PERIODICAL LITERATURE on the one hand affords employment to the public mind, and favors its tendencies to the pursuit of science and intellectual improvement; and, on the other, it gives a more general and freer spirit to literature itself than it would otherwise have, by bringing together the productions of every class of mind, displaying the main points of consideration in almost every question that can be started, opening the door to every inquirer whose talents entitle him to respect, and, in addition to this, offering something, which even in its lightness is elegant, for those who, were it not for the resources it affords, would live in a state of perfect intellectual sloth.-Rev. Henry Stebbing. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY JOHN COTTON, (Corner of Washington Street and Franklin Street.) SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE RECEIVED ALSO BY THE FOLLOWING AGENTS-CHARLES S. FRANCIS, PREFACE. In the few prefatory remarks which custom as well as courtesy requires to the Fourth Volume of the Third Series of the ATHENEUM, it will be unnecessary to say more respecting the management of the work for the last six months, than that we have been assiduous in our endeavors to render it entertaining and instructive; and if our success has been in any degree proportionate to these exertions, the present volume will not be found wanting in variety or interest. We have the pleasure of informing our readers that an important alteration in the size of the Atheneum will be made on commencing the next volume. The smallness of each number has been objected to by many, as not allowing sufficient space for the full discussion of a subject, or for entire stories unless they are short, without excluding that variety expected in a miscellaneous publication. Long articles cannot with propriety be always omitted in a work of this kind, as they are frequently the most deeply interesting ones which can be selected, and often will not admit of abridgment, nor of a division without destroying in a great degree the pleasure of their perusal. To remedy this defect, and to keep pace with the various improvements of the day, we shall add eight pages to our semi-monthly numbers; and when our English Journals are received and are found to contain interesting matter which it is desirable to present to the reader in the next ensuing number, but which our enlarged limits will not permit, we shall issue a monthly number, or two numbers in one, which will consist of 96 pages. An addition will thus be made to the work of 16 pages a month-96 pages a volume— and 192 pages a year, their size continuing the same as at present. The yearly subscription will remain at $ 6,00 with, and $5,00 without the Plates of the Fashions; but the postage will be lessened by this change, as larger paper will be used, and the work will average but four sheets a month, instead of five as it now does. In the Engravings of the Fashions we shall aim at the selection of those Dresses which are most appropriate, and which shall be considered most acceptable on this side the Atlantic; and the style of their execution will not be neglected.—We have seen it asserted in a well-conducted paper of this city, that our mode of advertising these plates, on the second page of the cover, is one of those "petty tricks of trade" intended to deceive the public by means of " a harmless falsehood,"inasmuch as we give notice of two or more whole-length portrait figures, thereby "leading the reader to suppose" there are as many lithographic prints; "when the fact is, as he too soon discovers," there is but one. Were it not for the respectability of the source whence this charge proceeds, and the apparent sincerity and good-will of the writer, we should have considered it as the production of some carping critic, and unworthy of notice. It is an accusation which caused us no little astonishment ;-for it had never occurred to us that such an inference as that to which he alludes could be drawn from this " manner of announcement"; nor can we now perceive in it anything to induce the reader to expect more than he actually finds. If it has given rise to such expectation, it has been wholly unintentional on our part, and we therefore plead innocent of the charge preferred against us. The suggestion of the same writer in regard to another subject connected with our periodical, has more reason in it, and may hereafter receive further attention. The character which the Spirit of the English Magazines has for so many years enjoyed, will not be materially affected by the change above proposed. The reader is not to infer from what we have said respecting long articles that such only are hereafter to be made use of. On the contrary, brevity and condensation will be studied, and a great number of pages will be devoted to one article only when its superior interest or importance may seem to demand it. Several new English publications have been ordered, and we shall be enabled to commence the new volume with greater resources than we have hitherto enjoyed. We would remind the reader that, in pursuance of the measure now to be adopted, the Atheneum will contain more than 1100 pages in a year, of the same size as those of the present volume, and in the type used for this Preface. We respectfully solicit from our present patrons, to whom our thanks are now due, and from the lovers of English literature in general, the patronage which it will be our constant aim to merit, and which alone will enable us to continue to contribute to the amusement and instruction of their leisure hours. The double numbers may sometimes not be ready for delivery till a day or two after the proper time; but we shall endeavor to be punctual, and when not so subscribers will understand the cause. Boston, September 15, 1830. |