not worth saying more about. The object of the paper is another matter. There are great changes coming in the world; great modifications of the best things in it, and new leave-takings, I hope, of the worst. So thinks and hopes every body who thinks at all. So intimated Prince Albert to the citizens of London in the best speech ever made by a prince in this country; adding, that he "conceived it to be the duty of every educated person closely to watch and study the time in which he lives, and, as far as in him lies, to add his humble mite of individual exertion to further the accomplishment of what he believes Providence to have ordained."

Now the object which I have most at heart in the new Journal is to help in assisting the right progress of these changes, by the cultivation of a spirit of cheerfulness, reasonableness, and peace; and the most special means which I look for to this end, and which I earnestly desire on all sides, from all parties and shades of party, or of no party at all, is the countenance and co-operation of men the most distinguished for genius and public spirit. I hope they will deign to consider the Journal as a kind of neutral ground, or academic grove and resort of wit and philosophy, in which, while they freely express thetr opinions, whatever those may be, they will do so in accordance with the particular spirit of the place, and whether or not they think it the best and most useful spirit to be evinced at other times.

I could not give a better instance of what I mean, than by referring to the encouragement

extended to my outset by my (in every sense of the word) great friend Thomas Carlyle, who, though I strongly differ with him respecting some other great men, and though I had but lately ventured some public remonstrances with his preference of that stormy to the sunny treatment of existing human affairs, which he thinks necessary to their well-being, has not only bid me God-speed in my undertaking in a manner the most practical and desirable, but answered those remonstrances in such beautiful private words, as I only wish delicacy could allow me to publish: they are so full of that superiority to self-love, and that very honey of kindness and goodness, which lie at the core of all truly great hearts.

Such excellent things are sincerity and good intention in the highest minds, or in any minds. And so truly do they, and they only, enable a man to discern them in others, and to pardon them when differing with himself.

With respect to my own part in the Journal, it is the first time in my life that, in a work of this nature, I have had men of business at my side, who, in addition to their power of assisting in the literary portion, will give it those chances of circulation which can only be found in commercial channels. The tone and temper of the articles which I shall write, will be the same as in the Journal which had nearly the same title; and as to my opinions, they will be expressed so entirely with the usual freedom, that my readers will soon see whether I continue to deserve the good wishes of my friends the Many, or whether, and by which

of their conflicting judgments, I am to be estimated according to certain of the Few; whether as a person who would pull down all religion and government; or whether as a person who would set all up; or whether as a person who would set them up this week, and pull them down the next; or, on the other hand, just vice versa to that (purely to oblige a gentleman who had a preconception to that effect). All this I shall thankfully leave to such trouble as the reader may choose to take on the subject; myself having got tired of autobiographical statements of any kind, especially to such differers with me in opinion as have made up their minds publicly on the subject, and who therefore cannot afford to undo those very important parcels. Some of these gentlemen come to the most extraordinary conclusions, owing to mean ideas which it would be a meanness to refute; others for similar reasons "best known to themselves;" and some from sheer confusion of one person with another. It has always been so, and always will, as long as people are more uneasy at giving up a mistake than doing justice.

My late admirable friend Thomas Campbell, when I first knew him, was persuaded by one of them to take me for Henry Hunt, the pike-parader at Bristol. Not long since, Douglas Jerrold, of whom I never uttered a word, public or private, except in friendliness (due to him for his genius and his long friendship for myself), was told by another (who it was, I know not), that in something which I had said to the advantage of his wit and popularity, I intended, not to praise, but to

abuse him! And a little before this, a friend in a manufacturing town was informed that I was a terrible speculator in the money markets! I, who was never in a market of any kind but to buy an apple or a flower, and who could not dabble in money dealings if I would, from sheer ignorance of their language.

But enough of enemies, for ever. Of friends, never. I confidently trust my undertaking in the hands of those, and of the public at large, feeling sure that they will not disapprove its spirit, whatever they may say to its power; and hoping that the distinguished correspondents who commence with it, and other younger and to-be-distinguished ones whom I expect in their company, will save it from falling off, should my own strength be insufficient. I feel no abatement of it yet, thank God, as far as brain, or as heart and hope are concerned; and success may give it me in respects less important.

The plan of the Journal will be seen from this first number; and so

"Chi lo leggerà, viva felice."

May he, and she, that read it, live and prosper.

LEIGH HUNT.