nothing but good will;
for we rather regard things poetically than politically, and we are
anxious to inform and amuse the reader--not to perplex, by constantly
reminding him of his uncheery lot in life.

Ten years' establishment in periodical literature may give us a
sort of patriarchal feeling towards others; for, with one exception
THE MIRROR is the oldest weekly journal of the metropolis. In this
comparatively long career, our best energies have been directed to the
progressive improvement of each department of the work. The plan of
embellishment, which may be said to have originated with THE MIRROR,
has been extended and improved, until few subjects are incapable of
successful illustration in its pages; due regard being paid to nicety
of execution, as well as attractive design. So much for the present,
state of our "representative system."

The selection of materials for each sheet of THE MIRROR has been
regulated by a desire to extend useful information, and to cultivate
healthful indications of public taste. In a journal, like the present,
mainly devoted to the accumulation of facts, errors and misstatements
are inevitable; but, our own diligence, aided by sharp-sighted
Correspondents, has, from time to time, guided us to accuracy in
most cases, and directed fruitful inquiry upon matters of no ordinary
interest or character. Scientific information, really made popular,
and of ready, practical utility, has uniformly found admission in
our pages; and, above all, subjects of natural history have received
especial attention, in graphic illustrations--which part of our plan
has been adopted by every cheap journal of the last four years; or,
from the first pictorial description of the Zoological Gardens,
before the publication of the catalogue by the Society; while it is a
source of gratification to know that within the above period, natural
history, from being almost confined to public museums and private
cabinets, has become the most popular study and amusement of the
present day.

Upon the continued cheapness of our little work, we do not intend to
touch, more than by reference to the enlargement of the letter-press
as commenced with the present volume. The alteration has, we believe,
received general approbation; and, either with regard to the extent of
the letter-press, or the condensed character of its subject-matter,
we have still the satisfaction of knowing THE MIRROR to continue,
as it has often been char