The Newspaper Press

me to go farther at present.

But the Weekly

Papers of London, and the Provincial Press, will form the subject of another volume, which is already in course of preparation; and it is my intention to follow it up with a fourth volume, embracing the Continental, the American, and the Colonial Newspaper Press.

The Press has before it one of the most glorious Missions in which human agencies ever were employed. Its Mission is to Enlighten, to Civilize, and to Morally Transform the World. These are the grand purposes which Providence has in view in relation to our race, and as it is chiefly through the instrumentality of the Press that they are destined to be accomplished, it would be impossible to conceive a nobler calling than that of the Journalist who, as a fellowlabourer with thousands of others in the same field, faithfully fulfils the functions of his office.

It was my intention to have devoted a considerable amount of space to the Local Press; but I am obliged to defer the execution of my purpose until the publication of my next volume. The Local Press is a comparatively recent feature in our Newspaper Journalism, and has acquired an importance which entitles it to a special notice. From the

information respecting it which is already in my possession, I feel assured that the part of my Work which will be appropriated to it will not be its least interesting portion.

It has been my aim to make this Work in some measure worthy of its great subject; and should my endeavours be crowned with success, we shall then have, what we have never had before,—a complete "History of the Newspaper Press."

I cannot conclude this brief Preface, without embracing the opportunity which it affords me, of expressing my grateful appreciation of the courtesy and kindness which I have received from the officers in the Literary Department of the British Museum, while pursuing my inquiries. They greatly facilitated my researches by the readiness with which they procured for me files of old newspapers, and books of distant dates, which in our day are seldom sought for in that invaluable institution.

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