PREFACE TO THE FIRST VOLUME

Summary

The periodical writer, at the close of every volume, is expected to come forward like an actor on the dropping of the curtain, who, after making his obeisance to the audience, discusses the plan and execution of the drama performed.

The success of the Naval Chronicle has exceeded our expectation, and we take this opportunity of returning our thanks in general for such extensive patronage and support; we also are greatly obliged to those naval, and commercial correspondents, who so early did us the honour of sending their valuable communications for the work; thus enabling us to make known many papers, that would otherwise have been irrecoverably lost to the public.

The principal branches, which the Naval Chronicle is intended to comprise, have now appeared; and though it has not been in our power to pay an equal attention unto all, we have endeavoured to render each interesting and important. To these it is our intention occasionally to add, Disquisitions on Ship Building and Marine Zoology.

Our Biographical Memoirs form a task of considerable difficulty, which a sincere regard for the Naval Character could alone have induced us to undertake. We beheld with pain the wide influence of a calumniating spirit, that tarnished even the pages of History, extending to characters beyond the tomb.