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Engraved for the New. Monthly Magazine by Meary. Meyer. a Drawing by GM.Harlowe.

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London Published Augs by II. Colburn. Conduit Street.

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MONTHLY MAGAZINES have opened a way for every kind of inquiry and information. The in-
telligence and discussion contained in them are very extensive and various; and they have been the
means of diffusing a general habit of reading through the nation, which in a certain degree hath enlarged
the public understanding. HERE, too, are preserved a multitude of useful hints, observations, and facts,
which otherwise might have never appeared.- Dr. Kippis.

Every Art is improved by the emulation of Competitors.--Dr. Johnson,

LONDON:

Printed by J. Gillet, Crown-court, Fleet-street.

PUBLISHED BY H. COLBURN, CONDUIT-STREET, HANOVER-SQUARE;
BY WHOM COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE EDITOR (POST PAID) ARE RECeived.
SOLD ALSO BY BELL AND BRADFUTE, EDINBURGH; AND JOHN CUMMING, DUBLIN.

[Price 12s. Boards; or 14s. Half-bound.]

PREFACE.

UPON a review of this third portion of our labours it is impossible to suppress such emotions of honest pride as must naturally result from the complete success of an undertaking, in which the view of pecuniary emolument was wholly absorbed in solicitude for the welfare of our country and the interests of social order. The liberal patronage of the public has rewarded our endeavours beyond our most sanguine expectations; while. the numerous communications with which we continue to be favoured by voluntary contributors, enhance the value of our work and attest the high sense that is entertained of its utility.

Consistently with the original object for which our miscel lany was established we have not been afraid to expose the artifices of quacks and impostors whether literary or political; and though this line of conduct has occasionally drawn upon us the censure of well-meaning persons, we never can consent to wave our right to guard the public against the dangerous sophistries of disaffection and the impudent pretensions of every species of empirics. Whilst indeed, the organs of faction neglect no opportunity of diffusing sentiments hostile to the welfare of our country, it would ill become those who have stepped forward in defence of its institutions, to relax their efforts to counteract the mischievous assiduity of these miscreants, and to uphold the establishments by means of which Britain has attained an elevation and influence unequalled since the dissolution of the Roman empire.

If we have the satisfaction of knowing that in this point of view.our.exertions have not been without benefit, we have likewise the pleasing assurance that in regard to literary character our infant miscellany may boldly challenge a comparison with any of its contemporaries, however high their reputation and however long their standing. Many of them indeed, are not ashamed to pay an indirect homage to its merits by borrowing liberally from its pages-a practice with which we should be the last to find fault, if they had but the candour to acknowledge at the same time the source to which they were indebted.

The changes which have taken place in the political horizon during the progress of this portion of our work have been so extraordinary as to baffle all calculation. The perfidy of a nation --or rather of the soldiery of that nation-in spite of solemn

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