CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193, PICCADILLY. 31
THE NATIONAL REVIEW.
PUBLISHED QUARTERLY.
Price 6s.
E NATIONAL REVIEW, in defining its distinctive position, may dispense with the language of promise, and appeal to the results of the last six years.
It leaves to the Magazines the office, which they so well discharge, of furnishing intellectual amusement, and holding the mirror up to life, with only incidental and variable moral purpose.
It leaves to the other Quarterlies the office of representing some constituted party in Church or State; whose political or ecclesiastical creed forms their fixed centre of gravity, and determines the direction and latitude of their critique on literature, art, manners, and philosophy.
Warring with no interest, and identified with none, it is free to approach every problem from the scientific side, to treat it with~conscientious thoroughness, and seek for it a judicial solution. To learn the policy of a party or the doctrines of a sect, the reader must look elsewhere ; but if he cares for the principles which underlie the conflicts of the hour, if he is eager rather for the opening truth of the future than the watchwords of the past, he will meet, in the NATIONAL REVIEW, the sympathy of men who have nothing to prop up and nothing to destroy, but are resolved to carry every discussion to the ultimate test of reality and right.
The break-up of old feuds and factions has made room for a journal conducted in this spirit. In every stratum of educated English society liberal men abound who can welcome trustworthy reports of the newer aspects of religious and philosophic thought, and are glad to seek light on their political duties in the atmosphere rather of the closet than of the clubs. On the quiet strength of this growing class the REVIEW has relied through occasional storms of partisan displeasure. At the same time, it has never, by any cosmopolitan professions (which are but another form of party narrow- ness) contradicted its name of ‘ National.’ In times of foreign conflict, the Reviewers have not construed the relations of international justice to the invariable disparagement of their own country. In the discussion of internal reform, they have protested against the imitation of alien democracies, and traced a method truly historical for the adequate expansion of political franchise. In demanding free development for the religious thought and life of England, they have never treated the existing ereeds and churches as effete, or despaired of their enlargement to the spiritual exigencies of the nation. The notices, though numerous, of foreign literature and history, only serve to make clearer the general tone of hearty reverence for the distinctive bases of English character, life, and institutions.
Of the literary workmanship of the REVvrEw, the Conductors are perhaps Jess at liberty to speak than of its spirit and principles. They may, however, be permitted, in evidence of its quality, to refer to the volumes already republished from its pages.
In one respect the NATIONAL Review enters, with the year 1861, upon a new stage. The publishers, with the experience of several years to guide them, are taking a considerable stake in the publication. Their direct interest in it, however, will in no way affect the literary management, except by disembarrassing it of business cares, and obtaining for it, as they hope, the encouragement of an ample and growing success,
