_It has been unexceptionably advanced, that a good ~Abridgment~ of the Law is more intelligible than the Statutes at large; so a nice ~Model~ is as entertaining as the ~Original~, and a true ~Specimen~ as satisfactory as the whole ~Parcel~: This may serve to illustrate the Reasonableness of our present Undertaking, which in the ~first~ place is to give Monthly a View of all the Pieces of Wit, ~Humour~, or Intelligence, daily offer’d to the Publick in the News-Papers, (which of late are so multiply’d, as to render it impossible, unless a man makes it a business, to consult them all) and in the ~next~ place we shall join therewith some other matters of Use or Amusement that will be communicated to us._ _Upon calculating the Number of News-Papers, ’tis found that (besides divers written Accounts) no less than 200 Half-sheets per Month are thrown from the Press only in ~London~, and about as many printed elsewhere in the Three Kingdoms; a considerable Part of which constantly exhibit Essays on various Subjects for Entertainment; and all the rest, occasionally oblige their Readers with matters of Public Concern, communicated to the World by Persons of Capacity thro’ their Means: so that they are become the chief Channels of Amusement and Intelligence. But then being only loose Papers, uncertainly scatter’d about, it often happens, that many things deserving Attention, contained in them, are only seen by Accident, and others not sufficiently publish’d or preserved for universal Benefit and Information._ _This Consideration has induced several Gentlemen to promote a Monthly Collection, to treasure up, as in a ~Magazine~, the most remarkable Pieces on the Subjects abovemention’d, or at least impartial Abridgments thereof, as a Method much better calculated to preserve those Things that are curious, than that of transcribing._ _In pursuance whereof, and the great Encouragement already given, this ~WORK~ will be regularly continued, shall appear earlier, and contain more than any other Monthly Book of the same Price._ _As all possible Care will be taken to avoid the Mistakes incident to undertakings of this kind, so the Author will think himself oblig’d to such Persons who shall give him a true state of any Transaction erroneously publish’d in the Papers, or shall please to communicate any Pieces of Wit or Entertainment proper to be inserted; directing for him at the Printer’s at St. ~John~’s Gate, near ~Hicks’s-Hall~, where any Persons sending proper Orders, may have the Numbers sent them, at their first coming out, without further Trouble, whether in Town or Country._ End of Project Gutenberg's The Gentleman's Magazine, January 1731, by Various