The introduction to the first issue reads:[5]"The intelligent reader will readily observe, that this Preliminary number has been chiefly dedicated to state the grounds of the present war, as given by the several belligerent powers themselves, in order to begin the Political Magazine with more propriety, than the commencing it abruptly with the occurrences of the month.
The Declarations of Congress are the first in the order of time; then follow the ministerial and opposition opinions, and those that have been deemed impartial, closed with Lord Chatham's dying speech.
Dr. Franklin's Memorial naturally succeeds these, as it engaged the French Court in the war.
After these the King's Speech, the Addresses of both Houses, a sketch of the debates of the present Session, and the Relief granted to Ireland, bring us up to the point of our commencement.
Then the pleasing detail of our late successes at Omoa, and Savannah, the surprise of Fort Stanwix (where Col. St. Leger failed in 1777) of which the particulars are not yet arrived, the captures of the Dutch fleet in the Channel, and the French fleet in the West Indies, close this Publication."