TO THE READERS AND Cnbh a OPES OF THIS 
MAGAZINE 
IT is now almost fifteen years since Sin RicHARD Puriures, the Editor 
of this Magazine, formed, in that capacity, a mental acquaintance with 
its numerous Readers and Correspondents. He has himself much reason 
to be proud of the intercourse ; and he enjoys great satisfaction from the 
belicf that his Readers are not tired of it, and that, like every weltfounded 
connection, it is likely to continue during the life of the parties. 
Previously to the publication of this Magazine, no other intervening 
Miscellany had enjoyed more than an ephemeral existence, and the cause 
may be referred to the circumstance that they were only servile tnitations. 
of the Gentleman's Magaziue, and no rivalry can long exist between an 
original and its mere imitation. In like manner, the Monthly Magazine 
has had many short-lived. competitors, whose only ly claim to attention con- 
sisted:in their exact tmitation of the plan of their prototype. The inability 
to design an original work was evidence on its face of incapacity to produce 
an interesting one; the public therefore spurned the counterfeits, and they 
have sunk one > after another into oblivion. 
No attempt had been made since the planxing of the Gentleman's Me- 
gazine in 1732, to introduce any decided novelty of design into this useful 
departinent of Literature, till his project of the Montlily Magazine, in 
1790. A continued and uaiform increase of sale during the publication 
of Thirty Volumes affords a demonstration that the plan of the Monthly 
Magazine was adapted to the improved state of knowledge, and literary 
engitiry : and that nothing was required but originality of design to se 
cure contemporaneous support to two Monthly Miscellanies. 
As a Journalist, Sir nares Phillips can never expect to be ranked 
by the public with Mir. Cave, editor of the first eighteen years of the. 
sentleman's Magazine, nor ith Dr. Raiph Griffiths, who main- 
tained the fortunes of the Monthiy Review during half a century; he 
does not hesitate, however, to declare himself a candidate for distinction in 
the same line of literature; and to attempt with zeal is frequently @ means 
of eltaining success. . His object has been to make the Monthly Magazine 
« vehicle for conveying to the public every species of useful knowledge, . 
und of disseminating opinions on every important subject. of enguirys to 
render it-a sort of telegraph of improvements, inventions, and discoveries 
in the’ arts of life; and to constitute it a Register of all incidents in . 
Literature, Politics, and Domestic History. He has no better criterion 
by y which to judge of his success in achieving these objects, than. by refer= 
ring to the unprecedented eyeiead this Miscellany, whichis generally read © 
over the four quarters of the world, and which enjoys a regular sale un 
equalled by any work in this branch of Literature. , 
The reciprocity which exists between the circudation of a work, and the 
ebject of every propagator of knowledge, necessarily ensures priority in— 
correspondence to that Miscellany which enjoys the most extensive circula- 
tion; und a similar advantage arises from the preference in circulation 
possessed by a work enjoytig priority of communication ; so that the maximum 
of intrinsic valueis ther coy attained. This has happily been the fortume of the 
Monthly Magazine, and it ny be expected to maintain ihis vantage 
ground by the favour of ts Carremmotaicnts and the Public, and by perse= 
werance of ts Editor in the'same system which hes hitherto insured success, 
In furtherunce of these objects, and to consolidate and perpetuate the 
interests of the Monthly Magazine, communications of useful and interesting 
facts, notices of new Inventions and Discoveries, articles of Biography; ond 
fisquisitions on subjects of a practical or applicable nature, are earnestly © 
requested to be addressed, as usual, to the Editor and Pr oprietor, SiR 
KicHARD PulLuips, at the Printer’s; or at No. 6, Bridge-street. | 
