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In commencing a Third Volume, the Editors feel that it is a duty no less just than pleasing to acknowledge again the liberal support which has been bestowed on the Instructor. Without thinking of providing reading for learned or critical people, but for such only as have little claim probably to much literary taste or knowledge, the Instructor has yet found favour with a great portion of the clergy and with many most intellectual Catholics, who have kindly overlooked deficiencies in their approbation of its general purpose, and have declared the profit and pleasure even which they derive from pages not at all published for their benefit. A considerable and extending circulation among the poor, the young, and the middle classes, whose friendship we have chiefly sought, and the approval and support of many wise and learned of our community ought, at this time, to call forth our gratitude, and we purpose to show it not merely by our present thanks, but by endeavouring to make this third volume still more pleasing and instructive than its predecessors.

Whilst noticing the favour shown to them, the Editors must also confess that they have received many letters, sometimes finding fault, and often suggesting great alterations in the character of the Magazine. Some strongly press upon us the propriety of making it altogether a Religious periodical; they think that many articles on natural history or science, extracts from travellers' books, pieces of poetry, and many tales of fiction might be wisely omitted; they state that the times, now fermenting with religious considerations, require for the masses a periodical cheap and popular, yet strictly Catholic, and not containing a line but which would be in accordance with the gravest and most serious minds. We most respectfully remind these correspondents, that support was asked for this work from the first, as "A MISCELLANY of Religious, Instructive, and Entertaining Knowledge;" and that if we adopt their suggestion, we shall be obnoxious to the charge of breaking faith with many subscribers from the beginning, and by no means wishful of such alteration. Again, the changes in the religious mind of England, which have been so much talked of during the last twelve months, and which are said to need more devotional instruction than we supply, chiefly affect some among the learned, and have disturbed but little yet, the sort of readers for whom we wish to provide information. We very much question if a magazine of the uniformly serious complexion recommended by these writers would succeed at present; we shall continue therefore to inculcate, whenever we can, good moral and religious lessons as heretofore, now by a pleasing narrative, and anon by a piece of poetry or anecdote. Interesting reading, even when it conveys no special instruction, may serve many times an excellent purpose if found in the same page or book with useful and pious precepts; we well know that it causes attention and reflection to be given tó ruths which otherwise would be past by as impertinent or wearisome.

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Another suggestion, and of an opposite nature, has been frequently made to us, that news, of a religious bearing, at least, should be admitted into the pages of the InstrucWe are asked to give accounts of the struggles of the Faith in various parts of the globe, of dedications of churches, reports of conversions, lists of confirmations, &c.; and letters reach us weekly, soliciting notices of grievous local wants in England and Ireland, such as the destitution of certain districts, or the peculiar urgency of many necessities of individuals or missions. It is not, God knows, that we are indifferent to these claims on Catholic sympathies; but other organs have been established expressly to communicate intelligence of the kind, and to urge proper succour where it is solicited, and where it can be given. In our prospectus long ago we promised to interfere as little as we could with journals already existing; and while there is no unusual lack of such means of imparting Catholic news or Catholic privations, many have long felt the want of some work like our own, instructive, edifying, and cheap, and not depending for its interest on passing events or particular places, but able to survive the season of its birth, and give pleasure when taken up many months or years afterwards. We may ask these kind correspondents if they remember any magazine, before the Instructor appeared, printed in the English language, devoted to Catholic morality, accessible to the poor, and from its avoidance of all matters of temporary interest, putting in a claim to be preserved and read in the family circle long after the day of publication? We cannot call to mind certainly any periodical of the sort carried on for any length of time amongst us, and similar to our own; but that such a one was needed, is clear, not only from the weekly and monthly sale of the Instructor, but still more from that of the two last volumes in their present finished state, many hundred copies having been required during the last fortnight, some for the purpose (so we have understood) of being given as Christmas presents, and the rest by individuals and families who seek religious improvement or literary recreation, when they have only a few minutes to spare, in the short and varied articles to be found in these two books. Far better, we are fully aware, could the contents of these books have been made; for not only our own deficiencies, but the number and pressure of our other engagements force this truth continually on our memories; but, imperfect as are our labours, we have been fully assured by experience that a magazine like this was required amongst us, altogether free from politics, and altogether free from news, and that when further improved, it will obtain very wide support, and effect much more extended good.

To another class of correspondents we wish to say a few words. Many take this miscellany in monthly parts, and the number purchasing in this way is increasing faster than of those buying it in weekly numbers. As the Calendar given on the first leaf of each number is considered useful and interesting by a great portion of our subscribers, but is comparatively valueless to those who receive the Instructor only at the end of the month, some of the latter have recommended us to publish only monthly. To give the Calendar at the beginning of the month would certainly be very desirable, and while unwilling to abandon the form of weekly publication, we will strive to make some arrangements by which those purchasing monthly parts shall have them at the beginning instead of the end of the month.

We seize this occasion also to thank our many kind Contributors, and to beg a continuance of their favours, whether they be original articles, or extracts from books, which they think worthy of being made for the purpose of preservation in the pages of a Catholic Magazine.