Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-02-27


signatures.
a2 SEARS NEW MONTHLY ses
FAMILY MAGAZINE.
2D VOLUME (SEw sEniEs) FOR TIE, YEAR S45
Established for the s3sg
DIFFU SION OF USEFUL KNOWLEDGE.
Embellished with
NUMEROUS FINE ENGRANINGS.
Edited and published by RoBkHr SEAMS.
No. ia Fulton street, New Y Urk city,.
In Monthly Parts, of FIFTY octave pages
Terms. 50 year, payable on the, deliye-
ry of the January and February
Nunbers.-U5N No subscriptions
received fora less period
than one year.
The increasing spirit of intelligence which
is gradually extending itself among all classes
OF the community in this country, and indeed
throughout the civilised world, is the distin.
gushing characteristic of the present age -
To the improved systems of general educa-
ton, no less than the mighty agency of The
Press, an engine of almost superllunan power
and Influences TO he ascribed the high ele.
walton to which the standard of universal in
telligence has attained And abundant as
have been the avowed vehicles for popularis-
ing general knowledge throughout the land,
still it is to be regretted, We possess none
that propose the onerous aud paramount OBJ
ject ofsupplylng granary of the scinnoved
wheat, whose office shall be to separate be-
tween the spurious and the real; and which,
discarding the noxious weed, shall husband
the precious grain, thus spreading out before
us a literary banquet, whose viands are not
only most grateful to the taste, but as health
inspiring and nur,ciously beneficial AS they
are delectable. Alike Invaluable to the more
polished civilian, as the simple occupant of
the rude log cabin af the western wilderness,
is this discrimination as to the character of
our reading; and hence its Importance in the
PRONUNCIATION of .kno,cledge for the people,
In pursuing the system determined upon,
History, Natural History Astronomy, Geogra-
ply, Chemistry, Botany, Architecture, Me-
chanics, Agriculture and American Biography
will comprise the leading departments of sub
.ect matter. General Literature and Educa>
ton will not be neglected--a compendious
miscellany, comprising things useful and en-
tertaining, curious, eccentric, wonderful. sci
entfic, natural and artificial, togetl. er with a
general summary Of passing events. Our own
county. filled with enchanting lakes and nv
ers and beautiful prairies-with mountain SOL
itudes, widernesses and forests of unexam-
Piled awfulness and grandeur-with the endu.
ring monuments and mounds of an extinct PR
meval people-with the battle grounds and
sepulchres of heroic virtue-shalI furnish the
which will admit of it, will be illustrated with
engravings. The whole number ofengravings
at the conclusion of the volume will amount
to several hundred.
The Biography of those intimately connec-
ted with America will claim prominent
place. What stronger incentive to virtue s.
excellence can be presented to our youth than
to place before them the actions of those who
have labored for the benefit of their country!
The subject of Botany will be presented to
our readers by giving interesting facts on this
branch of science, nor will the cultivation of
flowers be neglected. The interesting topics
of Natural History, Chemistry, Natural P:lilo-
sophy and Geography will each receive the
attention which their Importance demand.
The Antiquities, Natural C,riosties, Scenery
&c. of America will be noticed in their places
and illustrated as far as possible with engra-
wing.
u. We do not pretend to send forth work re
plete with originality of ideas or style. or We
hicle for conveying to the people the rich and
beautiful specimens, in detail, of modern bellies
lettres but our object is to circulate useful
information, fitted alike to the capacity of the
child aad the adult. It is intended rather as
a magazine of useful stores, gathered and gar
nered up from sources which, from their mag
nltude, rarity and costliness,are as sealed foun
tains of living water, to the great mass of the
reading community. In it the choicest con-
tents OF books are presented in a condensed
yet conspicuous form, agreeably spiced with
Poetry and Miscellaneous Readings-all of
which, during the course of volume, are IL
lustrated by engravngs, many of which are
from original drawings, made expressly for
the work.
We shall aim to give the Magazine harac-
ter decidedly American, and to make it to this
country what the Penny Magazine is to Great
Britain. Hence we shall introduce as far as
practicable descriptions of American History,
Manners, Scenery and Natural Productions -
In furtherance of this object we invite our
friends abroad to aid us, by communications
and sketches of anything remarkable that
may come under their observations-and we
trust they will find ample remuneration for
their labor, in the consciousness of having adj
ded quota to the sum total Of intelligence
which is so widely disseminated through the
medium Of SEARS FAMILY MAGAZINE.'
From this brief outline of the plan of our
New Monthly Magazine, the public will see
that no exertions will be spared to enttle it to
extensive patronage.
AS sort of pabulum for schools, and trea
sury of knowledge for families, the object of
the Family Magazine is utility. 1t is intended
that its morals shall be pure, its information
authentic, and its arrangement in good taste.
And while it is the sincere desire of all who
are engaged in its publication. that it may car
ry the cheerfulness of knowledge and the
light of truth wherever it is received, they
indulge the hope that the countenance of the
community will look favorably.upon them, &
that its arm of support will be literally extern
led in their behalf f
Gf Ente:prising and responsible men will
be employed as Travelling Agents to procure
subscriptions.
ROBERT SEARS. Editor and Publisher
No letter will be taken from the office un
less POST PAID.
ELEGANT PREMIUMS FOR sUBsCRI
4 BEERS. sN
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