Page:The New Monthly Magazine - Volume 039.djvu/12

2 Publication, in order that the result may be commensurate with the growing spirit of the age, which demands, in a Magazine, not only articles connected with criticism and other portions of the belles-lettres, but whatever can amuse, instruct, and refine; narratives of life and adventure—illustrations of personal character—anecdotes—the appy sallies of humour—and the loftier exercise of imagination.

The Proprietor has accordingly taken measures to secure, by a concentration of minds suits to every department of the work, all that the public can possibly desire—all that is requisite to render the Publication deserving of the continued support of the different classes of the community, to whom this species of literature is at once a necessity and a luxury; and it will be the aim of those who have the honour of conducting it, to raise its character to a yet higher point than it has hitherto attained.

it be from the obtuseness of our understanding or the inveteracy of our prejudice, we confess we are not yet converts to Mr. Bulwer's arguments against preserving the anonymous in periodicals. It appears to us that he confounds the abuses of the thing with the thing itself, and that, after his admissions, his objections may be easily neutralized, if not refuted. We think that the anonymous, as it more especially regards periodical criticism, ought to be the rule, and affixing the name of the writer to any particular article the exception;—nay, we advance a step farther, we maintain that the editorial function itself should be sustained anonymously,—at least, that the name of the editor, if known at all, should be rather understood than avowed; and though at present we cannot enter into the question at large, we shall assign a few reasons in support of the views we entertain upon the subject.

Of course, when we speak of periodical criticism, we must be understood to mean these reviews and literary notices which regard books, and not then,—which point out fairly and fearlessly the excellencies and faults of writers, the good or evil principles, the nature and tendency of