1824.

PREFACE.

IN concluding the Third Volume of the MIRROR, it becomes a pleasing duty to return thanks to the public for the increased and increasing patronage with which it is honoured,- -a circumstance not less gratifying to the Editor than it is indicative of that spirit of inquiry, and love of literature, which are now so rapidly extending in this country. So numerous are our public institutions connected with education, and so ready is the open hand of British benevolence, that there is not a child in the empire that may not learn to read and write; this first great step towards improving the manners and morals of society being achieved, it next became necessary to provide suitable works to be read; and it must be confessed that in this respect the present age has much the advantage of any preceding one, and that the elementary treatises now in use in the several branches of education and science are truly excellent.

Other stimulants to a love of reading have however been found necessary even among the highest classes of society; and literary journals, which a century ago were, unknown, now appear in almost every possible shape, and on every variety of subject: The price, however, of these was still a bar to their general circulation, and it became not only necessary, but due to the extended education of the country, to give to the public at large a journal which; while it embraced the most ample range over the vast domain of English-literature, should be published at a price that would place it within.the reach of ALL.

To supply this desideratum in periodical literature, the MIRROR was commenced; how far it has achieved the avowed object for which it was commenced, the public will decide, but if the Editor may be allowed to judge from the extensive circulation it has obtained, the favourable notice it has elicited from the critical world, the valuable support with which it has been honoured by many writers, whose names will one day stand high in the literary annals of their country; and, above all, by that undesigned but unequivocal homage, imitation, the MIRROR has done much to fill up that void in periodical literature which existed until it was commenced.

It would ill become the Editor to be the eulogist of his own work, and yet he trusts he may refer to the present Volume of the MIRROR, as a proof that, like good wine, it improves with age, without subjecting himself to a charge of egotism. On one point at least he may speak without any fear of such an imputation—that is, on the decided improvement in the printing of the MIRROR with a new type and on superior paper; and the public may rest assured that the Proprietors are determined that, in point of typography, the MIRROR shall equal the most expensive periodical of the day. In Original Correspondence, though not ostentatiously displayed, the Third Volume of the MIRROR will be found peculiarly rich, and here it

becomes the duty of the Editor to return his most grateful thanks to his many kind and valuable Correspondents, by whose liberal and excellent contributions he has been enabled to boast of this feature of his work.

A new, and the Editor believes, very acceptable improvement has been made in the MIRROR by introducing the SELECTOR, in which the essence of new works, however expensive, is given as soon as they are published, unmixed with the cant of criticism, which is often found so contradictory as rather to bewilder than guide the reader in his choice of books. Other improvements are also in contemplation; but the Editor had rather rest his claim to the confidence of the public for his future exertions on his past labours, than on any pledges that he could give, since

"A promise may be broke;

Nay, start not at it-Tis an hourly practice."

Unless, however, the Editor of the MIRROR neglects both his interests and his duty, he will spare no exertions to retain that good opinion with the public it was his first ambition to obtain, and shall be his constant endeavour to deserve.