ILLUSTRATED

LONDON MAGAZINE:

A Monthly Journal

OP

LITERATURE AND ART.

"A Magazine so liberal, so able, and so vigorous, so good in every department and withal so cheap, ought not to starve
among us for the want of favour."Examiner

VOL. V.

LONDON: WARD AND LOCK, 158, FLEET STREET.

1855.

CITY PRESS, I, LONG LANE, LONDON:

W. II. COLLINGRIDGE.

PREFACE.

OMEWHAT larger in bulk than its predecessors, the Fifth Volume of our Magazine is now sent forth to the world. The change announced six months ago has increased the number of its pages, its illustrations, and-we may gratefully and hopefully add-its admiring readers and zealous supporters.

By the alteration in its price, a much larger amount of space has been placed at the disposal of the Editor. Many new Contributors have thus been added to our staff, who must otherwise have remained behind the scenes until some vacant niche in our literary temple was discovered for them. Several fresh names will therefore be observed among the Contributors to the present Volume, though they by no means appear there to the exclusion of the popular favourites on whose writings the success of the ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE has been built. By the infusion of new blood, a periodical may secure perpetual vigour, so long as the conservative principles of its Editor do not give way before the rush of the inflowing current. The literary talent of Young England knocks loudly at our doors, and is not unfrequently admitted; but, in the selection of these favoured guests, we would meekly express a hope that our editorial wisdom has been approved. Many worthy visitors are doubtless repulsed; but if this act of stern necessity were not performed, there would scarcely be standing-room for some who deserve not to be jostled by the crowd. These observations may soothe the feelings of our disappointed Contributors, many of whose productions deserve the highest praise.

We feel that an apology is due to our readers for the interruptions which have taken place in the appearance of our leading Tale. It was intended that " Arthur Hargrave" should have been completed in the present Volume, but its talented author has been unexpectedly compelled to suspend his labours on one or two occasions, of which the present month affords an instance. He therefore craves the indulgence of the readers of the ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE for two months longer, when their hopes and fears respecting the fate of his dramatis person shall be set at rest.

With the New Year another Tale will be commenced, from the pen of an author whose name is associated with several leading periodicals of the day, and completed in six numbers. We feel confident that the popularity of his writings will not be lessened by the publication of the story now preparing for our pages. The narrative will be accompanied by original and striking Illustrations.

Several features of additional interest will also distinguish the forthcoming issues of the ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE, which will entitle them to the appellation of a NEW SERIES. The shape and size of the work will remain unaltered, and literature of the best description will fill its pages as heretofore. Essays on popular and scientific subjects will appear more frequently than hitherto, and each number will contain one or more Biographical Sketches. The realms of Poetry will be searched more assiduously for the flowers which Nature scatters there less lavishly than she was wont to do in ages past. And where the editorial glance can discover the rays of any luminary which prepares to shine on this prosaic world of ours-any heaven-born poet or wordpainter, whose language needs no rhyme-the acquaintance between them and our readers shall be set on foot, and cultivated with anxious care.

If our ambition be not greater than our deserts, we may anticipate that the New Series of the ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE will obtain a share of public favour even greater than has ever been bestowed on any similar work. Through thirty numbers of the Old Series we have successfully laboured in those functions which we hope to continue with an additional infusion of talent and energy. If our readers have been satisfied with our progress hitherto, for the future we claim their support with confidence.