in, 79 Serjeant's Inn, 168 Seville, in Spain, 170 Signs of the weather, 77 Sigourney, Mrs., lines by, 140, 179, 197 Sisters, influence of, 78 Robinson, extracts from, 93, 102, 110, Sketches of Japan and the Japanese. 120, 144 Rocks, classification of, 118 whales mistaken for, 150 Rogers, lines by, 187 Roman remains, sonnet by Words. worth on some, 232 Rosy feather-star, 60 Royal Exchange, the New, 192 Sabbath Bell, 45 I. 141-11. 147-III. 188-IV. 203 Sky-lark, natural history of the, 5 Slade, quoted, 174 Smith, Colonel H., on the habits of the wolf. 133, 147 extracts from, 179, 190, 206, 228 Smyth, Professor, remaiks by, 134, 192, 229 Snow-drop, lines to the, 229 Society, the great movements of, 70 St Paul's School, historical notice of, Solid materials of the earth, 110 113, 137 Sago palmist, the, 232 Sal-g -gem, 223 Salamanca, in Spain, 153 Sanctuary, right of, 13, 20 Sand-stars, 77 Scholar, 190 School and the University, 155 Schlegel, remark by, 189, 190 Schulze, Dr., 130 Solitude, 140 Solutions of Chess Problems, 248 Somerville, Mrs., remarks by, 140, 221 Sonnet by Bryant, 152 by Wordsworth, 232 Sotheby, quoted, 65 Spain, Salamanca, in, 153 Seville, in, 170 -Toledo, in, 185 Sussex, Arundel Castle, in, 241 Sympathy and selfishness, 229 Van Diemen's Land, turnips of, 147 Kuibel, extract from, 160 Vegetable barometers, 174. Parasites, I. 149-II. 197 Verona, the city of, 49 Visit to a Welsh mountain quarry, 19 Von Weber, remark by, 143 Weather, signs of the, 77 Syrian Christians in India, 181, 190, Welsh fuueral customs, 187 199 Taking advice, 160 Temperature, 220 Things to be remembered, 21 Tickhill Castle, Yorkshire, 73 improvement of, 171 Trades and professions, 147 True and false friends, 188 Turnips of Van Diemen's Land, 147 Uneducated people, language of, 61, 67.78 Whales mistaken for rocks, 150 Yorkshire, Athlestane's Chapel, Conisborough Castle, 69 Beverley Frid-stool, 20 Young camels, staid demeanour of, 144 Zimmermann, remarks by, 140, 171, 200, 222 building, 137 Salamanca, city of, 153 Sanctuary, the old, at Westminster, [3 Sand-star, the, 77 Scotland, views in, 193, 225 Seville, Giralda Tower at, 169 South front of Ashridge, 9 Surat, fortifications of, 37 Thornton Abbey, gatehouse of, 233 Vegetable parasites, 149, 197 Wedding party, a Japanese, 193 Wiltshire, bell-turrets at Biddlestone, in, 45, 52 Woodlark, the, 93 Wool-bearing animals of Peru and Chile, 145 Yorkshire, Athelstane's Chapel, Conisborough Castle, 69 20 Frid stool at Beverley, in, Tickhill Castle, in, 73 COMPLETION OF THE SATURDAY MAGAZINE. AND COMMENCEMENT OF PARKER'S LONDON MAGAZINE. Ir is now more than twelve years since the Saturday Magazine was first offered to the public. At the time of its establishment there was a general demand for cheap publications, and that demand was met with an activity corresponding to an appetite which seemed to "grow with what it fed on." But the supply was not wholesome and sound, neither was it harmless. A large portion of it was furnished by persons who had set themselves in opposition, not only to the powers that be in Church and State, but to the precepts and practices of our holy religion, and the sublime truths of Revelation itself. Hence it was that week after week there were poured forth, in various shapes and in countless thousands, low-priced publications teeming with licentiousness and sedition, with impiety and blasphemy. This state of things proved the necessity of meeting the demand for popular literature with a supply of such as might fairly be permitted to circulate in a Christian country. The Saturday Magazine was accordingly put forth under the auspices of a Committee of General Literature and Education, specially appointed by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, for the purpose of furnishing cheap reading for the people. In laying down rules for the management of the Saturday Magazine it was decided, in order to avoid collision and discussion, that no notice whatever should be taken of existing publications of an opposite bias and tendency, nor controversial topics of any kind be broached; and thus it was that the Saturday Magazine never became a vehicle for the circulation of doctrines or opinions. It was determined that the weekly sheet should be filled with matter which every order of persons might read and enjoy; that the subjects should be as various as the limited number of its pages would admit; and the style and treatment as light and popular as was consistent with the character and station of the venerable Society under whose auspices it was ushered into the world. But of course throughout its various articles the spirit of truth and justice, of religion and piety, was maintained, and the great duty of imparting a Christian character and tendency to every branch of popular knowledge was kept in view. It was expected and believed that a work of this kind would at once become the most effectual practical check that could be offered to the circulation of the pernicious trash whereby the minds of the people were poisoned and public decency outraged. This expectation was fulfilled to a great extent. Aided by the Clergy, as well as by active and pains-taking Laymen, the Saturday Magazine was quickly circulated throughout the length and breadth of the land, while the obnoxious publications sank into contempt, and one after another disappeared. The Saturday Magazine, therefore, was from the first a magazine for the times. Well has it done its work, and vast and durable have been the benefits it has conferred on Society. It has been, under Providence, the means of conveying light into dark places, of purifying the streams and invigorating the sources of knowledge, and of conducting the inquiring mind through Nature up to Nature's God. But when the Saturday Magazine had acquired circulation, which is power, and was seen to work well and freely in an atmosphere cleansed and purified by its own motion, it was felt that much more remained to be done than could possibly be achieved within the limited space, and under the stringent conditions, to which, in order to render it available for its original purposes, the work had necessarily been confined. This conviction has been gradually extending, and it is now generally admitted that though the Saturday Magazine may have excited and met an inquiry for secular knowledge, collected and combined with Christian spirit, sound doctrine and spiritual knowledge have yet to be supplied. Faithfully adhering to the principles laid down in the first instance, the Saturday Magazine has extended to twenty-five volumes, filled with facts and principles in Science and the Useful Arts with Antiquities, History and Biography-Natural History and Illustrations of Natural Phenomena Topographical Descriptions, and Sketches of Voyages and Travels-and with select portions of poetry and light prose literature-abundantly garnished throughout with small pieces in verse and prose, wherein some fact or precept worthy of remembrance is conveyed, while the pieces themselves furnish agreeable specimens of the works of their respective writers and of the literature of their day. More than this the limits and constitution of the work do not permit. To continue it therefore subject to existing conditions would involve the risk of becoming monotonous, and less practically useful, as well as the certainty of making the work so large as to render it on that account alone difficult for many of its present subscribers to perfect their sets: and place it wholly out of the reach of others who may desire to obtain it in a completed state. To depart from the original conditions, even were a new series to be commenced, in order to make it, as it is now deemed right and desirable to do, a vehicle for the expression of opinions, as well as a journal of recreative literature, would be a breach of faith to two parties, namely, those who commenced, and those who supported, the work on its first-mentioned conditions. It is therefore determined that the Saturday Magazine shall be completed in twenty-five volumes, including a copious INDEX TO THE WHOLE, and in this form it will be kept permanently accessible in parts, volumes, or entire sets, at the option of old or new purchasers. The concluding Number, Part, and Volume, are now published, and on the 1st of January, 1845, its successor commences, under the title of PARKER'S LONDON MAGAZINE, WHEREIN FACTS AND EVENTS WILL BE CHRONICLED, MEN AND MANNERS DISCUSSED, BOOKS AND OTHER SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE CONSIDERED, TO THE EDIFICATION AND ENTERTAINMENT OF THE READER. IN announcing the appearance of a new Magazine, to take the place of one which for twelve years past has enjoyed the confidence of the public, and which is now discontinued, from a convic tion that it has answered the end which its projectors had in view, it is felt that the very large body of subscribers to the Saturday Magazine have a particular, as the public at large have a general, interest in learning the manner in which PARKER'S LONDON MAGAZINE will be conducted. The new Magazine, like its predecessor and pioneer, will set forth instruction and amusement in a popular form. It will contain not only light and entertaining articles in miscellaneous Literature, but other original papers on more grave and solid subjects, that so each member of the family circle, the aged and the young alike, may welcome its periodical appearance for reasons separately, and especially their own. In addition, however, to articles and papers of this description, PARKER'S LONDON MAGAZINE will be distinguished by a firm and temperate avowal of sound views on matters of interest to the different classes of the community. Reverence for the Church, and loyalty to the Queen, will be conspicuous in its pages; and we shall seek to find or to make our readers hearty Churchmen and loving subjects. The duties of the rich, and the rights of the poor-the blessings of subordination, and the responsibilities of high office-will be faithfully and fearlessly maintained. When measures affecting the temporal well-being of the people pass under review, Religion, not Policy, will be our guide; and men shall be judged, not by their party, but by their words and their actions. In like manner, on matters more directly involving the interests of Religion, we shall recognize as the fitting object of our allegiance the Church of our Baptism—" the CHURCH of ENGLAND as it is distinguished from all PAPAL and PURITAN innovations* ” Our principles, therefore, will be found to be at once essentially Catholic, and distinctively Anglican. Thus shall we hope to be the means of drawing together, by a common bond of union, minds and hearts which have of late been too much estranged: securing for the Church of our Fathers that hold upon the affections of high and low among our people, which made the Home of our Fathers the land of contentment and of joy, even Happie and Merrie England. PARKER'S LONDON MAGAZINE will be published monthly, in Octavo, price One Shilling, and it is intended that each Number shall comprise a leading article upon some subject of general interest: Original Papers and Communications, in Prose and Verse: Historical Notes in connexion with the Month: Reviews and Notices of Books: Remarks on Public Events: together with the occasional introduction of Anecdotes and Amusing Extracts. # Bishop Ken. |