Monthly Magazine Jan. 1798.

THE

MONTHLY

MAGAZINE,

AND

BRITISH REGISTER,

PART I. 1798.

FROM JANUARY TO JUNE, INCLUSIVE.

VO L. V.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR R. PHILLIPS, No. 71,

AND

SOLD BY J. JOHNSON, No. 72, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD,

1798.

PRE F A CE.

WE

"E fhould charge ourselves with ingratitude to the Public, did we fuffer another Volume to close, without expreffing our warmest acknowledgments for a degree of support surpaffing our most fanguine expectations, and, we believe, unprecedented in the history of periodical publications To have attained, within the courfe of three years, A SALE confiderably fuperior to that of any other work of the fame defignation, and equal to that of any literary journal in this country, is such a teftimony of the approbation of our Readers, as we cannot contemplate without a degree of exultation. We will venture alfo to obferve, that-confidering the principles upon which our work has been conducted, thofe which were formerly thought characteristic of a country, which boasts of its civil and religious freedom-the fuccefs it has met with is a pleasing proof, that the cause of liberty is not in fo deserted a state as fome of its defponding friends have imagined; and that, whatever may be the change in the sentiments of the higher claffes, and the ignorant apathy of the lowest, the middle ranks, in whom the great mafs of information, and of public and private virtue refides, are, by no means, disposed to refign the advantages of liberal difcuffion, and extensive enquiry. We do not, by this obfervation, intend to reprefent our work as properly a political one; but, we know, it could not be relished by those who think, that the best way of preventing the dangers of innovation, is to check all spirit of improvement, to stifle all refearch, and to preclude all information concerning foreign inftitutions which might poffibly fuggeft unfavourable comparisons with our own. It is, on the contrary, our peculiar pride to have contributed to a more extenfive acquaintance with the proceedings, civil and literary, of other countries, than has been ufually obtainable from English publications. To continue to merit a distinction of this kind, fhall ever be a leading object with us. We fhall fpare no pains, to effect it; and we are happy to announce, that, by means of fome new literary connexions in AMERICA, we fhall poffefs peculiar advantages in prefenting to our Readers, accounts of the most interefting circumftances belonging to the United States.

Though