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Stuart Pinxt

Engraved for the Port Potio.published by Harrison Hall.133 Chesnut Street Philadelphia.

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In conducting this Journal, it has been the chief aim of the Editor, to pur sue, as nearly as he could, the plan devised by Mr. DENNIE-That plan, with the exception of the political violence, and religious intolerance which were sometimes displayed, was approved by the best scholars in the country, and it enabled the Editor to rank in the number of his correspondents many of our most eminent men. The highest officer in the government has instructed or amused in the same columns, with one of his ambassadors; and senators who had deliberated on the welfare of states have frequently shown, in our pages. that they were not unmindful of the concerns of literature. Many who are now taking the stations from which their fathers are silently retiring, will recognize in these volumes, some of their earliest efforts. Politicians may open the Port Folio when they would consult the wisdom of Hamilton, or admire the splen. dour of Morris; piety may acquire new fervour from the eloquent exhortatione of many of our divines who are still trimming their lamps; and they who seek the Columbian Muse, may trace some of her sweetest inspirations in the effusions of Clifford, Alsop, Payne, and Shaw.

The Editor is now employed in earnest endeavours, to promote the best interests of American Literature, and he appeals not only to the learned, but to. the affluent, to contribute their aid in the support of a Journal which has been. so long and so advantageously connected with the history of letters in the United States.

Having submitted three volumes to the approbation of the patrons of this Journal; the Editor is fairly before the public. To that public he earnestly ap peals in behalf of the literature of the country. If the sunshine of patronage be obscured by negligence or withdrawn by dishonesty, how can it be expected that periodical publications-the pioneers of literature-should flourish? The holder of a fortunate lottery ticket who complained of the ruinous deduction of 15 per cent was in Paradise compared with publishers of American Magazines, who must vend their publications at an abatement of one-third; wait whole years for the balance, and probably find it only in the schedule of a bankrupt.

Complaints have been made, of the condition prescribed at our publication office, that the subscription should be paid in advance. When we inform the reader that the sum expended on this work in one year, would defray the expense of printing ten volumes of the Law Journal,-the price of which is five dollars for each volume-that the cost of the engravings alone, is equal to that of some cotemporary journals, which have no embellishments-be will not be surprized that the proprietors should wish to secure some indemnity against risk, and some reward for labour. Literary men have no access to Banks; no matter, how successfully they may develop the strength of the country, polish its manners, refine its taste, or illustrate its glory. If Burke himself were to petition for a loan to enable him to publish an American Register; he would not find so much favour at the Board, as a trader to St. Domingo, or a South-American pirate.

It cannot be denied that more information is conveyed through the commu. nity by means of periodical journals, than by any other medium; and yet the negligence or dishonesty of subscribers is the universal complaint of those who employ their funds and their talents in the humble and thankless labours of editorship. In the short space of eighteen months, our subscription list exhibits bona fide claims to the amount of ten thousand dollars. To those whose delinquency produces so enormous a deficiency we would use the language of the prophet: Come now and let us reason together-will not the whole head be sick, and the heart faint, if ye do not LEARN TO DO WELL?

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