As the present number of the Journal wiir come into the hands of 

 our readers on the morning which witnesses the birth of another 

 New Year, and when many of them, more especially in the northern 

 parts of the kingdom, will be in the midst of the rejoicings and festivities 

 which characterize that period, we may, perhaps, be allowed, before 

 presenting our usual budget of information, to say two or three words of 

 kindly greeting to the many friends who during the past few montlis 

 have gathered round us, to lend us their aid in carrying out a work 

 of no small difficulty. To these, then, one and all, we cordially wish 

 " A Happy and prosperous New Year " — more happy, if possible, and 

 more prosperous than the one which, amidst some gloom and depres- 

 sion both at home and abroad, has just flickered out. 



In our September number we took occasion to remark on the satis- 

 factory progress which the Journal had then made, and we said 

 " we want more support and a much wider circulation." That 

 appeal was not made in vain, and since then the flow of new 

 subscriptions has come in steadUy and constantly, if not always 

 rapidly ; but nevertheless there is still much to be done ; there are 

 still hundreds, nay — thousands — of large estates on which the Journal 

 is not yet read, and whose custodians are monthly losing a fund of 

 information which can be found in its pages alone, and for which no 

 previous knowledge or personal experience can compensate. 



To our contributors, who during the past year have so ably 

 and readily assisted us, we return our heartiest thanks ; without 



VOL. J. 2 T 



