ed of each Member of the confederacy, that at least he should furnish one paper for each number of The Port Folio. This exaction, though it may seem onerous to the half-shut eye of Indolence, will, to the optics of a more active and generous Power, appear but a reasonable service.

For the sake of system, uniformity, expedition, and elegance, for the sake of relieving the Editor and the Publishers from all the perplexities of procrastination, it is hoped that every correspondent will send us his communication, at least 20 days before he anticipates its appearance in this Journal. Very remote residents, must address to us their letters on a still earlier day; and our friends in Philadelphia and its vicinity, will greatly oblige us by particularly attending to our limitation of time.

In the making up of their literary despatches, Gentlemen will please to address us in legible penmanship, carefully punctuated, and with the orthography modelled according to the standard of Dr. Joнnson.

For the accommodation of city correspondents, and for those, whose modesty shrinks from an interview with the Proprietors, a letter-box is opened at No. 4, South Third Street. In this repository designed for the most useful purposes, we hope that no papers will be left, but such as will redound to the honour of the writers, and the benefit of the community.

Elegant Poetry, in all its delightful varieties, Essays in the manner either of Addison, Johnson, or Goldsmith, Sketches of American Biography, Instructive Narratives, whether in the class of fact, or fiction, Original Anecdotes, and Pieces of Humour, together with Shrewd and Sensible Criticism, will always be examined with the utmost avidity.

We look to the enlightened Agriculturist for Essays on topics of Rural Economy; to the Painter, Sculptor and Architect, for information respecting the advancement of the Fine Arts; to the ingenious Mechanist for a history of the progress of the Useful; to some of the literary box-lobby loungers for notices of the Drama. To the Gentlemen of

the Bar, for reports of their Speeches, and to the Classical Scholars for illustrations of the fine authors of antiquity.

The History of any improvement in Liberal Art, or Useful Science, will be highly interesting to our friends and the public.

Accurate descriptions of the public edifices of Philadelphia, particularly of those, devoted to the most liberal and benevolent purposes, will not only contribute to the glory of the one, but essentially subserve the interests of the other. It is both for the Honour and Interest of the friends of every public Institution, to give the Editors all possible assistance in this behalf. This is not the first time this sort of service has been courteously sought. We hope it will be refused no longer.

In the cabinets of the curious, we know to a certainty many original letters of great value are reposited. We hope we shall be able to bring some of these treasures,to light.

We trust it will not be unreasonably imagined by any of the most exacting subscribers, that a work upon such an extensive plan as The Port Folio, shall be entirely original. The character, situation, and habits of the country absolutely forbid the accomplishment of such a design. But in consequence of our connexion with the Publishers of this Journal, we have liberal access not only to a vast collection of standard authors, but to every new production of merit, published at home or abroad. So judicious are the arrangements of Messrs. Bradford and Inskeep, that we have long been in the habit, a habit, which is now fully confirmed, of perusing many of the most valuable periodical publications, nearly as soon as they are printed in France or England. Moreover, by the constant courtesy of the Librarian and Directors of the Philadelphia Library, a collection unrivalled in America, both for use and splendour, we have free permission, upon the most benignant terms, to consult invaluable volumes, either in the Loganian, the Prestonian, or the Miscellaneous alcoves. From these copious fountains of knowledge,

we shall take care to draw off whatever is wholesome, and may fertilize the mind.

Although CLASSICAL LEARNING has been most undeservedly and ignominiously neglected, in some parts of the United States, yet in spite of the sneers of some, and the theories of others, there is a favourite few, who have successfully studied the fine authors of Greece and Rome. With certain brilliant characters of this class, the Editor has the honour of being in habits of frank intimacy. From men, who have thus wisely directed attention to whatever is perfect in thought, and exquisite in expression, he hopes to receive elegant translations, happy imitations, witty parodies, and accurate notices of the authors of the Augustan age of Roman Literature.

In the London Magazine, and many other respectable vehicles, although principally intended for the amusement of the lounging, the laughing, or the fashionable world, still the interest of solid science never was totally forgotten. Accordingly, a concise department has always been allotted to the propounding and to the solution of MATHEMATICAL QUESTIONS. We wish to offer the same opportunity to the American Philomath. Many Gentlemen in the country, are eminent for their skill in this science. We wish each Problem to be succinctly stated, each diagram to be distinctly drawn, and the demonstration to be as concise, and as elegant as possible. It must always be remembered, that this Miscellany is open to the Learned and the Studious, as well as to the Laugher and the Lounger.

Useful projects may be very successfully started in this Journal. America is a sort of Canaan for Projectors. We do not, by any means, intend to be understood, as expressing this sarcastically. We affirm, with confidence and truth, that America, her age considered, has been eminently distinguished for the multiplicity and utility of her inventions. Correct notices of this description of discoveries will always be cheerfully inserted, and with auxiliar suggestions, or adroit maVOZ. I.

nagement we may hope to elicit Genius from undeserved obscurity.

It has been remarked, we hope unjustly, that the national character is phlegmatic, and that the Powers of Merriment, Wit, and Humour, are strangled, by the iron hand of Care, or at least checked by the severity of business. We think we could cite some shining examples to the contrary. Our fellow labourers in New-England, the classical Editors of the MONTHLY ANTHOLOGY, a work which we rejoice to behold regularly appearing with new radiance, are conspicuous afar by the scintillations of Wit, as well as by the torch of Science. The sneering and sarcastic caterers of SALMAGUNDI, a poignant dish, which has delighted many a literary Epicure, proved that with them there was no lack of attic salt; and we often read in some American repository many a pleasant paragraph and poem, of which ARBUTHNOT or a SWIFT might not have been ashamed. Of this class of contributions, so vital to the success of a Literary Journal, we hope to obtain such an abundance as to prove, that even in America, a Rabelais, a Sterne, or a Gay might be found.

From this gay department the transition is easy to one still more airy. We allude to the province of song writing, which although exquisitely beautiful and alluring, has been, with few exceptions, strangely neglected in America. The poets of the continent and of Great Britain, have indulged themselves in the composition of the lighter lyric, devoted to the celebration of the joys either of love, of wine, or of the chase. Some of the most agreeable compositions of the conciser character, that were ever indited, are to be found in the collections of the French, English, and German songs. In this country, the themes for the balladmeasure are innumerable. In every grove, in every field, in every hamlet, we may find materials. We wish to excite the workmen. Songs: patriotic, nautical, jovial, or amatory, will, if inspired by Genius, always be hearkened to with delight. If we be so fortunate as to obtain these lighter effusions of the playful Muse, we promise that Music shall suitably greet her sister Poetry.

A lover of Latinity and votary of Virgil has thrown together at Petersburg in Virginia, some critical remarks. upon the versification of that poet, which are entitled Notationes in Virgilium, and are inscribed, in the form of a dedication, to Mr. Girardin, an emigrant Frenchman, and respectable scholar, concerned in the government of the college of William and Mary. These notes appear to us to be little more than a translation of the usual critical remarks, prefixed to the works of Virgil, in the common editions, with an English version. In Davidson's, for example, some of the parallel passages may be found. But as our annotator has, in some instances, broken the shackles of servility, and thought for himself, and as, in many of his citations and commendations he appears to feel something of the enthusiasm of the poet, we were inclined to preserve his communication, especially as it is addressed to a gentleman of various and respectable attainments, who justly holds an illustrious rank in the first seminary of Virginia. But, unfortunately, we have lost the manuscript in question, and nothing remains but to offer this little tribute by way of atonement to our ingenious com

mentator.

The hand-writing of our old correspondent, J. D. we have just again recognized, without the yawn of lassitude or the contempt of criticism. We have always been inclined to think favourably of this young man's talents, and have often regretted that they were not more frequently and judiciously employed. If he thought proper, he might become a celebrated votary of the miscellaneous Muse. His genius is naturally inclined to the gay and sportive, and though he may not soar like the Theban Swan, he does not waddle and creep like the goose of Cibber. It appears to us, after a very careful scrutiny of his powers, that he has studied, with attention, admires with enthusiasm, and may copy with neatness the sweet and cheerful style of OLIVER GOLDSMITH. Our sometime correspondent, we know, has some of the capricious feelings of the irritabile genus. As whim inspired, he has sometimes