The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-03-05
The best and cheapest Periodical in the World.
A NEW SERIES or THE
NEW. YORK MIRR OR:

FINE ARTS,
Enibeished monthly, With rosy and csnt Quarto
steer Ensrapihgs, and tehh Me most Popouiar and
Beautiful MUSIC If the day, arranged for The Piano
Jorte Guar and Harp: combining contributions from
AUTHORS of the highest distinction home and dJr0ad
and designed as an ELEGANT PIRLOR JOURNAL
Tdfes, Hoyages, Poetry Criticism, History iTts, Sci
ences Narratives Incidents Adpentures, Scenery, Cor
respordence, Sketches Of Society and Manners, Passing
Euents Of the Times 4necd0te and Gossip, the Fashions
in Dress and every other subject whin The range Of
Polite Literature, are tmb ue,d in its plan. The whoie
forming at The end Of the year large qudto volume Of
46 imperial pages being in respect 10 Music, beau
Hui accompaniment 10 the Pidno:tor and, far as
relates TO Plates, charming cente-tabie ornament.
EDITED BY GEORGE P. MORRIS.
PUBLISHED BY d. FANsHAw, PROPRIETOR.
1t has been said, that the American people are
tickle in their a,iachments that they are fond of
change and variety, and willingly part with an old
friend for the novelty of new acquaintance. As
far as relates to US, we can unequIvocally deny the
assertion. 1t is now more than seventeen years
since we, mere boy at the time, commenced the
publication of the .Nsw- York Mirror; and, under
all its changes and improvements, thousands of its
early friends and subscribers have adhered to it
with constancy no less aatterng to ourselves than
it Is complimentary to their permanent attachments.
We now make AN important change, VIZ. a COM
mencement of aur nineteenth year on this I'd of
January, 1871. In making this change we are on
ly following the example Of many Of our cotempo-
aries, who after publishing their papers for several
years, were under the necessity of adopting this
plan. that their subscribers might not thereafter be
confused about the beginning and ending of the
publication year. But the more important part of
our change is, our intention of giving an elegant
stee-plate engraving erery month, many Of which
we have already selected, and have engravers en-
ployed on several Of them.
In consequence Of the disappointment we have
met with from one of our engravers, who was to
have furnished our January plate, we have been
under the necessity of sending one only match to
what we have formerly furnished. But having now
a number Of artists ut work, that we may even
tualIy have the plates engraved and printed at least
three months in advance, we shall soon be beyond
the reach of all disappointment, and send them to
our subscribers so well dried and seasoned as to be
almost released from fear of their being injured in
the mails by carriage. The plates we have now in
hand are such as have never been produced in any
periodical in this country, and cannot be surpassed
in the world; at least so says number Of persons
to whom we have shown the twelve already select
ed and we have not II shadow of doubt but our
subscribers will say the same when they see them.
We also intend to give, monthly. a wood-cut rep
rescntatOn and description of the latest fashions of
Europe. These additions will cost us, exclusive
of our present expenses, several thousands Of dol
lars per annum.
This arrangement, while il will afford to the
readers of the Mirror more than abundant eauiva-
lent for the triilng price at which it is published,
(for the plates could not he purchased at the print
stores separately for So, nor could the music be
obtained Tor that amount,) will, we trust, give us
such increase of subscribers AS will enable us to
proceed with renewed energy, and unnaggng in
dustry in the prosecution of our literary abors, and
warrant these heavy expenditures oflhne 4 money.
When we began the publication Of the Mirror,
there was no work of a similar character in the
Union. Of any literary merit, which combined such
a number Of attractions MS we have presented in
superior engravings. music, beautiful paper, and
extreme neatness of typography. With deter
nnalion TO render It work worry of the extern
sive support which it has always received. we went
on, year after year, employing talent of high or
der, in beau,iyin and ornumentlng the work with
gems of the pencil and the pen Few can conceive
the immense amount we have paid for literary and
pictorial contributions. We have been the pioneer
in almost every thing that has lifted the periodical
press of this country from its former to its present
position, until, by common consent, the New-York
Mirror has been considered as inferior 10 no literary
publication Of similar character in the world -
We some years since, in consequence of our con-
sian,y increasing expenses, raised the price to FIVE
dollars, and our friends have paid it cheerfully,
from conviction that il is now, and always has
been, honestly worth the money. With the last
few years change has come over every thing,
particularly the republic Of letters. Periodicals.
have increased in vast numbers, and the adoption
of the cash system, and its certain and prompt re-
suits, have induced some few publishers to reduce
the price of subscriptions, and TO be coniented with
limited profits in consideration of the facilities az
forded them by prompt payment. The subscribers
of the NEw-YoRK MIRROR are entitled to the full
benefit of this change, and we therefore began A
NEW SERIES OF THE WORK at the commence
ment Of this year, lSil; but as our motto is not
production of price, and II gradual decrease Of cx-
ceence," but desire to follow up our seventeen
years advance in all respects, and non make the
Mirror the most elegant periodical in the world we
shall make the expensive additions before mention
ed, and continue the charge Of only FIVE DOL
LARS PER ANNUM, payabie in adrans.
In thus issuing it a price which would appear to
all acquainted with the subject, not sufficient to de-
fray its current expenses Of print and paper, we do
not contemplate the least diuiinnon in the interest
and value of the publications cdllorially considered
On the contrary, it will contain LITERARY AR
TIcLEs OF INTENSE INTEREST; and every ex-
criion will he made to furnish the most fashionable,
CHOICE and popular MUSIC; and no pains or ex-
pense will be spared to sustain its present high lit
erary character, and to keep j, at least in the fore
most rank with the most popular periodicals in this
country OF Europe. We even expect in this re-
spect to surpass our former efforts, AS the Editor
will be released from all the cares connected with
The business and financial department, which has
for years rested upon him, deprivlng him of much
oT The time he wished TO spend i'm CATERING for the
public.
We ask, in return, from the friends Of American
literature. their cordial and hearty support Of this