Chap. XXI.] Literary Journals. 87 



quires more diligence, ability, and leisure, than 

 commonly fall to the lot of those who adventure 

 in such a field. 



From the foregoing details it appears that the 

 eighteenth century may be emphatically called 

 the age of periodical publications. In the number 

 of these it so far transcends all preceding times, as 

 to forbid comparison ; and their amusing popular 

 forni constitutes a peculiarity in the literary his- 

 tory of the period under consideration equally 

 signal. They form the principal means of diffus- 

 ing knowledge through every part of the civilised 

 world ; they convey, in an abridged and agreeable 

 manner, the contents of many ponderous volumes, 

 ^nd frequently supersede the appearance of such 

 volumes ; and they record every species of infor- 

 mation, from the most sublime investigations of 

 science to the most trifling concerns of amusement. 

 When the future historian shall desire to obtain a 

 /correct view of the state of literature and of man- 

 ners, during this period, he will probably resort to 

 the periodical publications of the day, as presents 

 ing the richest sQurces of information, and forming 

 ithe most enliglitened and infallible gui4es in hi? 

 iCpurse, 



