PREFACE.

Ir is with profound satisfaction that we are now enabled to present the Coach-making fraternity with the first volume of THE NEW YORK COACH-MAKER'S MAGAZINE, completed. Undertaken, as it was, under discouraging circumstances, maliciously assailed by one who owed us a debt of gratitude for services rendered, instead of the storm of abuse with which he repaid us, and with the "hard times" bearing against our new enterprise, yet we have gone steadily on, encouraged by the commendations of a generous Craft, and assisted by a galaxy of contributors, whose varied talent has given that variety and interest to our columns, which, we trust, has not only been creditable to the profession, but to the writers individually. The high encomiums this work has received from the Press, here and in Europe (this is not empty boast), and from our fellow-mechanics in the Craft, we are proud to confess, have cheered us on, and enabled us to triumph over difficulties, where a simple frown might have sunk us in despair.

Probably, there cannot be found a more difficult labor to perform, than that required from one engaged in conducting a journal, in which mechanics and literature are combined. Without going into details, we may state that, in arranging the different forms as they have monthly passed through the press, our constant oversight has been invoked to guard against inaccuracies, and although we would not presume to claim perfection in the typography, yet we will say that we believe there are not many works to be found, of the same number of pages, in which so few occur. In this we feel to exult.

There has been one guiding principle that we have striven to keep in view, from the commencement of this volume: that, though dependent, in a great measure, for success on rendering our Magazine useful, still we had to make it attractive, and give only such matter as would be worthy of the refined and enlightened Craft for whom we had undertaken to cater. How far we have been successful, let our subscription book witness. At the close of its first year, with a patronage equal to that of any similar publication in its palmiest days, we have reached a stand-point, from which we may entertain hopes full of promise, and expect to reap a future harvest of reward for our labor. If, up to this point, our friends are satisfied that we have done well, would it be asking too much when we invite them to try us another year, and give us a fair chance to do better? The experience we have gained in the first volume warrants the inference, at least, that we shall be able to satisfy the reasonable expectations of the Craft in the second. Asking the hearty co-operation of the numerous friends of this Magazine, to assist us in its circulation, we are

Yours truly,

Egram Strattons.

NEW YORK, April 15th, 1859.

INDEX TO PLATES IN VOLUME ONE.

DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER.-The portrait of James Brewster, Esq., to face the title-page; Jason Clapp, Esq., page 62; William D. Rogers, Esq., page
182. The Draft, Ornament and Stitching-Plates to be placed at the end of the volume, in the order named.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by E. M. STRATTON, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States
in and for the Southern District of New York.

INDEX TO VOLUME ONE.

TO THE READER.-Under the head of "Sparks from the Anvil," will be found, in alphabetical order, the contents of that separate department. The
Paint and Trimming Rooms are arranged in the same order.