The present New England Magazine is not the first of the name. Another New England Magazine was established in 1831, by Joseph T. Buckingham and his son Edwin, who died and was buried at sea in 1832. His cenotaph may be seen in Mount Auburn, bearing the inscription, "The sea his body, heaven his spirit holds." This magazine included among its contributors John Quincy Adams, Oliver Wendell Holmes (who commenced The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table as a serial in it), Jeremy Belknap, Jared Sparks, Edward Everett, Charles C. Felton, John G. Palfray, Gardner Spring, Joseph Story, Francis Wayland, Daniel Webster, and Nathaniel P. Willis. It contained articles upon the authorship of Junius, American Colonization Society, and Spurzheim, who died in 1832, and was among the first tenants of Mount Auburn, and the elegy upon whom, composed by John Pierpont, commencing
"Many a form is bending o'er thee,
Many an eye with sorrow wet,"
pronounced at the funeral services at the Old South Church, is still remembered by many. It also contained Garrett's Fly-Time, Reflections of a Jail-Bird, etc., etc. It was discontinued in 1834, for want of patronage. We have the courage to believe that the success so justly merited, but denied to the projectors of this pioneer among American periodicals, will not fail to reward the efforts of those who, at the end of a half-century, take up the broken thread, and give the time-honored name once more a place in American literature.
In a future number, we shall have more to say concerning our worthy predecessor in the Magazine field. It will be seen that there is much in common in the aims of the two periodicals, especially in the purpose to represent, and loyally serve, the best interests of New England and its people.
As the New England Magazine seeks to become a repository for material of interest concerning the New England States worthy of preservation, we cordially invite contributions to its pages, from all sources, of matter relating to town and local history, and the manners and customs of early times, and of biographical and other sketches relating to the notable men and women, the social and religious life, the occupations and industries, of colonial and later days.
Under the head of Necrology there will be published obituaries of notable New England men and women recently deceased, accompanied, where possible, by brief genealogical records. The value of material thus placed in permanent form, within reach of future investigators, will be at once evident; and we shall be glad to receive properly prepared brief contributions to this department.