These views I have heard expressed in conversation by several ladies & gentlemen of high literary standing repeatedly during the last six years—but nothing has been done.

To bring the subject to more practical consideration and discussion I will now propose a plan for a periodical.

It shall be published weekly and be of a form similar to the London “Examiner,” “Atheneum” & “Spectator,” the Leader & the Economist or the late New York “Literary World” and shall be of a size that may be sold with profit at the News Rooms and Railroad Stations at 5 or 6 cents a number.

 1. Each number shall have a department of contemporary history in which the news of the week shall be given concisely but with clearness and with great care to have the probably true particulars sifted from the probably false, accompanied with a small but penetrating & suggestive running commentary.

 2. Each number shall have a department of entertaining reading matter; popular but of a very high character such as that which distinguishes the Household Words. Philosophical topics treated in an entertaining manner will be suitable for this department and it is hoped that some of our philosophers & professors may be induced to drop the stiff dignity which unfortunately habitually distinguishes them as a class in our country & meet the people recreatively in this department. Faraday is a regular contributor for Household Words & no other is more amusing or instructive to the immense audience of that weekly.

 3. Leading articles on topics of Statesmanship, Metaphysics, Moral Philosophy, Truths of History, Public Affairs, Social Reforms, Legal & Legislative Improvements, the Progress of Man, &c. These articles to be written not by the editor solely by any means, but by general or special contributors (of any country) the only restriction being the requisite value of thought & excellence of composition and an absence of very strong objection on the editors’ part to the views presented.

 4. Regular contributions from the corps of writers to be interested in the periodical—these articles to be of the same character as the leading editorials but to [be] presented to the public as individual views, the periodical to be responsible neither for the opinions, the reasoning or the spirit of them further than that they be manly and worth reading.

 5. Open columns—for correspondents, on all subjects; for new opinions & suggestions & discussions by persons of any creed or doubt in Theology, Mental Philosophy &c. To be absolutely open to all, as far as possible, whether orthodox or outcast, Puseyist or Pagan.

 6. Articles on Art & Science, Fine Arts & Esthetic subjects, & Poetry, by regular or chance contributors. But regular contributors on the Arts, on [351] Music & on Fine Arts to be engaged so that carefully studied & instructive articles of this class shall appear at regular intervals, as for instance on Architecture, Painting, Sculpture, Inventions, discoveries and advancements in Chemistry, Geology, Astronomy &c. twice a year, on Music once a month &c. Esthetic commentaries and criticisms on events of current interest, items of intelligence on Scientific & Esthetic subjects.

 7. Reviews of the most thorough and impartial character. Literary Intelligence & Literary discussions. Reviews of public documents & of speeches.

 8. Selected articles of important import, illustrative of the present State of Society, the progress of opinions, or otherwise of a suggestive & meaning character, mainly from foreign journals.

 9. Concise information in answer to enquiries.

10. Observations on the state of trade, on commerce, the markets &c.

11. Statistical information.