The arrangement of the present Volume, generally, accords with those of its successful predecessors. Fact and fancy; sentiment, poetry, and popular science; anecdote and art; love of nature and knowledge of the world--alternate in its columns. In these several departments popular reading has been our study. With this view, we have paid especial attention to the domestic history--the customs, amusements, and peculiarities--of our own country; and to such a portion of foreign novelties as bear upon the welfare and interests of the present generation. Economy of time, which is also economy of money or cost, has been the ruling principle of our little literary exchequer; while our _ways and means_ for the future are equally abundant. The illustrative portion, also, contains many striking novelties, which, as identified with contemporary curiosity, or as performances of art, will, we are persuaded, be duly appreciated. We abstain from further enumeration of the contents or of their respective claims to the reader's notice. In every Number it has been our endeavour to cater for his "amusement and instruction," so as to combine interest and novelty--or, in a homely phrase, to make each sheet like "_the punch of conversation_." Thus, we have spirit, volatile and fiery in our leading articles; lemon in our pungent Notes; sugar in our "Gatherer;" and water _quant. suff._--mixed in a form, which, like old bowls or drinking-glasses, is variegated with figures and scenes of the current fashion--as in our Engravings. But we are getting too figurative, and our Christmas fare, unlike ourselves, is growing cold. So, indulgent reader, we promise to drink your health and return thanks for the same in your absence; though we had rather you were present to witness and share our exceeding great joy; and then to commence our Thirteenth Volume. Pardon this exuberance of the season: we reason with Falstaff:--"If then the tree may be known by the fruit, as the fruit by the tree, then, peremptorily I speak it, there is virtue in that Falstaff: him keep with; the rest banish." _Christmas Day_, 1828. * * * * * [Illustration: PORTRAIT OF THOMAS MOORE, ESQ.] MEMOIR OF THOMAS MOORE, ESQ.