This miscellany was intended to furnish religious reading, discussing subjects of religion and morals, as well as literature in its religious aspects; and also to convey religious news, particularly in relation to the history of the Unitarian church in both the U.S. and Britain ... Contents included sermons, religious news, book reviews, essays, poetry, and listings of ordinations and dedications. (cf. American Periodical Series Online, 1740-1900).
Most of the letters, which are of prime importance in America's cultural history, have never before been published. The remainder that have appeared in print frequently did so in emasculated form and in a wide variety of books and journals. Here, scrupulous annotations supply relevant identifications of individuals, explain allusions, and present information regarding the addresses of letters, endorsements, postmarks, and the location of manuscripts.