HARPER'S
NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE.
VOLUME IV.
DECEMBER, 1851, TO MAY, 1852.
NEW YORK:
HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS,
329 & 331 PEARL STREET,
FRANKLIN SQUARE.
1852.
ADVERTISEMENT.
The Fourth Volume of Harper's New Monthly Magazine is completed by the issue of thepresent number. The Publishers embrace the opportunity of renewing the expression of theirthanks to the public and the press, for the extraordinary degree of favor with which its successiveNumbers have been received. Although it has but just reached the close of its second year, itsregular circulation is believed to be at least twice as great as that of any similar work ever issued inany part of the world.
The Magazine will be continued in the same general style, and upon the same plan, as heretofore.Its leading purpose is to furnish, at the lowest price, and in the best form, the greatest possibleamount of the useful and entertaining literary productions of the present age. While it is by nomeans indifferent to the highest departments of culture, it seeks primarily to place before the greatmasses of the people, in every section of the country, and in every walk of life, the most attractiveand instructive selections from the current literature of the day. No degree of labor or expensewill be spared upon any department. The most gifted and popular authors of the country writeconstantly for its pages; the pictorial illustrations by which every Number is embellished are of thebest style, and by the most distinguished artists; the selections for its pages are made from thewidest range and with the greatest care; and nothing will be left undone, either in providing material,or in its outward dress, which will tend in any degree to make it more worthy the remarkable favorwith which it has been received.
The Magazine will contain regularly as hitherto:
First.—One or more original articles upon some topic of general interest, written by some popularwriter, and illustrated by from fifteen to thirty wood engravings, executed in the highest styleof art:
Second.—Copious selections from the current periodical literature of the day, with tales of themost distinguished authors, such as Dickens, Bulwer, Lever, and others—chosen always for theirliterary merit, popular interest, and general utility:
Third.—A Monthly Record of the events of the day, foreign and domestic, prepared with care,and with entire freedom from prejudice and partiality of every kind:
Fourth.—Critical Notices of the Books of the day, written with ability, candor, and spirit, anddesigned to give the public a clear and reliable estimate of the important works constantly issuingfrom the press:
Fifth.—A Monthly Summary of European Intelligence concerning Books, Authors, and whateverelse has interest and importance for the cultivated reader:
Sixth.—An Editor's Table, in which some of the leading topics of the day will be discussed withability and independence:
Seventh.—An Editor's Easy Chair, or Drawer, which will be devoted to literary and generalgossip, memoranda of the topics talked about in social circles, graphic sketches of the most interestingminor matters of the day, anecdotes of literary men, sentences of interest from papers notworth reprinting at length, and generally an agreeable and entertaining collection of literarymiscellany.
The Publishers trust that it is not necessary for them to reiterate their assurances that nothingshall ever be admitted to the pages of the Magazine in the slightest degree offensive to delicacy orto any moral sentiment. They will seek steadily to exert upon the public a healthy moral influenc