306 Mr. Parkes's Hislori/ of 



cive to the advancement of Literature, we need not say. We 

 therefore flatter ourselves, that such as have any useful know- 

 ledge to communicate — or any hint that may contribute to im- 

 prove the mind, polish the manners, refine the taste, or mend 

 the heart, will be as glad of such an opportunity of communi- 

 cating it, as we shall be always proud of conveying it to the 

 Public." 



So much for the language, opinions and promises of the Edi- 

 tor. A modern writer (Mr. Chalmers) speaking of this Journal 

 says, " It extended to three volumes, and contains a greater 

 " variety of original Essays of real merit, than any similar un- 

 " dertaking— nor will this be doubted, when it is added that 

 " among the contributors were Spence, — Horace Walpole, — the 

 " twoWartons — Akenside — Lowth — Smart — Gilbert Cooper,— 

 '* Whitehead — Merrick — and Campbell." 



Each volume contains some considerable Indexes divided into 

 classes, thus. Index to the Essays. Index to the Poetry. In- 

 dex to the account of Books. Index to the History of the pre- 

 sent state of Europe. Index of Names to the whole. The 1st 

 Volume has also an Index to the history of the Rebellion. 



XXXII. 1749. " The Monthly Review, A Periodical 

 Work, giving an account, with proper abstracts of, and Extracts 

 from, the New Books, Pamphlets, t^c, as they come out. By 

 several Hands. London, Printed for R. Griffiths, at the Dunciad 

 in St. Paul's Church Yard." The first Number of this work, 

 for May 1749, was published on the 1st day of the following 

 month, without any Preface or Advertisement whatever. And 

 though the editor was entirely without patronage or support, he 

 persevered in printing the work, month after month, and con- 

 tinued to publish it in the most regular manner possible, for 

 more than half a century. 



A few of the early numbers were sold at sixpence, and the others 

 at one shilling each. It having, however, been found inconvenient 

 to delay the publication of the last number of each volume, for 

 the sake of having sufficient time to prepare the General Index, 

 Mr., afterwards Doctor, Griffiths announced, in the Number for 



