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human nature is incapable. But "pride still is aiming at the blest abodes," though it is certain that

The bliss of man, could pride that blessing find,

Is not to act or think beyond mankind;

and that he who pretends to more knowledge than is placed within the narrow span of human intellection, is a mere literary fanatic. The Editor, however, in disclaiming all pretensions to this fancied perfection, does not wish to shelter himself under the veil of that liability to error, to which human nature is unavoidably subject. When he is found weaker than others, he is willing to be chastised. He is aware that he stands before a critical tribunal who will weigh him in the balance, and determine to the greatest nicety his specific gravity. He does not pretend, however, to be pure gold: he affects neither the sublimity of a Byron, the imagination of a Scott, the luxuriance of a Moore, nor the elaborate simplicity of a Campbell. But let no person think light of him on this account, for if he even possessed all these characteristics of genius, it would be egotism in him to claim them: at least, it would be considered so, and usus est norma loquendi. He has, therefore, only to add, what he hopes the public will hereafter repeat, that while he continues to conduct the European Magazine, its character will be found not to suffer by a comparison with any former period of its history.

"To speak however as he feels, he begs leave to say, that so far as regards his own conviction, he is of opinion that the character of the European will, henceforth, not only stand as high in the literary world as it did at any former period, but that it will equal any monthly publication of the age; nor does he consider this attempt at equality a dangerous rivalship. On the contrary, he is of opinion, that, highly as we are disposed to estimate the genius and literary character of the nineteenth century, there never was an age so pregnant with false taste and the cant of criticism;an age so superficial in observation, so inconclusive in deduction, and so dogmatical in error. That there is more genius and native talent existing at the present moment, than ever England could boast of, he is well convinced; but this genius is misled and drawn from the path of nature by false criticism, by that cant of expression which vitiates style, that affectation of critical knowledge which makes author's give credit to, and adopt erroneous principles, because they are rendered specious by the dictatorial tone and confident manner in which they are put forward. There is, therefore, rather a waste of genius at present, than a vigorous and concentrated application of its energies to the sublimer purposes for which they have been bestowed by the author of our being. In a word, the reviewers have done much mischief: they have endeavoured to create a distaste for classical literature, encouraged young and inexperienced writers to assert the native rights of genius,—or rather the pretended rights, which they have substituted in their stead,-to reject all authority, and to write and judge for themselves. The consequence has been, new principles,-new theories, and new schools of poetry. Every poet finding himself freed by the dictum of the critics from the restraints of authority, is not satisfied with becoming an authority to himself, but wishes to impose his authority upon others; no reflecting that if he were justified in rejecting all former authorities, every other poet is equally justified in rejecting his. The poetic world has, in consequence, become a complete anarchy, some professing to admire, though not always following, the ancient masters; the school of Virgil, Racine, Boileau, and Pope; others, the Lake or Romantic schools, and the great majority following no model or authority whatever, but that fancied and ever-varying standard of perfection, which they are continually forming and re-forming in their own minds.

"On this subject, however, the Editor cannot say more at present: he will have frequent opportunities of recurring to it, and of explaining his views, not only of poetic beauty in general, but of the character of modern poetry and literature in particular; and still more particularly of the periodical press. Notwithstanding the many vices that have crept into the style of modern poetry, it cannot be denied that it has many redeeming beauties;

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but the investigation of its beauties and defects shall form a principal feature in the future numbers of the European Magazine, as the Editor intends giving a series of Essays on the genius of the British Poets, one of which will form the leading article of the Magazine, from the commencement of the next volume. As all these Essays will be his own production, he will consider himself accountable for the opinions and criticisms which they may contain; and, therefore, he lays himself open to the replies of those who advocate opposite principles. The Magazine will be also open to any reply which evinces itself the production of a man of talent, and which the readers of the European can peruse with interest; for the Editor does not wish to shelter himself under the advantages which he possesses, of inserting whatever is favourable, and not inserting whatever is opposed to his opinions on literary subjects. His sole object is to follow nature, and if he be mistaken in his pursuit of her, he will instantly retrace his course, and follow in the train of those who contemplate her with clearer eyes.'

The European Magazine has never distinguished itself in the religious or political world, not that it has been altogether inattentive to these subjects, but that it has touched upon them with a fearful and trembling hand. It assumed no decided tone, though it did not so completely shroud itself in the labyrinths of ambiguity and mystery as to leave the party and tenets to which it inclined a subject of doubt and uncertainty. The present Proprietors, however, believing that he who cannot, or will not, or perhaps dare not, speak openly and decidedly on whatever subject he treats, must write to little purpose; and not only knowing the danger of entering thus openly and honestly into the fierce arena of religion and politics, but also feeling that they are subjects to which adequate justice cannot be done in the small space allotted to them in magazines, have determined that the European shall be no longer rendered subservient to the expression of religious or political feelings of any cast or character whatever. It will accordingly embrace no subject which is not interesting to every man, no matter what his opinion may be of those relations that connect him in this world to his fellow man, or of those prospects of future happiness which he anticipates hereafter, and the modes of belief and action which he thinks most likely to attain them. The "Political Digest" will accordingly be henceforth a mere record of facts, as religion and politics will be considered in a philosophic point of view alone, the Proprietors wishing to give the Magazine, as far as can be given, consistent with that attention which is naturally expected from it to the passing events of the times,-an exclusively literary character.

They place an implicit confidence in the present Editor, and they hope the readers of the European Magazine, and the public, will feel they are justified in doing so. They are accordingly determined to afford him all the facilities that can enable him to raise the character of the Magazine, and make it vie with any periodical work of the day. To succeed in these high aspirings, they beg to solicit the co-operation of literary gentlemen, of the lovers of science, of those who have themselves delighted to stray amid philosophic shades, or to linger amid the softer seclusions and romantic retreats of the bright-eyed muse ;-of those who dwell with delight on the rapt emotions of their youthful years, when the dawn of science first opened upon them, and disclosed those charms which continue to give energy and inspiration to the studies of their riper years. Those who require remuneration will be liberally treated, and it is hoped they will soon find the European Magazine as respectable a medium of giving publicity to their communications, as any other in the British Empire.

The EUROPEAN MAGAZINE is published for the Proprietors by Messrs. SHERWOOD, JONES, and Co., Paternoster Row; and Sold by all the Booksellers in the United Kingdom.

All Communications are requested to be addressed to the Editor, post paid, at the Publishers.

[F. Warr, Printer, Red Lion Passage, Holborn.]