nor is that of the enlightened and constitutional King of Sardinia to Her Majesty of less importance, and we anticipate great results from the prominent part which the monarch of this (now) small state has taken in the affairs of Europe.
It has afforded us pleasure to record the increased attention paid to antiquarian and archæological pursuits, and to see new associations for promoting these objects start up in all our provinces. When these associations were not, our humble endeavours always tended to encourage the preservation of our architectural remains, and the study of archæology in general; and it is with pride and satisfaction that we yet point to our pages as containing an authentic record of the proceedings of these interesting societies.
One word more, and we have done:-A time of war is notoriously most unfavourable to literature, which is essentially and entirely of peaceful growth; which flourishes best within the shadow of the olive, and hangs her head at the withering blast of the trumpet; nor amid the general depression have we passed unscathed; but we trust that our readers have found in our pages the same amount of interest and instruction which it has been our lot to afford them and their forefathers for so many years.