PREFACE TO THE FIFTY-EIGHTH VOLUME.
FROM the experience of FIFTY-EIGHT YEARS we well know that to
fecure the public favour we have only to ufe our beft endeavours to
deferve it. Impreffed with a due fenfe of that obligation, the task of meeting
our Readers in a formal Preface becomes unneceffary. We have only to thank
them for repeated inftances of indulgence; to entreat a continuance of their
patronage; and to affure them that it is no less our wifh, than it is our duty,
to add whatever improvements may be suggested for their entertainment.
Profeffing to make our Mifcellany a Record of Obits, as well as other events
which would be loft in the ephemerian register of a news-paper, we trust to
the candour of our Readers in general, that most, if not all of them, will
find in the Monthly Obituary fome individual recorded in whom they may
have an interest. We flatter ourselves it can be no very difficult matter to
find any name in the Index at the end of each volume; but that aid must be
waited for till the year is closed.—The Increase of Explanatory Plates, to
illustrate the fubjects treated of, cannot have escaped notice.
In one point only do we experience a difficulty. The aftonishing increase
of correfpondence, while it most agreeably flatters us with the conviction
that our labours are acceptable, and furnishes the most ample fources for fe-
lection, involves in it fome ground of perplexity. It is with reluctance we
occafionally lay afide many valuable Letters on account merely of their
length. These it is regularly our intention to refume; till other communi-
cations of a more temporary nature compel us ftill to pass by what it was
never our intention to reject. Hence arife repeated enquiries after effays
which remain in the precise fituation above described. For this we can
devife no other remedy, than to requeft our Correfpondents will confider
that their favours are INTENDED TO BE PUBLISHED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE,
unless they are exprefsly told otherwife in the INDEX INDICATORIUS.
In fuch a multiplicity of letters, the very Post ACE becomes a ferious object;
which we recommend to the notice of our Correfpondents: and it so hap-
pens, that such as are least worth using are in general those of which the
carriage is unpaid. We have sometimes been taxed with a double letter, to
afk a question of little moment; and this perhaps followed by a fecond, to
enquire whether the first was received. To mention this inconvenience is,
we doubt not, fufficient to obtain redrefs. From the great regularity of the
Post-office, it is very rare indeed that a letter can mifcarry if directed to
J. NICHOLS, Printer, Red Lion Paffage, Fleet-Street.
*Had we correspondents in the whole circuit-walk round the capital, we should
be equally attentive to their communications as to thofe whom M. W. is pleafed
to object to