The twenty third volume is now added to the Gentleman’s Magazine; and a preface is requisite only because there have been prefaces to all that have gone before it. In the beginning of this undertaking it was necessary to recommend it to the candour of the publick, by a display of its contents; and, as soon as the publick suffrage was obtained, a preface was appropriated to a contest with malignity and opposition; a contest, like that of stinging insects, which may pester the lion in the sunshine of autumn, but which the first blast of winter is sure to sweep away. In a few years, time decided in our favour; part of our enemies sunk to nothing, and tho’ we have still imitators we have no competitor.

It may, perhaps, be thought that we are yet in danger from the weariness which a long calm naturally causes, and the security which is too frequently the effect of success; but as our book has been long considered as the medium, thro’ which men of learning and genius correspond with each other, our own labour naturally diminished as the merit of our collection encreased; and as many of our correspondents resided in remote countries, its circulation became more extensive, and our success obtained greater stability; the benefit has indeed, in some degree, been mutual; many hints have been started in our collection which have produced enquiry, and these enquiries have seldom failed to produce new knowledge.1 We have illustrated natural philosophy,2 not only by cuts, but by colouring, and, that we might comprehend a greater variety of knowledge, we have added to those tracts which are originally published in our miscellany, not a list only, but some account of the books that have appeared as well in our own as in foreign countries. The favour of the publick, and the assistance of genius, which we have thus obtained, will ever be considered by us as an incitement, not only to perseverance but improvement, that we may still justify the zeal of our patrons, and not be disgraced by the praises that we receive.