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BENEVOLO LECTORI.

WHEN a man sets about publishing a work, he naturally considers beforehand the probable chances of success or failure. If it be altogether the first attempt of its kind, he may look upon it as a bold and adventurous undertaking, the management of which will require great prudence as well as perseverance: but if, on the contrary, it has had its predecessors, whose ill-fated existence has been cut short by a sudden and unexpected stroke, then assuredly he may somewhat pride himself on his hazardous spirit, in endeavouring thus, as it were, to raise a new structure on that ill-omened spot, where the ashes and ruins of the fallen still remain, to warn the courageous, and dishearten the zealous.

This latter is somewhat the position in which the projectors of the Eton School Magazine stand. Scarcely four years have passed, since the decaying remains of the Eton Bureau were broken up; of whose memory,

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however, we must speak with the respect and love due to an elder brother, while we tenderly lament that the power of the contributors was not sufficient to carry out the good intentions of the Editors, and we pray with all humbleness, that we ourselves may be saved from a like disastrous end.

But, if we are to be influenced by precedents, we need not despond, or dwell too long on the dreary, sunless side of the prospect. We have brighter hopes, brighter examples: we can and ought to turn our eyes back to the palmy days, when the wit of Canning sparkled in The Microcosm, and when The Etonian proved itself worthy of the high name it bore.

It may, and doubtless will be asked, what is the aim of the present Magazine; what good and useful object has it in view? And, at the same time, it will be urged, that it proceeds rather from an empty desire to appear in print, than any determinate plan or substantial purpose. Well-to answer these hard-hearted objectors, who will not allow us any excuse to exercise a littlealmost pardonable-vanity in our offerings at Minerva's shrine, or Apollo's fount-by this little work we propose, Firstly to improve ourselves, by this additional inducement to employ our leisure moments in profitable as well as amusing reading; and to habituate our minds to think more often and, we trust, more deeply on the objects that surround us, so as to obtain, while yet we can, the power and custom of discerning in all things the good from the evil-and, Secondly: to create and encourage, as far as lies in our power, and indeed to render more fashionable, a desire for modern literature, which, forming as it does, no part

of the necessary school-work, is by the general mass somewhat too much neglected, and, we fear, even despised as well as also to foster and bring to light any latent germ which may not hereafter, amidst the anxieties of business and the troubles of the world, have any opportunity of expanding and fully displaying itself. And when we look round at the increasing numbers and prosperity of Eton-when we admire and feel inwardly gratified at her rising renown in scholarship and learning, and still behold in her the same generous spirit as of old, we cannot but think that there must be some talent, which, if rightly brought out, may be turned to good effect, and produce an honourable result. And, moreover, why should Eton alone be outstripped in the present age of advancement? If Rugby has her Miscellany, why should not Eton-in no dogged spirit of envy or even rivalry, but in fair, honest emulation-put forth her Magazine, with the modest wish, that it may add another laurel to her already richly-laden crown?

It may be, moreover, that we shall be overlooked by the world as being too insignificant and ephemeral to be worthy of notice. In the School itself, indeed, we may expect to create some little stir: various, doubtless, will be the surmises, sage will be the conjectures as to the Authors: such-a-one will be knowingly pointed out as the editor: "He does the Poetry:" "This one the light, that one the heavy prose." Such like learned remarks will probably be buzzed about: we may, in fact, succeed in engaging the attention of some, both within and without the School-but still,

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