PREFACE. In these sensational days it is a difficult thing, as we have found to our cost, for a Miscellany devoted to solid literature to obtain a permanent footing. We have, however, done our best to please the public of Lonsdale North; but like the old man with his ass, have neither pleased ourselves nor our readers. Several friends have objected to our magazine on account of its being too heavy ; whilst one-a lady-declined to subscribe any longer-"as she does not read romance." If in the multitude of counsellers there is wisdom, we should by this time have been a very Solon, as we have been inundated with "advice gratis." We are, however, inclined to think that had we carried out but a few of the suggestions, our magazine would have been a very singular production. In our selection of the articles which have appeared, we may say with the poet "We plucked the fruits which promised best, And when not sure, perplexed, but pleased, we guessed To those correspondents, who-not volunteering advice-have contributed to our pages, we beg to return our most grateful thanks; and to those of our friends who promised much and performed little, we give a general pardon. To the local press, also, our thanks are due-more especially to the Ulverston Advertiser, Ulverston Mirror, Whitehaven News, and Kendal Mercury-for the very generous notices they have given us. And now to the next generation we dedicate this little volume, feeling assured that when the knowledge of its conductor having been a self-educated working-man has passed away, "The North Lonsdale Magazine" will be read with interest by many. Ulverston, January 28th, 1867. |