan from which we are pledged not to deviate, or to promise and not to perform, or to hold out expectations to be changed upon convenience, is not our intention. Much must depend upon passing occurrences-much upon the freaks of our antagonists; but as far as we can now decide, THE COUNTRY CONSTITUTIONAL GUARDIAN Will aim at five leading points.

FIRST.-There being much rubbish to be cleared away, and much to be undone, which ought never to have been done, it is intended to

draw up, in a series of Essays, THE STATE OF THE NATION, at the commencement of the reign of our most gracious Sovereign King George the Fourth. This state of the nation, will embrace every minute particular, whether constitutional, legal, political, financial, agricultural, or commercial; with the progress of literature, and of the fine arts, and will form in itself a retrospective record of " the age of George the Third."

SECONDLY.Whilst we are thus bringing up events to the times, we shall closely attend to, and mark passing occurrences; and discuss questions of immediate interest.We consider finance, and agriculture, as demanding the earliest attention; and those vital questions will have a priority of notice.

THIRDLY.-We shall have an eye to the London press, and instruct our too credulous country residents "How to read the papers,"-an art of no slight difficulty of attainment. The sport of the thing will be in this division; and if we can, by and by, contrive to induce the country gentlemen to form a fund to give medals for prize essays, in this satirical department, we may, perchance, be honoured by translation into the big London newspapers, or the minor plagiary prints, or mayhap into a magazine or two. This would be excellent. This third branch of our undertaking will be, and shall be, full of varieties. B

FOURTHLY.-As critics, we shall exhibit a catalogue of the radical productions, and set a value upon them, always taking care to say what they happen to be about, so that those who buy THE COUNTRY CONSTITUTIONALGUARDIAN, will know exactly how goes the enemy, without troubling themselves to look after him. We may occasionally be as laconic as this-" Read a number of the Political Register, or Hone, or Carlile, or Wooler, (as the case may be,) which will light a fire, as well as any other waste paper-or serve to roll up butter and cheese;" and when we have happily shewn ourselves deserving of confidence, this, from us, will be quite enough: or we may say, "Yesterday, at a privy council among ourselves, we decided upon the leading article of the Old Times, and have sent up a marked paragraph to the AttorneyGeneral, and recommended its prosecution; at the same time informing Walter's two sisters that we have done so, and advising them to plead their coverture;" or, we may send for the City crier, and direct him to burn such and such a paper, in a public manner on the top of Brandon Hill, taking care to do it at night, with the help of a good tarbarrel, that the City may enquire about it, on the following morning. We may even venture to make a blaze of Lord Byron's Don Juan, and Lady Morgan's Italy.

FIFTHLY.-We shall from time to time during the sittings of Parliament, abstract important bills as they pass; and give the whole or the substance of such petitions and reports as are connected with general affairs. This last division will be paged in roman numerals, distinct from the body of the work, so that in binding the publication into future volumes, it will form an Appendix, containing documents for reference. But to relieve the monotony of continued political discus. sions; with these five divisions will be interspersed, subjects of general literature; always however bearing

in mind, that the main intention of this undertaking is, " to support the Constitution in Church and State."

To these our various pledges, and to this general outline, (to be improved by every possible exertion,) we intend to adhere, with firmness and fairness towards every one. We shall seek to avoid personal animosities; for political ones we must take our chance. But should we ever become defendants in law, as connected with this Publication, we hope our antagonists will not skulk under the cover of an indictment, for we will never condescend to write what we cannot fully justify.

This Publication is decidedly THE COUNTRY versus LONDON, not versus London more in opposition to its licentious press than it will be in rivalship of its better portion, comparatively small enough. Emulation is the tutor of improvement ;-it is an excellent guide, and an active stimulative. We look confidently to the support of country residents and country talents, and with such patronage and aid, we will not suffer the metropolis to mob or argue us out of our senses.

We now throw ourselves upon the candour of our excellent fellow countrymen, and remain their faithful and anxious servants.

THE REASONS WHY. Fellow Countrymen and Friends, ON political matters various obstacles present themselves to oppose the appearance before the public, of men of education, and none of the least of those obstacles arise from a knowledge, that let them do what they may, and let them exert their abilities to the utmost, yet that it is almost a thankless task; and that when performed, there are still many cotemporaries who could have done the same thing better, and in competition with whose talents, their own pretensions would sink into mediocrity. In these

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