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UNIV

OF

TBnnor

THE

London Magasine

Gentleman's

Monthly Intelligencer.

VOL.XL.

For the Year 1771

LONDON

MAGAZINE

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By His MAJESTY'S Authority

Printed for R.Baldwin at the Rofe in Pat Nesterkow..

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Daler 3-31-36

21324

THE

PREFACE

M

▼AGAZINES, if well conducted, will always prove barometers of the times, and fhew bow the spirit of politicks, of religion, of gallantry, and of other pursuits, rifes or finks. The proprietors, meaning to play a winning game, will naturally confult the publick tafte; and never m ft king or neglecting it but to their own lofs, will thro' necefity foon return into the popular vortex. For want of a due attention to this circumfiance, how many rivals has the London Magazine feen perifb around it! They bave frequently sprung up like an ignis fatuus, blazed for a bort time, and funk at once into the gulph of oblivion. Had not our mifcellany been judiciously managed, it could not have preferved its reputation for fucb a feries of years. We cannot pay fo bad a compliment to the underflanding of the nation as to fuppofe it capable of an abfurd partiality, or of being influenced by any confideration but that of merit. As it is our intereft, fo it shall be our care, to deferve the continuation of publick favour. Neither indufry nor expence shall be Spared to render the London Magazine the completeft repofitory of the learning and genius of the age. That we may be able to vouch the truth of the facts recorded in our biftory of gallantry, we shall not always make a point of having an article of that nature in every number. Hence we shall avoid the errours of precipitation, and the neceffity of fiction; two faults with which fome of our competitors are univerfally and juflly reproached. We promife, however, that a Memoir of Gallantry fball be but rarely wanting. In our parliamentary Debates we shall adopt a new plan, which will at once fecure the graces of novelty, and the charms of perfpicuity. A fimultaneous view of every queftion agitated in the fenate fhall be given by a methodical and biftorical arrangement of the arguments there advanced on each fide. At proper intervals of time the historical facts relative to other countries, which lie fcattered and detached in various publications, fhall be collected, digefted and given in the form of a regular hiftory. Of our miscellaneous articles we need fay nothing but that, as ufual, we shall select the most inftructive and entertaining, that our correspondence and new books afford. The topicks of general converfation and political difcuffion during the month speak for themselves, and need no other recommendation. Without them no Magazine can be complete. The fame obfervation is applicable to our Review of Books, and to the Reviews contrafted. The want of them would leave our account of literature and literary tranfactions very imperfect. Some will perhaps blame us here for deviating in fome meafure from the original plan of this work, and not strictly keeping our word with the publick. But let them not be too hafty in condemning. It is not we but the publick that have made the alterations in the London Magazine. We are in a great measure passive, and act as inftruments in the hands of the nation. If it calls for divinity, we give divinity; if it requires politicks, we publifh politicks. If love-flories be the mode, we become hiftorians of gallantry; and if antiquities be the fashion, we commence antiquarians. In fhort, as far as virtue and decorum will permit, we are whatever our readers please. Keeping a publick store-bouse we must fill it with commodities, for which there is a demand.

EXPLANATION of the FRONTISPIECE.

HE Temple of CONCORD, the Genius of HARMONY--(defcribed by the

driving away

-(defcribed by the Serpents of FURY on its head, the dagger and torch falling ut of its hands as if difabled.) In the diftance, the Sun difpelling the dark clouds, and the brilliancy of its rays ftriking upon the Capital of GREAT BRITAIN.

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