Слике страница
PDF
ePub

to enhance the bookseller's profits. Men complained, and not without reason, of the unvaried gloom of his thoughts, and the equability of his expression.

But without authorities, and without argument, the Public will soon perceive, with the perspicacity of the Royal Preacher, that A THREE-FOLD CORD IS NOT QUICKLY BROKEN ; that He who calls in the aid of an equal understanding, doubles his own, and that He, who profits of a superior understanding, raises his powers to a level with the height of the superior understanding he unites with.

On these principles, an alliance of literary characters has been recently formed in Philadelphia. Gentlemen of various talents, but all to be directed to objects both splendid and useful, have banded together, and pledged themselves to support the spirit, and increase the power of The Port Folio. An extensive correspondence will be maintained with Men of Genius and Science throughout the United States. Nor is the Editor unwarranted in asserting that he cherishes no visionary hope of assistance from abroad. If he obtain the aid now contemplated, he has a right to declare that it will be of the first impression.

As it is resolved that no papers shall be admitted into The Port Folio, but those of a Scientific, a Literary, an Amusing, or a Fashionable character, it follows, that, without offence, it may be perused by the most clashing parties. The squabbles in the State, and polemical brawls in the Church will be habitually shunned, by all the prudence of a pacific policy. Hence we may hope for readers among the orthodox high, and the lukewarm low; among the English, Scotch, and Irish; among Whigs and Tories, Sectaries and Churchmen. As we affect neither the stooping gait of plebeians, nor the lofty step of the aristocratical buskin, all may greet us as a party of Gentlemen, studious to please according to the laws of urbanity.

Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath

That the rude sea grows civil at the song.

+ We cannot resist the temptation to cite a pertinent passage from one of the wisest of mankind. The opinion of King Solomon is not only perfectly just, but his fortification of it is impregnable: "Two are better than one, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A GOOD REWARD FOR THEIR LABOUR. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow but wo to him, that is alone, when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.-Ecclesiastes.

:

Burke.

Whatever may be the public reception of our Miscellany, its plan is equally laudable and liberal. Our work is inscribed to the Gentleman, the Scholar, the Philosopher, the Merchant, the Manufacturer, and the Man of the World.

It is proposed to preserve in The Port Folio Sketches of Original Character, Narratives of Memorable Events, and of every thing remarkable, occurring in the vicissitudes of the times. To these crude materials our accomplished associates, disdaining the vulgar track, can give both a body and a soul. They can display not only industry and accuracy, but genius and taste. In a style of elegance, they can show all the adroitness of abridgment, and perfect skill in the classing, grouping, and tinting of objects, which inferior artists might despair even to sketch.

A department of The Port Folio will exhibit a Gallery of the Portraits of Great Men. Than Biography, nothing is more fascinating, nothing more instructive, nothing that is perused with greater avidity, or that excites a stronger interest. The lives of the illustrious in our own country, and the mighty mass of foreign Biography, will always furnish excellent entertainment to the most fastidious reader.

Characters, well portrayed, would challenge a fixed attention; and America, as well as Europe, contains a multitude of originals.

Remarkable Trials, Law Reports, and Pleadings of a peculiarly entertaining, interesting, and eloquent character, would not only edify the Gentlemen of the Bar, but may be selected with so much taste and judgment as to amuse the mere miscellaneous reader.

The Epistolary Correspondence of men of literary eminence may form a very agreeable article.

The Drama will, sometimes, attract our attention.

Papers on topics of Moral and Physical Science, Rural Economy, Useful Projects, Miscellaneous Essays, Romantic Adventures, Tours and Travels, Foreign and Domestic Literature, Criticism and Poetry, Levity, Merriment, Wit and Humour, will variegate this Journal.

To please the Ladies, we shall take care to arrange occasionally The Toilet of Fashion.

A Meteorological Journal, an Agricultural Report, and Notices of Marriages and Deaths, under the heads of Nuptial and Obituary, will be attended to.

To fill this comprehensive outline, many pencils are requisite, and we have engaged the artists. Their subjects are numerous and their colours are brilliant. Genius, like that of Sir Joshua Reynolds, is not a stranger to our Literary Circle. If to that commanding Power, indefatigable Industry be associated, the liberal Public will sufficiently appreciate the labour. We appeal to America.

For THEE remains to prove what radiant fires
Gild the clear heaven, WHERE LIBERTY INSPIRES,
To show what springs of bounty from thy hand,
As gush'd the rock at Moses' high command,
O'er Art's impoverish'd plains refreshing flow
And cheer the fainting tribes of Taste below.

From all the impulses of Gratitude, as well as all the principles of Admiration, the Editor has insisted, with emphasis, on the talents and liberality of his associates in this enterprise. As it has been nobly expressed, on another occasion, Generosity always receives part of its value from the manner in which it is bestowed. The kindness of the Editor's friends has included every circumstance that can gratify Delicacy, or enforce Obligation. They voluntarily conferred favours on a man, who has neither alliance, nor interest, who has not merited them by services, nor courted them by officiousness: they have spared him the shame of solicitation, and the anxiety of suspense.

On the stage of critical scrutiny, this is not the Editor's first appearance. On this occasion, though he is not oppressed by morbid terror, he feels all the emotions of an adventurer's solicitude. By the benignity of the Public, he has often been received with a degree of favour, equal to his hopes, and more than his merits. To that Public, in the last resort, must the apostrophe of an author be addressed. In the shape of a fawring publican, or a sobbing mendicant, he does not approach his Judges, but he comes forward, with a firm step, in the guise of a Cavalier, and a

man of letters, anxious to please the Polite and the Learned, the Witty and the Fair.

And confident of praise, IF PRAISE BE DUE,

Trusts without fear, to Merit and to you.

TERMS.

The price of The Port Folio, though the quantity of matter will be augmented, will continue as usual at Six Dollars per annum; with this deviation from a former rule, that we shall not demand the subscription-money, until the expiration of the year.

The Work will be embellished with elegant engravings.

« ПретходнаНастави »