Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine Volume 60 Number 371 September 1846

Blackwood''s Edinburgh Magazine Volume 60 No. 371 September 1846 reflects the intellectual and cultural preoccupations of mid-19th century Britain offering a blend of political discourse literary fiction and reflective poetry. In this issue the magazine grapples with the political and social upheaval of the time marked by tensions between progressive reformers and conservative traditionalists. Through its essays Blackwood''s encourages readers to reflect on the rapid industrialization the evolution of the British Empire and the moral complexities of both domestic politics and imperial expansion. The political essays in this volume examine the continuing debates following the 1832 Reform Act scrutinizing the push for further political reform and the ongoing debates over the structure of the British political system. While recognizing the necessity for reform Blackwood''s remains firmly committed to caution urging that changes be made slowly and with respect to long-established institutions. The magazine also addresses the tensions between the rising power of the working class and the established elite warning against too much political power being concentrated in the hands of an uneducated populace. In these essays the conservative ethos of Blackwood''s is clear: progress should be embraced but only within a framework that preserves social order and national stability.