Excerpt from The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, Vol. 94: From December to June, 1824; Part the First

The half-yearly Preface is by no means that part of the Volume; which we present with most confidence. Relying as we do. On our Literary Friends to fill the majority of our pages, we feel that our own communications ought to be something more than formal. But, though. Many may not perceive the difi'erence between the characters of Au thor and Editor, they will acknowledge that which exists between the nurse and child, and, by analogy, that the one is strictly, accountable for the faults of the other. Lhose who take any. Pleasure in Literary History, must be se quainted with the rise and progress of Periodicals: at their first ap pearance, scarcely a century ago, few could have discerned that such would have become the most eligible method of diffusing instruction equally among all classes. Difference of style may confine a work to certain degrees of society, but it is the peculiar advantage of Maga zines, that they embrace all. History is not adapted to the boudoir, or novels to the study, but the Magazine conforms 'to every taste, leaving to the reader the trouble of selection alone. Much, then, as we rejoice in the progress of Periodical Literature, and kindly as we view the thousand imitators of ourselves, we cannot but feel an ho nest pride at the eminence we have preserved. The Literary Bills of Mortality assign various causes for the decease of our followers: the death of an Editor, or the change of taste, IS the usual apology of nu successful aspirants; but whilst we can retain our valuable Cor respondents, we may smile at the mutability of fashion. We have seen out more Magazines than we can reckon; Journals have had their day, and Aliscellanies have been mingled with the dead. To assume an exemption from the common fate would be arrogant; but when we look on the long series of our Volumes, and reflect how frequently they are referred to as authority by the Topographer, the Historian, and the Biographer, we feel a conscious pride in the certainty of their co-existence with Literature itself.

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