intend to sacrifice your own judgment and opinions to the unreasonable caprices of any portion of readers? We confess to the weakness, kind patrons. We confess that we have such a high idea of the abilities, the good sense and the moral purity which prevail among you, that we shall take the liberty to reject at once, as far as we are able, every foolish, ungenerous and improper sentence, because of our convictions that it will be displeasing to every one of you. This, we are confident, will never exclude grave articles upon the greatest subjects, provided that new or unusual views are presented in a clear, terse and pertinent manner. Historical, political, and we know not but metaphysical topics, (we confess, dear reader, we are rather sensitive on the subject of college metaphysics,) may be most appropriately handled in this style. Neither will our rule exclude lighter essays, sketches, and even judicious love-stories! In truth, we sincerely believe there has not, heretofore, been enough of good-hearted pleasantry, humorous observation and playful narrative in this Magazine, conducted by a class of persons who are characterized by the world at large as "full of fun and mischief." Open many of the past volumes of this work, and, from the reading matter alone, you will be utterly unable to decide to what class of individuals its contributors belong. This, certainly, never ought to be said of a college Magazine. If you are in want of sound and deep, learned and brilliant productions, there are thousands of volumes within a few steps of your rooms, wherein you will find every particular point that was ever incidentally mentioned by the writers for the Yale Literary, fully and completely discussed. You will find specimens of periodical literature of every description, of so superior a merit, that the finest pieces of our beloved Maga, in a literary point of view, will appear in comparison perfectly insipid. We must, then, have something peculiar-something collegiate, Yalensian. Let it so happen that in future years, when we shall have reaped the full harvests of care, misery and hard-heartedness, if by chance, in rummaging our libraries of a rainy day, we shall light upon one of these volumes-with a ha! ha! it shall be grasped-with eager eyes and a swelling heart its teeming pages shall again be read. Memories, dear, but most forgotten, shall rise from every line. My friend, who penned this pleasing story has now gone to the silent world! his heart was as pure and sunny as this little memento would show. He who sketched this truthful and vigorous essay, now enjoys reputation and renown among his fellow-men. And here was a foolish effort of mine own-but thank Heaven!-there is a cheerfulness, a life, a confidence in the good and true, which carries me back to better days!

We will now briefly advert to some of the difficulties which the Magazine has to contend with. While some of these must be allowed to possess considerable weight, we hope you will find others rather the creations of a timid fancy, than stubborn realities. It is often urged on the part of those who decline writing for the Magazine, that their knowledge is too limited and imperfect to enable them to write,

with either benefit to themselves, or interest to others. Knowledge is certainly necessary to every writer-but what kind of knowledge? That depends upon the character of the subject he chooses, and the class of readers for which his article is intended. Perhaps he is required to possess political, scientific, or historical information. But how is it with the writer for our pages. Very few, indeed, of our readers wish to meet with much of these and kindred branches of knowledge. They want your own identical views of any subjects you may choose your own illustrations and your own feelings; if you are here in this institution, and have not knowledge to express and enforce these, then do we entertain feelings of compassion towards you.

Again, we hear many laments for that freedom and ease in writing, which is gained by constant practice. There is much force in this excuse. Very few of those in college have devoted any assiduous attention to the formation of a ready and pleasing style. And yet we fear that many are deceiving themselves-that they voluntarily make a hard matter of writing by over-rating its importance and difficulties. Could you have access to the private letters of these same complaining individuals, we hazard nothing in saying, you would be surprised at the free, off-hand, natural style in which they are written. Here they let their thoughts and feelings gush forth uncontrolled-here they have no care about hundreds of readers, captious critics, and the danger of incurring ridicule. We are sure, friend, you can soon learn to forget these even while throwing off a spirited article for us. Try it.

By some unaccountable means, the idea has become prevalent in college that the two lower classes should have nothing to do with the Magazine except to peruse its valuable contents, learn wisdom and pay their subscriptions. We dislike this spirit and shall war against it. As far as rights are concerned-as far as interest in every thing which can add honor or advantage to Yale is concerned-we are all on an equality. The Magazine is college property, and we are all equally interested in its welfare. If a Freshman thinks he could furnish us with anything pleasing and appropriate, let him set about it, regardless of prudential considerations. If a Senior thinks said Freshman's contribution an intrusion, let him and his classmates write better ones enough to fill up all spare pages, and the evil is prevented. But away with all class feeling and prejudice, say we. Let every well-wisher of the Magazine act as independently as your Editors shall endeavor to act impartially, and we trust a better spirit will spring up among us, and better times dawn for our college literature.

It has been customary, heretofore, for the names of the writers of the several articles to be given to the public. It is true, a writer wishing it, could have his name kept from the card of contributors, but being known generally to the Editors, and often to his particular friends, it managed, in most cases, to come to the ears of all in any degree interested. And if the piece was read at all, straightway noisy Criticism commenced his impartial labors! It is well known, every man in college is a zealous politician in some college party, and is attached

to some sect in morals. Hence, no matter what the character of his production may be, it must meet with so many panegyrists, so many detractors, and so many neutrals, whose number may often be accurately calculated in advance with a pencil and catalogue. Now, no person wishes to contribute to this, or any other work, when his own character and standing are to shape the decisions of criticism upon an article whose merits and faults are never once taken into account. He cares nothing, perhaps, for the strictures of his enemies, but he is disgusted with the unmeaning flattery of his friends, who ought to treat him with open fairness and sincerity. Of course, there is but one remedy for this-let him completely conceal his name.

Your Editors have thought a few slight changes calculated to remove some objections now existing, and to increase the value of the Magazine. Instead of allowing each Editor in rotation to have the entire superintendence of a number, the inspection and consent of all will now be necessary to the admission of any article into our pages. In this way, it is obvious, a desirable unity of interest will be established among the Editors, and a greater degree of impartiality and correct judgment brought to bear upon the consideration of proffered pieces. This will also give us the privilege of banishing those long leading articles, in which the Editor of every number has been expected to show himself worthy of his present honors, if not to acquire additional glory. Now it so happens that these have been the very dullest articles in the whole Magazine-comparatively speaking. But the subjects of them may be said, in college dialect, to be truly "tremendous" comprising, for the most part, broad political doctrines, important eras in history, and the characters of the greatest poets and statesmen. This change, we think, will, also, tend to relieve the Magazine of an appearance of uniformity and heaviness which we have often heard mentioned as objectionable. The Editors' Tables will probably be written as before, with the exception of an alteration in form.

We hope all pieces intended for the Magazine will be transmitted through the Post-Office, and never handed in personally by their writers. We wish the names to be concealed till the articles are accepted, when they may be given to the Editors or not, at the option of the author. The Editors have determined to withhold their own names from the public view during the year. Contributors can act their own pleasure in reference to the publicity of theirs. At the conclusion of our official year, the names of all writers will be published. We have not space to give all the reasons for this change. Yet if you consider a moment, we believe you will see the propriety of the step. The Magazine should rise above all personal and party influences, and should rest entirely upon its own merits. If it is not worth supporting for itself, let it go down. Now a piece is just as good without the author's name, as with it-its merits just as prominent, its faults as glaring; as a literary production, it pleases, it wearies you just the

same.

But no, you want the privilege, do you, of whispering, "I ex

pected more of A than that"-" Well, B never had my vote"-" Our society comes out pretty well in this number, don't it?" If Z writes again, he will get an editorship next year-we must put him up to it." But if we can do anything to promote an impartial, healthy criticism in college, and to cripple this narrow, mole-eyed, mischief-making spirit of party and clique, our efforts shall not be wanting. But this is merely one point. Suppose some one, who has gained no reputation in the division-room as a writer, by selecting his own subject and setting earnestly at work, produces a really animated and pleasing article; the sight of his name at once turns away attention which the piece itself would attract and rivet. It is unnecessary to say, that every anonymous contributor will write with more freedom and ease; while it is evident he has no sufficient reason to neglect the utmost correct

ness.

And now, we have room only to invite and entreat all who feel interested in the fate of the Magazine to lend us their assistance. The invitation is extended with equal heartiness to the members of all classes. Do not get the idea that writing for the Magazine is an arduous, difficult task. Do not think you must plunge into intricate and profound reasonings, as though a syllogism were the natural garb of every truth, and the words "hence," "consequently," "therefore," " inasmuch," &c., were the very footsteps of gigantic thought. If you have any appropriate subject in your mind which interests you, write it out. If your subject more naturally comes out in the shape of a story-let it be a story, it may be the more welcome. At any rate, you owe us a trial— some really earnest attempts--and we shall wait with confident expectations.

We have thought that the occasion demanded something like these imperfect remarks. Perhaps they are useless--you will then pardon them on account of the spirit that prompted them. We confess, on looking back, that their tone could not be properly characterized as perfectly modest and deferential. But if we meet with complete success, you will, no doubt, hear us attribute it in part to our plain, downright speaking at the outset. But if, after all, the character of the Magazine should retrogade during the coming year, you will, perhaps, be allowed to quote the words of an eminent statesman-"it is not the first time, in the history of human affairs, that the vigor and success of the war have not quite come up to the lofty and sounding phrase of the manifesto."