way, we shall gladly, but not blindly, accommodate the diffident as well as the prudential.

Every man of information is aware of the avidity with which old libraries are ransacked to furnish an occasional volume of this description: -to instance only the Harleian MiscellaniesWhat a mine of political and other incidental knowledge is there laid open, which, like ore in the bowels of the earth, lay till then undistinguishable amid the trash and rubbish with which it was blended. But even the discovery of a treasure like this serves only to reproach us with the loss of so much more that is now utterly irrecoverable. It is but a mineral sample for the show-glass compared to the metallic abundance of the hidden matrix that produced it. The omission, however, of some means in former ages, whereby to preserve from oblivious obscurity in a compact and collective shape, the diversified labors of the pen as they severally emerged into light, argues at least for the originality of the proposal with which we now come forward, and, if not allowed to be absolutely new, it must, at any rate, be acknowledged as untried.

Yet, while we venture thus decidedly to plume ourselves both on the novelty and usefulness of our scheme, we would not be thought preposterously to have blinded our own eyes against the possibility of all objections. We admit there may be many: but such as we have actually heard, we shall here candidly recount, and studiously endeavour to counteract.

It may be said then, that our selection is, per chance, partial or ill-judged; that the variety of copies, included in a single volume, will distract the attention of the reader, or retard his progress to information on any particular subject; that, to force upon a purchaser four or five Pamphlets which he does not want, as the sole means of furnishing himself with one he may desire to see, is to levy an unreasonable tax upon his purse through the medium of his curiosity. To all which we can only reply--that the first objection assumes what may be said of all Reviews and all Collections; the Reader must give us credit for some qualifications for the office we have undertaken; and, in the language of a tradesman, we hope our Customers will have no reason to be

dissatisfied with our goods. On the second charge,

we confine our answer to an assurance that the due and distinct classification of subjects will always be uppermost in our thoughts, and proportioned with all possible attention to the quantity and value of our materials, and the relative importance of the article discussed; and we unhesitatingly refer to the Contents of our first number, as the best illustration we can offer. On the third point, we cannot descend to an argumentum ad crumenam, without appearing either to underrate the purchaser's property, or to doubt the liberality of his disposition.-Our publication will be proved to be on a scale of price uncommonly moderate; and its contents, although they may not all be required for the instantaneous occasion of to-day, will be such as rather to improve than become depreciated by keeping for to-morrow; and it is in fact on obviating the converse to this proposition, that we rest a considerable share of our own pretensions to merit. The man who wants but a single Pamphlet for a momentary purpose, throws it aside the next minute because it is single, and because he wants it no longer

and thus are all pamphlets irredeemably consigned to forgetfulness and perdition: but, when he has half a dozen at once under one cover, it is become a book, it occupies a place upon the shelf, and its real use is discovered perhaps many years after even the quantum of its first cost is totally out of recollection.-On these three heads, therefore, of objection, we cannot but think our justification to be complete and irreversible.

Having given this comprehensive view of our plan, we think it unnecessary to expatiate further on its utility, and shall proceed to lay down the rules for its execution.

Conditions.

It will be printed with a fair open type, in Octavo. Each No. will be published when sufficient matter is arranged, and three numbers will form one Vol. to which a copious Index will be affixed.

Each No. to contain from 200 to 300 pages, averaging 250. Price 6s. 6d.

Four or five Nos. will be published annually.

Each No. on the average, will contain ten or twelve pamphlets; thus reducing the price of each to something under eightpence-a saving to the public so obvious as to need no comment.

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AND THE LITERARY WORLD.

It is to be lamented, that many Pamphlets of infinite merit are now become so scarce as hardly to have any existence but in the fond recollection and regrets of those readers, to whom they once afforded conviction and delight. Such Pamphlets it is intended, if possible, to recover, and, when the pressure of new matter will permit, to introduce them, as aptly as we can, into our numbers. The permission, therefore, of their authors to reprint them, and an early intimation of their sentiments, respecting the proposed plan, will be esteemed an important favor;