PREFACE.

THE completion of our SIXTH VOLUME affords us an opportunity of thanking our Subscribers for the kind and liberal spirit in which they have responded to our endeavours in their behalf. The change from a Weekly to a Monthly publication was, of course, an experiment, the result of which could only be ascertained by giving it a fair trial. Six months' experience, however, has proved to our satisfaction the complete success of the change, even during a time when, owing to the extraordinary events daily taking place around us, a depression such as we scarcely remember to have heard of before, and which could not fail also to have its effect upon literature, has been perceptible in all branches of trade.

The substitution of Steel Engravings, illustrating the letter-press, in the place of wood cuts, appears also to have been congenial to the taste, and to have increased the number, of our Subscribers. It is our intention in the July and following Parts to use an uniform type throughout, and we have decided upon one which will be so clear and legible, that we hope not only the bright eyes of our younger readers, but those also which examine our pages through the spectacles of the "Heads of Families," may peruse it easily and pleasantly.

The present Volume, like its immediate predecessor, consists of four months only, but for the future we shall resume the original custom of issuing two Volumes yearly, each containing six Monthly Parts.

In conclusion, we will merely add that our literary resources having become considerably extended of late, we shall hope to present our Subscribers with a variety of interesting and instructive matter, calculated to please the taste of all who love the pure and true in art; and it is for such alone that we shall ever be desirous to cater.

London, 1848.