It is said to have been remarked by a late celebrated critic and writer, Dr. Samuel Johnson, that if an Author took care to introduce his book by an elegant and entertaining Preface, it was not, nineteen times in twenty, of much consequence to him how the body of the work was executed–Although there may be some truth in this observation with respect to literary works in general, yet the Editor of a periodical publication is totally precluded from this advantage. On the other hand, he claims one which is more useful to him perhaps, for he considers himself in general answerable only for a careful arrangement, and the selection of such materials as he thinks may prove most interesting, for the merit of which he is principally indebted to the labours of his friends, and not his own.

Acting on the necessary principle just mentioned, it has ever been the leading feature of the Naval Chronicle to record with fidelity every passing Naval Event, and to intersperse these with such remarks and collections of fugitive pieces on Naval Subjects as are thought most worthy to be preserved from oblivion.

Of the Biographical Memoirs, which occupy so considerable a part of the ensuing Work, as it were on one hand the height of arrogance to expect praise on account of their compilation, so on the other, the fidelity and impartiality with which, it is trusted, they are composed, may, it is hoped, entitle the arranger to the satisfaction of learning, that the several circumstances have been collected with no inconsiderable care and attention.