Biblical Repository and Quarterly Observer

It has been the fate of most periodical publications in our country, whether political, literary or theological, to be of short continuance. They have been commenced, each in its turn, to meet an exigency. As the exigency has ceased, the periodical has passed out of existence or assumed a character supposed to be better adapted to the changed position of things.

Such a result was to be expected in a condition of society so rapidly advancing as that of the North American States. A few years only, in most sections of this country, produce such changes in the number of the population, their wealth, and the state of education, as demand new facilities of supply and improvement. Institutions of learning have thus been multiplied, each of which has been anxious to avail itself of the influence of a separate periodical to subserve its own interests, as well as to promote the general cause of education. Other sectional or party interests have often been found to conflict with each other. These too’have demanded, for a time, the support of rival publications which have ceased with the occasions that produced them ;—and the conductors of the periodical press, like other men, are not suffered to continue by reason of death. Their works fall into the hands of new proprietors and editors, whose SECOND SERIES, VOL. I. NO. 1.

talents and relations fit them for other spheres of real or supposed usefulness, and thus the identity of their publications, ibough continued with no change of name or of declared object, is frequently lost in the progress of events.

There are, however, certain departments of knowledge, which the periodical press is adapted to promote and which are of universal and perpetual interest to mankind. Religion, sacred philology, morals, politics, the natural sciences, etc. are of this sort. For the support of instruction adapted to these and similar subjects, the exigency, in an advancing state of society, never ceases. The demand is perpetually growing, and to meet it in the best manner, periodical publications are essential. Whatever changes may be produced in the external form of these publications, and in their modes of discussion, by the causes already noticed, in some form, and in a manner adapted to their end, they must be sustained, or society will retrograde.

Yet, even in regard to topics of universal interest and necessity, it may not be wise to continue a periodical for many years in an unbroken series. However ably conducted, and however valuable may be its contents, when it is extended beyond ten or twenty volumes, the work becomes heavy. Many, who do not possess the means to purchase the whole, would gladly own a portion of it. But so long as it is continued unbroken, it is the same work, whatever changes it may undergo. The purchaser knows not where to break the series, and whatever portion of it he may procure, he will possess but a fragment of the whole. To obviate this inconvenience, and at the same time to preserve the value of the entire work for such as are able to own it, experience has taught the conductors of the press that it is wise, as often as the termination of every ten or twelve years, to interrupt the series of their periodicals and commence them anew.

This is convenient for purchasers and subscribers. It also furnishes a proper occasion for any change in the name or character of a work, which circumstances may

render

expedient, the better to accomplish the object of its continuance.

The editor, who is also now a proprietor of the Repository, has been induced, by the foregoing considerations, to commence a new series with the present Number. It will not, bowever, be a new work. The new series is a continuation of the old, with only such changes in the plan of the publication, (not affecting its leading characteristics, and objects,) as have been suggested by considerations of support and usefulness. The

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