AMONGST the numerous valuable periodical publications, magazines, and reviews, with which the literature of this country abounds, is it not strange that, until but recently, there should have been none exclusively representing and devoted to the interests of our mercantile marine, that vast machine whose gigantic operations extended to every known portion of the globe, have reared up the pile of our national greatness to its present huge proportions ? Yet we believe that, until January 1854, when the first monthly number of the Mercantile Marine Magazine made its appearance, there was no publication beyond a newspaper, which exclusively represented and was addressed to the merchant navy of England.

Since the year 1830 we have had that valuable monthly serial, the Nautical Maga- zine, in which much important information has, from time to time, appeared on matters interesting to the nautical world in general, both mercantile and naval, but it has been, we believe, for the most part contributed to, and has, for the most part, circulated amongst, the officers of the Royal Navy, and has not so generally found its way to the hands of the merchant seaman.

It would indeed be matter for still greater astonishment to us, when we consider the magnitude of the interests involved in our mercantile marine, and the influence and the numbers of those immediately interested in its welfare—the merchant, the shipowner, the underwriter, the master, the mate, the seaman, it would be matter for still greater astonishment to us, that such numerous, and if we except the fore-mast man, such influential bodies should not, at an early period, have put forward and supported such a publication, which should have served for their mutual enlightenment and improvement, were we not painfully re- minded by the present circumstances and analogies of our merchant marine in other respects, that it has rather become great in spite of itself than through any wis- dom or arrangement of its own. That it is rather like the huge mount of sand that has been gathered together by the winds, or the vast bed of mud accumulated and depo- sited by the waters than the beautiful edifice combining strength, durability, and beauty, the product of an intellectual mind.

Had such a work existed since the com- mencement of the present century, what might it not have accomplished—a work which should have been a vehicle of com- munication between the many enterprising and enlightened minds who have served since that period in our merchant navy— which should have collected and published their observations and discoveries made in every part of the world—which should have laid bare many of the evils existing in that service, and pointed out the road to amend- ment—which should have made known and explained the character of new inventions and improvements in'ships, in their furnish- ings, and their management—which should have been a medium for the discussion of scientific subjects connected with, navigation, naval architecture, and commerce—which should, above all, have served as an incen- tive to practical nautical men to think as well as to observe, and which should have taught many of them how to turn their thoughts and observations to the best prac- tical account for the benefit, not only of themselves but of mankind.

Who can tell what might have resulted from such a work, during the last fifty or sixty yews ? Who can tell that the clumsy, unimproved form of our merchant- ressels, fostered by a false and mischievous system of calculating tonnage, would have continued until but a recent period ? Who can tell that merchant-vessels, like our men- of-war, would not long since have been railt with solid floors which would have enabled them to strand on a lee-shore with- out going to pieces and drowning their crews almost at the first concussion with he ground ? Who can tell that the present system of almost unlimited insurance, in competing clubs, would have now existed; which deprives the shipowner of nearly all pecuniary interest in the safety of his vessel, and, as a consequence, in the safety of his crew; and which has, undoubtedly, as we believe, led indirectly to the destruction of an incalculable amount of property, and to a fearful aggregate of loss of human life? Who can tell that it would have been left to the present distinguished navigator, Lieu- tenant MAURY, of the navy of the. United States, to map out the ocean, and to orga- nize a system of observation of its currents, its depths, its temperatures, its winds, and the magnetic, barometric, and thermometric changes, denoted on its surface, in connection with storms and other atmospheric pheno- mena ? We believe that we are not exag- gerating the importance of such a work by supposing that such effects might have been produced by it. We have great faith in the power of any cause which will set men a-thinking, and which will teach them how to turn those thoughts to best account. We believe that, like the rolling ball of snow, it must accumulate as it moves on, and that there is no limit to the magnitude and im- portance which it may assume so long as it is kept a-going. But our saiiors are, pro- verbially, an unthoughtful race, hence their inertness and the little alteration that has taken place either in themselves or their ships during long periods. We will, how- ever, hope that the schoolmaster is now afloat, and amongst the helps to him in his avocation we hail with gratification the Mercantile Marine Magazine.

Already many valuable papers will be found in its columns which cannot but be interesting to nautical men in general, and instructive to a large proportion of them.

It is apparently well conducted, and its cost (sixpence each monthly part) is such as to place it within the reach of every one.

It only needs the continuous support of the mercantile world, and the contribution of the information gathered by the members of our merchant-service in all parts of the world, in order to produce all the benefits which we think it is calculated to do. It has, we believe, already attained a large circulation, which we trust will increase, until it is in the hands of every officer of our mercantile marine, as also of our ship- owners, merchants, and others interested in our mercantile prosperity and renown.