“WE shall endeavour to make the Naval Chronicle an useful and interesting library of itself to seamen, and an acceptable work to every one who partakes of the glory acquired by our own countrymen on their own element, or experiences the security derived from their valour.

Our leading principle will be to adhere strictly unto truth; to render justice unto naval merit, present and departed, both when it has met with success, and also, (which is of the greatest importance) when it has unsuccessfully struggled with unfavourable events, We shall not palliate enormities, should any such present themselves to our view in the course of our labours; nor shall we permit prejudice, unnoticed, to overwhelm misfortune when unaggravated by misconduct.”

This is the engagement we contracted with the public in the introduction of our first Volume, on New Year's Day, 1799; and after more than ten years have revolved, we confidently appeal to the suffrages of our professional, as well as of our literary patrons, whether we have redeemed our pledge; and whether we have not contributed abundantly, as well as usefully, towards the naval annals of our country during that period.

Conscious of the rectitude of our intentions, and (we will venture to add) of our merit in their execution, we shall detain the reader by only one more general remark.