The next number of the "Gentleman's Magazine" (which will be
published on the 1st of February, 1850), will exhibit several
alterations in the character and arrangement of its contents, which
have been determined upon after due consideration of the present
state of our literature.
Time was when the whole field of English Literature was before us,
and we were its only reapers. At that time the harvest was scarcely
rich enough to supply materials for our monthly comment. One hundred
and twenty years have produced a marvelous revolution. Our
literature has grown and expanded, and been divided and subdivided,
and has still gone on growing and increasing, until--such is its
wonderful extent and fertility--every separate branch maintains its
independent organ, and we ourselves, overpowered by a growth which
we were the first to foster, have gradually been compelled, by our
limited space, to allow one subject after another to drop from under
our notice.
Still, amidst many minor alterations, we have kept an unweakened
hold upon certain main subjects. HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, and ARCHÆOLOGY
have never been neglected, and our OBITUARY has grown into a record
which, even we ourselves may say, has become a permanent and
important portion of the literature of our country.
The changes we are now about to introduce have for their design a
more strict adherence to what we look upon as our peculiar path. We
shall henceforth devote ourselves more particularly--we may say
almost exclusively--to the great subjects we have mentioned. Space
that has been given to other matters will be curtailed, variations
in type and arrangement will afford additional room, and all that
can in any way be gained will be devoted to our main and peculiar
purpose.
We have made arrangements to secure for our pages, by a liberal
outlay, contributions from gentlemen most competent to write upon
their respective subjects of study, and shall strive, more than
ever, to be a worthy organ and representative of that most valuable
and peculiarly interesting branch of literature which has for its
object the instruction of mankind by the study and the perpetuation
of whatever is now doing, or whatever has been done in times past,
which is worthy of being kept in remembrance. We shall endeavour to
put forth a miscellany which will be attractive from its variety,
and from the skill with which its several subjects are treated, and
will be permanently valuable from the importance of the matters to
which it relates.
In principles and general tone of management we have nothing to
retract, nothing to alter. History is Truth, or it is a mere
delusion. The discovery and the establishment of Historical Truth,
in all its branches, are our objects, and we shall continue to
pursue them, as we have done in times past, faithfully and honestly,
but, as we purpose and intend, more diligently and more undividedly.
Contributions should be addressed, post paid, To the Editor of the
"Gentleman's Magazine" to the care of Messrs. Nichols and Son, 25.
Parliament Street, Westminster.
The "Gentleman's Magazine" is published by Messrs. J.B. Nichols and
Son, 25. Parliament Street, Westminster, on the first day of every
month, price 2s. 6d. and may be obtained of all booksellers.
* * * * *
{192} No. I., for 1850, of
JOHN MILLER'S CATALOGUE OF BOOKS, OLD AND NEW,
On sale at 43. Chandos Street, Trafalgar Square, is ready this day,
to be had gratis, and is sent (if required) postage free to any
Book-buyer. The prices are for ready money only.
The following List has been made with a view to exhibit the
character of the selections for the Catalogue generally, as well as
the moderate prices affixed.
It is published regularly every month, with occasional supplemental
sheets and classed Catalogues, embodying in its contents, throughout
the year, works on Archæology, History, Biography, Topography,
Classics, Divinity, Language, &c. together with Poetry and the
Drama, collections relating to Irish History and Antiquities, Books
of Prints, Architecture, Books of Sports, and Treatises on Geology
and Mineralogy, Botany, Gardening, and Domestic Economy.
ANGLING BOOKS:--FISHER'S ANGLING SOUVENIR, beautifully illustrated.
Fcap. 8vo. half morocco binding, 7s. 6d.--HOFLAND'S BRITISH ANGLER'S
MANUAL, by JESSE. Nearly 100 Engravings. Post 8vo. 8s. 6d--CHITTY'S
FLY-FISHER'S TEXT-BOOK. 12 beautiful Steel Plates. 8vo. half calf,
gilt, 7s. 6d.
BALLAD COLLECTIONS:--EVANS' OLD BALLADS. Best Edition. 4 vols. 8vo.
12s. 6d. 1810--GUTCH'S ROBIN HOOD GARLANDS and BALLADS, profusely
illustrated by FAIRHOLT. 2 vols. 8vo. 18s. 6d. 1847.--NICHOL'S
SELECT COLLECTION OF FUGITIVE POETRY. 8 vols. 18mo. half calf.
Portraits. 6s. 6d.--RITSON'S ENGLISH ANTHOLOGY. 3 vols. post 8vo.
half morocco extra. 14s. 6d. 1794.--RITSON'S SELECT COLLECTIONS of
ENGLISH SONGS. 3 vols. post 8vo. calf neat, with Music, 15s.
1783.--ROWTON'S FEMALE POETS OF GREAT BRITAIN, Chronologically
arranged. Square 8vo. 10s. 6d. 1848.
BOOKS OF SPORTS:--BLOME'S GENTLEMAN'S RECREATION IN THE SPORTS OF
HORSEMANSHIP, HAWKING, HUNTING, FOWLING, FISHING, &c. Folio, calf
neat, fine Plates. 1l. 1s. 1710.--GALLERY OF ENGLISH RACE-HORSES AND
PORTRAITS OF SPORTSMEN. 73 Plates. Imp. 8vo. cloth, gilt, 15s.
1844.--MORLEY'S ESSAY ON ARCHERY, 8vo. Plates. Half calf, gilt, 5s.
1792.
BOSWELL'S (J.) LIFE OF DR. S. JOHNSON, including his Tour to the
Hebrides, to which is added Anecdotes by Hawkins, Piozzi, Murphy,
Tyers, Reynolds, Stevens, &c. Edited by J.W. CROKER. Cloth. 50
Plates, 1l. 1s. 1835.
BROWN'S (SIR THOMAS) COMPLETE WORKS, containing his Vulgar Errors,
Religio Medici, and Miscellaneous Writings, complete in 1 vol.
folio, calf, gilt, fine port, by White, 18s.
BUCKLAND'S RELIQUIÆ DILUVINÆ, on OBSERVATIONS ON THE ORGANIC
REMAINS, contained in Caves, Fissures, and Diluvian Gravel, and of
other Geological Phenomena. 4to. Fine Plates, some coloured, scarce,
1l. 1s.
BURTON'S (T.) CROMWELLIAN DIARY, from 1656 to 1659, published from
the Original Autograph Manuscript, with an Introduction, containing
an Account of the Parliament of 1654, edited and illustrated with
Notes, by J.T. RUTT. 4 vols. 8vo. front., neatly bound in half calf,
gilt, 16s.
BYRON'S (LORD) LETTERS AND JOURNALS, with Notices of his Life, by
THOMAS MOORE, 3 vols. 8vo., illustrated with 44 Engravings by the
Findens, from Designs by Turner, Stanfield, &c., elegantly
half-bound morocco, marble edges, by Hayday, 1l. 8s.
COVERDALE'S BIBLE. The Holy Scriptures faithfully and truly
translated by MILES COVERDALE, Bishop of Exeter, 1535, reprinted
from the Duke of Sussex's copy. 4to. very elegantly bound in purple
calf, blind tooled in antique style, gilt edges, fine copy. 2l. 2s.
Bagster, 1838.
DANIELL'S (WM.) SKETCHES, representing the Native Tribes, Animals,
and Scenery of Southern Africa, from Drawings made by S. DANIELL.
Royal 4to. half bd. morocco, uncut, consisting of 48 fine engravings
of animals, scenery, portraits of the various tribes, &c. Proofs on
India paper, 1l. 1s. 1820.
EARLY ENGLISH DRAMA. DODSLEY'S Select Collection of Old Plays. 12
vols. 12mo. old calf, gilt, neat. 1l. 1s.--DRYDEN'S Entire Dramatic
Works. 6 Vols. 12mo. calf, neat print. 8s. 6d. 1717.--SHIRLEY'S
Dramatic Works and Poems. By the Rev. A. DYCE. 6 vols. 8vo.,
portrait. 1l. 4s. 1833.--MIDDLETON'S (THOMAS) Dramatic Works, with
Life and Notes, by the Rev. A. DYCE. 5 vols. 8vo. With autograph of
LEIGH HUNT. 1l. 4s. 1840.
FREEMASONS' (The) QUARTERLY REVIEW, from its commencement in 1834,
to the Year 1847, inclusive. 14 vols. 8vo. newly and elegantly half
bound, purple calf, backs emblematically tooled, only 3l. 10s.
1834-47.
GIBBON'S (E.) HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 6
vols. 4to. calf, gilt, good copy. 1l. 5s. 1788.
KAY'S SERIES OF ORIGINAL PORTRAITS AND CARICATURE ETCHINGS, with
Biographical Sketches and Illustrative Anecdotes. 2 thick vols. 4to.
half bd., morocco, marbled edges. 329 engraved portraits. 3l. 13s.
6d. 1838.
NICOLAS'S (Sir H.) TESTAMENTA VETUSTA, being Illustrations from
Wills of Manners and Customs as well as of the Descents and
Possessions of many Distinguished Families, from the Reign of Henry
the Second, to the Accession of Queen Elizabeth, with Notes by Sir
Harris Nicolas. 2 vols. royal 8vo. bds. 15s. 1826.
PAYNE'S ROYAL DRESDEN GALLERY, from Pictures of the Great Masters. 2
vols. 4to. Complete in parts: a Subscriber's copy, fine plates. 1l.
16s. 1849.
PLOWDON'S (Dr. F.) HISTORICAL REVIEW OF THE STATE OF IRELAND, from
the Invasion of Henry II. to its Union with Great Britain in 1801;
with Appendices of Original Papers. Portrait. 3 vols. 4to. Half
calf, uncut. 1l. 1s. 1803.
SCRIPTORES REI RESTICÆ. Opera Agricolationum Columellæ, Varronis,
Catonisque, nec non Paladii. Annot. Beroaldi. Folio, calf, fine
copy, rubricated capitals, gilt edges. 16s. Bononiæ, 1504.
STRUTT'S CHRONICLE OF ENGLAND, or a Complete History, Civil and
Ecclesiastical, of the Ancient Britons and Saxons, from Cæsar to the
Conquest, with a View of Manners, Customs, Habits, &c. Many Plates,
2 vols. 4to. half bd. russia, neat, 1l. 10s. 1777.
WILBERFORCE (WILLIAM), THE LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF, edited and
arranged by his Sons, the Rev. R.T. WILBERFORCE and the Rev. SAM.
WILBERFORCE. 5 vols. crown 8vo. Portraits, &c. Calf, gilt. 1l. 4s.
1838.
WILKIE. THE GALLERY, with Notices Biographical and Critical, a
Portrait of WILKIE, and a View of his Birth-place. Folio, 44 fine
Engravings. 2l. 2s. A subscriber's copy. 1849.
WILLIAM III.--LETTERS ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE REIGN OF, from 1696 to
1708, addressed to the Duke of SHREWSBURY, by JAMES VERNON, Esq.,
Secretary of State, now first published from the Originals, edited
by G.P.R. JAMES, Esq., 3 vols. 8vo. Fine portrait. Half calf, gilt,
14s. 6d. 1841.
JOHN MILLER, 43. Chandos Street, Trafalgar Square.
* * * * *
Printed by THOMAS CLARK SHAW, of No. 8. New Street Square, at No. 5.
New Street Square, in the Parish of St. Bride, in the City of
London; and published by GEORGE BELL, of No. 186. Fleet Street, in
the Parish of St. Dunstan in the West, in the City of London,
Publisher, at No. 186. Fleet Street aforesaid.--Saturday, January
19. 1850.