ClJAP. XXI.] Literary Journals. 81 



Cave's Magazine for several years after its com- 

 mencement. The way, however, was gradually 

 opened for the introduction of literary, moral, and 

 philosophical discussions, and the work proved to 

 be one of the most popular and productive perio- 

 dical pamphlets ever published. 



In the latter half of the eighteenth century, and 

 especially in the last twelve or fifteen years of this 

 period, these monthly miscellanies multiplied to a 

 prodigious amount, and gained a circulation be- 

 yond all former example. The taste for works of 

 a. similar kind spread rapidly over the continent of 

 Europe ; insomuch that their number at the present 

 time is almost too great to be accurately estimated. 



In America the attempts to establish Maga- 

 ijines of difierent kinds have been very nume- 

 rous ; but, for the v\ ant of due encouragement^ 

 they have generally failed in a short time. It is 

 believed that the first attempt to publish a work of 

 this nature in North America was about the year 

 1741, by Dr. Benjamin Franklin, then a printer, 

 ill Philadelphia. His publication, howev-er, under 

 the title of the General Magazine and Historical 

 Chronicle, after a few months, was discontinued. 

 Since that time many similar undertakings have 

 solicited the public patronage, and have gained 

 attention and currency for a time, but have seldom 

 protracted their existence beyond four, six, or at 

 most eight, years. 



The influence of these miscellaneous publica- 

 tions has been as remarkable and extensive as 

 their number, and in many respects of consi- 

 derable advantage. They have excited a. taste 

 for reading in many who would never have en- 

 Vol. in. " . G 



