THE

SCOTS MAGAZINE.

CONTAINING,

A GENERAL VIEW

OF THE

Religion, Politicks, Entertainment, &c.

I N

GREAT BRITAIN:

And a fuccinct AccoUNT of

PUBLICK AFFAIRS

FOREIGN and DOMESTICKE

For the Year MDCCXXXIX.

VOLUME I.

Ne quid falfi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat.

EDINBURGH:

Printed by SANDS, BRYMER, MURRAY and COCHRAN.

i

PREFACE.

HE general increase of readers for fome years paft, and the many advantages arifing from it in a nation where Liberty is enjoy'd, have encouraged various attempts to fuit the learning of the times to the purchafe and opportunity of perfons of every station,

AMONGST thefe, after many trials without fuccefs; after Monthly Mercuries, Chronicles, Régifters, Amusements, &c. had been tried in vain, a Monthly Magazine at last appear'd, which, from the industry and influence of the proprietor, foon met with encouragement; the variety of which it confifted, and the unufual quantity it contain'd, yielding fatisfaction to all who it a perufal.

gave

THE kind reception which the Gentleman's Magazine met with, quickly produced a rival; and as it is much easier to improve the plan of another, than to form one, the London Magazine appear'd with fome advantage: And, had not the managers of that work difcover'd fo much prejudice against the Gentlemen to whom they owed its existence, it would, probably, have had fuperior fuccefs. But, as it is, they are both enabled to appear with far more advantage than any works of the fame kind which preceeded them.

THE demand for thefe Magazines being confiderable in this kingdom, and our distance from the place of their publication rendering their contents ftale before they came to hand, feveral perfons were put upon endeavouring to remove thefe inconveniencies by fupplying their place with a production of our own. But this was found liable to fo many difficulties as were not easily remov'd:though at length they were furmounted; and The SCOTS MAGAZINE was offer'd the publick when the tafte for fuch collections promis'd all defirable fuccefs.And we are far from complaining of its reception,

BESIDES thefe, there were other, more important causes for undertaking this work; fince, furely the intereft of Scotland, abstractedly confider'd, is worthy our most watchful attention: In which view we have had the pleasure of gaining the thanks and approbation of feveral Gentlemen who have done great honour to this undertaking. And while many are so variously engaged to promote the particular intereft of the more Southern part of this ifland, it is at leaft laudable, if it be not neceffary, to pay some separate regard to the welfare and profperity of a country that has been the scene of actions the memory whereof will ever bloom while Fame exifts.

FOR, though in many things calculated for the good of Great Britain, Scotland is little more than nominally consider'd ; her distance from the feat of monarchy, instead of difpiriting, should prompt her fons to compenfate that misfortune by their extraordinary zeal in her fervice, to fhew themselves equal to the prefent difadvantage of their fituation; and, by an earnest exertion of their talents, revive that univerfal efteem which SCOTLAND fo juftly acquir'd amongst her neighbours by the valour and learning of our ancestors.

BESIDES thefe, feveral other reasons produc'd this Magazine:

One, THAT our readers might have a more impartial view of political disputes than had appeared in any other.

Another, THAT the occurrences of Europe might not be wholly loft, to make room for the low views of private perfons; and that the fate of kingdoms might not give place to perfonal quarrels.

THAT the juft and grievous charge of caftration and mutiề lation might be entirely remov'd, by admitting every Gentle man to speak his own language.

THAT the Caledonian Mufe might not be reftrain'd by want of a publick Echo to her fong.

And, finally, THAT Our countrymen might have the productions of every month, fooner, cheaper, and better collected, than before.

SUCH

SUCH was our plan: And if those of our countrymen who are biaffed in favour of far-fetch'd productions, will deign us a critical perufal, we flatter ourselves with being found to exceed our brethren in many articles; and we have endeavour'd to be behind them in none.We have fo conftantly preferred the pleasure of our readers to any low confiderations of our own intereft, that we cannot but hope any variation from those of England, which may at first be diflik'd merely for being a variation, will be readily approv'd upon a ftrict comparison.

To fay more upon this fubject, would be paffing that judgment which we ought, and chearfully do, fubmit to the publick: To fay lefs, would be equally fubject to blame; as we think, in an undertaking of this kind, it is as neceffary to offer our motives, as our performance, to the judgment of our readers.

THOUGH We do not offer to fwell the intention of this work fo far as to pretend to be free from all defire of gain; we can, with the utmost fincerity, affure the publick, that any increase to the generous encouragement we have already met with, fhall be carefully applied toward making this Magazine more acceptable. And we hope we have already convinced our readers, that we are as earnest after its merit, as the profits it may be expected to produce: Though this may, indeed, be vindicated from the rules of private policy; for, however men may from indolence, or other caufes, be fometimes deceived, profit is only accidental where the foundation for expecting it is not good.-If our great labour and expence produce not an adequate return to our readers, we must inevitably be lofers by our affiduity: And if we are found worthy the continuance and increase of the countenance we have received, we are bold to fay, we fear not but we fhall have it: fince, notwithstanding the fashionable complaint against the modern taste, it is our opinion, that though fometimes, from unavoidable circumftances, a work of merit may fail of the encouragement it deferves; yet fuch instances are very rare, when compar'd with the numerous attempts made, without even a probability of fuccefs, by perfons incapable of executing what they undertake.

OUR most grateful thanks are due to our many kind and ingenious correfpondents; by whofe aid we have been greatly af

a 2

fifted,