nd
sufficiently recommended by its own merits.

"In an age like this, when the foundations of religion and morality have
been so boldly attacked, it seems necessary, in announcing a work of
this nature, to be particularly explicit as to the path which the editor
means to pursue. He, therefore, avows himself to be, without
equivocation or reserve, the ardent friend and the willing champion of
the Christian religion. Christian piety he reveres as the highest
excellence of human beings, and the amplest reward he can seek for his
labour is the consciousness of having, in some degree, however
inconsiderable, contributed to recommend the practice of religious
duties.

"As, in the conduct of this work, a supreme regard will be paid to the
interests of religion and morality, he will scrupulously guard against
all that dishonours or impairs that principle. Everything that savors of
indelicacy or licentiousness will be rigorously proscribed. His poetical
pieces may be dull, but they shall, at least, be free from
voluptuousness or sensuality, and his prose, whether seconded or not by
genius and knowledge, shall scrupulously aim at the promotion of public
and private virtue.

"As a political annalist, he will speculate freely on foreign
transactions; but in his detail of domestic events he will confine
himself as strictly as possible to the limits of a mere historian. There
is nothing for which he has a deeper abhorrence than the intemperance of
party, and his fundamental rule shall be to exclude from his pages all
personal altercation and abuse.

"He will conclude by reminding the public that there is not, at present,
any other monthly publication in America; and that a plan of this kind,
if well conducted, cannot fail of being highly conducive to amusement
and instruction. There are many, therefore, it is hoped, who, when such
a herald as this knocks at their door, will open it without reluctance,
and admit a visitant who calls only once a month; who talks upon every
topic; whose company may be dismissed or resumed, and who may be made to
prate or hold his tongue at pleasure; a companion he will be, possessing
one companionable property in the highest degree--that is to say, a
desire to please.--_Sep. 1, 1803_."

The contents of the magazine corresponded with the contents of the _Port
Folio_; there were the same abuse of Wordsworth, criticisms of Milton
and Shakespeare, and articles upon "literary resemblances." In November