Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-03-13
SEARS NEW MONTHLY
FAMILY MAGAZINE.

1870 AAAA- AvA<AN - AA4E
IN VOLUME (sEw sERIEs) FOR THE YEAR 1845
Established for the .&k"
DIFFUSION OF USEFUL KNOWLEDGE
Embellished with $40
NUMEROUS FINE ENGRANINGS
Edited and published by RoBr MT SEARss
No. ia Fulton street, New York CITY. %
In Monthly Parts, of FIFTY octave pages
Terms. 81 year, payable on the delive-
ry of the January and February
Numbers No subscriptions '9am
b @a received for less period
than one year. sa.1.T
The increasing spirit Of intelligence which
is gradually extending itself among all classes
OF the community i'll this country, and indeed
throughout the civilised world, is the dstin
gushing characteristic of til. present age
To the improved systems Of general educa-
lion, no less than the mighty agency of Tue
Press, an engine of almost superhuman power
and Influences to be ascribei the high ele-
vation to which the standard of universal in.
telhgence 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 and PAL amount OBJ
Ject of supplying granary of the Winno,ced
wheat, whose Office shall be to separate be-
tween the spurious and the real; and which,
discardlng the noxious weed, shall husband
the precious grain, thus spreading out before
US a literary banquet, whose yiands are not
only most grateful to the taste, but as health
inspiring and nutr,ciously beneficial as they
are delectable. Alike invaluable to the more
polished civilian, as the simple occupant Of
the rude log cabin at 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 peopls.'
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
iect matter. General Literature and Educa>
ton will not be neglected-a compendious
miscellany, comprising things useful and en-
tcrtaining, 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 rlv-
ers and beautiful prairies-with mountain SOL
irudes, widernesses and forests Of unexam--
Piled awfulness and grandeur-with the endu.
ring monuments and mounds of an extinct pri
meval people-with the battle grounds and
sepulchres of heroic virtue-shall furnish the
resources-to enrich our pages. All subjects
which will admit of it. will be illustrated with
engravings. The whole Number of engravings
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!
he ,ths @fp l. Il
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 Pailo>
sophy and Geography will each receive he
attention which their importance demand -
The Antiquities, Natural Curiosities, Scenery
&c. of America will be noticed in their places
and illustrated as far as possible with engra-
wing.
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. 1t is intended rather as
magazine of useful stores, gathered and gar
nered up from sources which, from their mag
nitude, rarity and costlness,are as sealed four
tains of living water, to the great mass of the
reading community. In it the choicest con-
tents of books are presented in condensed
yet conspicuous form, agreeably spiced with
Poetry and Miscellaneous Readings-all oil
which, during the course of volume, are IL
lustrated by engravings, many of which are
from original drawings, made expressly fol
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 viii 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 brefoutline of the plan of our
New Monthly Magazine, the public will see
that no exertions will be spared to entitle 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. is intended
that its morals shall be pure, its information
authentic, and its arrangement in good taste.
1 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 hore that the countenance Of the
community will look favoraby.upon them, &
that its arm of support will be literally extern
ded in their behalf .
! Of 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 I'm
less POST PAID. At's tAesAsANH
gslk e9fH88 SS
ELEGANT PREMIUMS FOR SUBSCRI
! BEERS.
1 ies.e VERY Liberal oFrEn. fAss ~