PREFACE SECOND PART OF THE EIGHTY-FIFTH VOLUME. THE mind which has been accustomed, for a long series of years, to contemplate one object principally, acquires a tone, assumes a character, encourages hopes alternately succeeded by fears, as the influence of that object is extended or contracted, is elevated or depressed. It is not till it disappears altogether from the moral horizon, that the mental powers become sufficiently composed to take a calm retrospective view of the past, and to look with complacency to the future. This, for too long a time, has been precisely our condition with re respect to the Periodical Addresses, which it is alike our duty and our pleasure to present to our Readers: our principal attention has unavoidably been attracted towards one vast blazing meteor, the influence of which has been more or less seriously felt in every Region, in every Government of whatever denomination, in all ranks of all Society, in Morals, in Manners, in Literature, and in General Science. Among the proud and vaunting documents, which he to whom we allude, from time to time exhibited to the crouching and servile herds of his myrmidons and slaves, one, as is well known, commenced with the remarkable words, "Moscow is no more." Thankful ought we to feel ourselves, and thankful, indeed, we are, that, with far greater propriety as well truth, we may now exclaim in the emphatic words of the Prophet: "How hath the oppressor ceased! The golden city ceased. He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. The whole earth is at rest and is quiet. How art thou fallen, Lucifer, Son of the Morning; how art thou cut down to the ground which didst we which didst weaken the nation." It would be easy to pursue this grateful theme much further, but we scorn the language of triumphant exultation, nor indeed does there exist any provocation for indulging it.. Recent facts must have made an impression never to be forgotten; and the present relative conditions of Britain and of Europe, supersede all necessity of expatiating on the subject of our triumphs and victories, and leave us in the security of leisure e to contemplate the smiling and auspicious Band with which Peace is again re-assembling. Pax, optima rerum Quas homini novisse datum est, pax una triumphis Et cives æquare potens. GENERAL LIBRARY RARY OF GEORO When When our wishes, our studies, our labours, our talents, are continually occupied in the attempt to multiply knowledge and diffuse science in all its branches, it becomes more and more difficult to communicate these predominating feelings in terms of sufficient novelty to excite curiosity and interest - we must, therefore, content ourselves with assuring our numerous Friends and Readers, that we shall ever be on the alert to place before them, as comprehensively as we can, whatever discoveries in Philosophy, or improvements in Learning, may promise to promote the real advantages of Society, or expand and adorn the human mind. Our valuable Correspondents justify us in making this declaration, for the truth of which it is only necessary to appeal to our last labours, where may be found, under the sanction of illustrious names, every path explored to the Temple of Knowledge. The old and the experienced, the young and the gay, the philosopher, the divine, the scholar, and the poet, may each and all find matter of information and amusement, of intellectual exercise and of mental repose. May these and similar subjects, for the future, occupy the whole of our pages! May we never again be called upon to record scenes of carnage and sanguinary triumphs! May no new Sesostris arise to sacrifice, at the shrine of his mad ambition, the tranquillity of an agitated world! They whose employment it will be hereafter to record the transactions of the last twenty years, for the benefit and instruction of future generations, are invited carefully and impartially to examine such documents as they will find interspersed in our Volumes. To these we boldly appeal in testimony of the part which we have uniformly and consistently acted, in the disorganizing confusion of passing events. Victory has never intoxicated, nor misfortune depressed us; we invariably reflected on the past with complacency, and looked forward to the future with hope; we have never pleaded in any other cause, nor advocated any other maxims, than those which had for their ultimate object, Security, Independence, and the unbiassed and uncontrouled avocations of Learning. This has been our creed, and such has been our conduct. . In such sentiments and principles SYLVANUS URBAN and his assistants have lived in such they mean to die. Sperat infestis, metuit secundis Alteram fortunam, bene preparatum LIST OF PLATES. Arches, Specimens of, from English Ca- Miller, Philip, Monument to, 409. Sawston Church, co. Cambridge, Monumental Slab in, 27. Selby Abbey Church, View of, 105.-Sin- Caen, Normandy, Abbey Church of Westminster, Old Dormitory, &c. at, and Remains of part of the Crypt, 201. |