OUR FILE. We have on hand a number of communications, to the authors of which, without referring to them severally, we were about to offer some admonitory observations, when we found in the Vermont Chronicle an article entitled "Instructions to Correspondents," so exactly suited to our purpose, so exactly like what we intended to write, and so peculiarly adapted to the wants of the writers in question, that we transfer a portion of them to "Our File." Take care of little things. It is very important to us. In particular, Let your lines be so far apart, that there may be abundant room for interlining; so that, if any word is nearly illegible, the editor may guess it out, and write it over more plainly. Besides, when the lines are huddled together, the page presents a confused appearance, and the compositor's eyes are strained and injured in endeavoring to follow the line from which he is setting. If your ascending and descending folds are long, your lines must be far apart in proportion, or the compositor's eyes must smart for it. Form every letter so that it may be known by its shape, and not compel the poor type-setter to guess it out, by considering what it must be, in order to spell some word. Take special care of m, n, and u. Do not make e like a little capital, or the Greek ɛ. If you do, when you write in haste you will make it look like an r of the sort which you ought never to make. Do not make s, a, j, k, &c. like capitals, where capitals should not be. Avoid abbreviations. Use none, which you would not have in printing. One of the first lessons given to an apprentice is, to follow his copy, even if it goes out at the window. If you write Temp. Soc. the editor must write it out in full, or give it to an experienced compositor, with special instructions, or it will be set just as it is written. Do not abbreviate the ed at the end of verbs. Never write tho' for though, nor chh. for church, nor xn. for Christian, nor any thing of the kind. If you write on thin paper, so that the letters show through, do not write on both sides of it; for, like lines close together, it confuses the eye of the compositor, and demands of him a painful effort, for several hours together, perhaps, to keep his place. If you write on a large sheet, write only on one side. It may be necessary to divide the copy among several compositors, or omit it for a week; and it cannot be so well divided when it is written on both sides. In some offices, all communications, written on both sides of the paper, are rejected without examination, on that account alone. We do not object to it, however, if the lines do not show through, and if the article is sent so early that one compositor can set the whole. Do not make a dash, or a flourish, for a period, or for any other pause, except where a dash is needed as a pause. Put your marks of quotation at the top of the line, as in printed books, and not at the bottom. Mark words which you wish to have set in CAPITALS, by drawing three lines under them; those to be set in SMALL CAPITALS, by two lines; and those in Italics, by one line. But be careful to use Italics and Capitals very sparingly. Their effect is destroyed by making them common; and besides, it injures the beauty of the page. We We are not certain that we perceive the object of the "Dream of a Student in Mathematics." If it were intended as a burlesque upon Mathematical Studies, needs point to give it effect; if it were intended as a personal satire, the writer and his original are probably the only two persons who would enjoy the wit.. We are not aware that we have received any previous communication from the same writer. We commend to his attention the preceding extract from the Vermont Chronicle. It will prevent his writing hereafter, Nat, Phil.-Prof. Math, and The gentleman who sent us an article on "Phrenology" will perceive that the subject is more extensively treated in the leading article of the Magazine—which was printed before his contribution was received. "Lowell" may have a place among statistics, if that disposition of it be acceptable to the author. "Our Village Pastor," "The Mad House," "On the Phraseology of the Americans," "Lines to a Village Warrior," "Metrical Translation of a Greek Funeral Hymn," will appear next month. To the two pieces sent by "Myron Seaver, New-York," we have objections, which, as the precise Old Vellum would say, are two-fold. First, we dislike the multitudinous parade of foreign words and phrases; it would puzzle us to decide whether the article were written in French or English; and Secondly, it is No. I. of a series; we may never again hear from the author; and if we should, his No. II. may not suit us. We have adopted a rule, which experience has proved to be a useful one, viz.-to publish no article which requires a continuation from one number of the Magazine to another, from an anonymous source, until the whole of it is in our possession. As Mr. "Seaver" has not chosen to make us acquainted with his real name, we must at least postpone the publication of his contribution till he sees fit to furnish the remainder. LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. Messrs. Peabody & Co. New-York-propose to publish, a monthly magazine, to be called "The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly Magazine." Each number, (say the publishers,) will contain 24 quarto pages of letter-press, in double columns, equal to 48 or more pages of the usual size, printed with an entirely new and beautiful type, procured expressly for the work. The paper, of the finest American manufacture, will be of the same quality with that used in the Annuals, and stitched in an elegantly tinted cover. The greatest attention, in short, will be paid to its typographical appearance, while superior Engravings, will, from time to time, ornament and enrich the publication. Terms of subscription, Four Dollars per annum, payable on the delivery of the fourth number. Should the complexion of their subscription list barely enable the publishers to commence the Magazine, the contents of the earlier numbers will be one half original, and and the remainder selected; but should the publication meet with the success that is anticipated, it will gradually assume an entirely original character;-the publishers being prepared, if met in their design by the public, to enlist the first acknowledged talent in the country, and call out latent ability, at an expenditure hitherto unpractised on this side of the Atlantic. They must meet with countenance themselves, however, before they can venture to bestow patronage, though perfectly content that all the first profits of the work shall go to improve its character; in the mean time, without mentioning the names of the able contributors who have courteously pledged their aid, they feel warranted in stating that arrangements have been made, which will enable them to commence their undertaking, under literary auspices the most favorable." We learn that "The Knickerbocker" is to be commenced under the editorial management of Mr. Hoffman-a young gentleman of taste and talent, and whose literary productions have already procured for their author a good degree of popularity. Messrs. Correy and Fairbank, Cincinnati,propose to publish the WESTERN MAGAZINE, a continuation of the Illinois Magazine, conducted by James Hall. The experiment of publishing a Magazine in the state of Illinois, (it is stated by Judge Hall) has been made at a great personal sacrifice on the part of the editor. In the endeavor to sustain it at a spot in the interior, remote from the great marts of business, the whole mental labor fell upon him, while the mechanical department was more expensive than the income would justify. These difficulties he proposes to remedy by removing the place of publication to Cincinnati. Without abandoning any of the objects, to which his attention has been heretofore directed, or rejecting the subjects which have employed his pen, it is the intention of the Editor to enlarge his plan, so as to include a wider range of topics, and the interest of other states as well as that of his own residence. Doughty's Cabinet of Natural History and Rural Sports, No. 6 of vol. II. recently published, contains a notice from the editor, stating that unless the patronage of the work shall be augmented, he shall be obliged to discontinue it, after the completion of the present volume. It is hoped that his appeal to the public will enable him to obtain additional support, sufficient to pursue the work, which is really an honor to him and to the country. There is no similar work published at present, and should this fail, it will probably be a long time before we shall see its equal. Clapp & Hull, Boston, have published-Familiar Lessons in Mineralogy and Geology, designed for the use of Young Persons and Lyceums. By Jane Kilby Welsh. Vol. 1, including Lessons in Mineralogy and Conchology. G. & C. Merriam, Springfield, have just published-The Franklin Intellectual Arithmetic. For the use of schools. By E. Davis, A. M. Principal of Westfield Academy.-A Present for a Husband or a Wife. By a Married Man.How to do Good, or Practical Lessons on the Great Science of Human Life. Designed for frequent reading and daily use.-Advantages and Disadvantages of the Marriage State. An Allegory.-New Hymns, Songs and Rhymes for Children. Suitable for Infant Schools. F. & J. Huntington, Hartford, have publishedA Treatise on Epidemic Cholera, including a Historical account of its Origin, and Progress to the present time, compiled from the most authentic sources. By A. Brigham, M. D. Collins & Hannay, New-York, have just published-Letters on the Cholera Asphyxia, as it has appeared in the city of New-York, addressed to John C. Warren, M. D. of Boston, and originally published in that city, together with other Letters, not before published. By Martyn Paine, M. D. J. & J. Harper, New-York, have in press-a work in two volumes, entitled "Tales of Glauber Spa," of which the following are said to be the contents-vol. 1, Le Bossu; Childe Roecliffe's Pilgrimage; the Skeleton Cave; Medfield. Vol. 2, The Block House; Mr. Green; Selim; Boyuca. The same publishers have recently published, Sketches from Venitian History, two volumes, forming the 43d and 44th volumes of the Family Library.-Westward Ho! a Tale, by the Author of the Dutchman's Fireside, in two vols. forming the 25th and 26th volumes of the Library of Select Novels. |