As continued favours demand repeated acknowledgements, we hope, our gratitude will not be thought either ostentatious or troublesome, if we once more express our sense of the kind reception which we have now experienced to the end of the twelfth year.

We have still the satisfaction of finding, not only by the applauses of our friends, but by a more certain proof, the continuance of our sale, that our collections are yet highest in the esteem of the learned, inquisitive, and judicious; that our debates are considered as the most faithful and accurate (see pp. 511, 569) representation of senatorial proceedings;1 that our extracts from printed papers are esteemed for their impartiality and perspicuity; that our poetry finds advocates among the severest critics; that our account of foreign affairs is regarded as the best recapitulation of intelligence,2 and that where elegance is not to be attained, we are allowed so far the praise of diligence and fidelity, that our papers are consulted as the most copious repositories of domestic occurrences.

Among the many original pieces which we have inserted, the lives of celebrated men have been thought worthy of particular attention, and it shall be our endeavour to preserve it, by continuing our enquiries on that head. That we have hitherto oftner entertained our readers with accounts of foreigners than of our own countrymen, is not to be imputed to partiality, but to the care with which other nations preserve the memories of those to whom they are indebted for discoveries in science or works of genius.3

It would afford us no small degree of satisfaction to free our own country from the censure of ingratitude to such as have extended its reputation, beyond the progress of our arms, or of our commerce, and therefore entreat those who have been acquainted with any circumstances of the lives of learned or remarkable men, to transmit them to us, that they may be added to those which we may obtain from other hands, or at least be treasured in our collections, as materials for future biographers.

If any thing farther be thought, by our correspondents, necessary to compleat our plan, to which we have from year to year made additions, we continue to hope for advice and information; for we are not yet so much elated by success, as to imagine that we have attained perfection.4

Among those who have already favour’d us with such hints, we cannot but pay a particular acknowledgement to the author of the judicious proposal of an introduction to our magazine, which we hope to compile with that candour and impartiality which he has been pleased to commend in our past productions, and to comprise it in less compass than he appears to expect.

As we doubt not but the favour of the publick will be preserved by the same conduct which obtained it, we shall endeavour to show, that applause has rather increased than relaxed our application, and that victory has not lulled us in security, but excited us to vigilance.