Nor more welcome is the evening twilight to the wearied tiller of the soil, than is the near approach of the close of another year to many a writer for periodical literature. But this similarity of feeling flows from different sources; for while one anticipates with pleasure the close of the day that he may enjoy the sweets of repose, the other desires the close of the year that he may mark the progress of his work, complete one part of it, and address himself, with increased experience and renewed vigour, to that which still remains. If it is thus under ordinary circumstances, with much greater reason is it when he who has directed the "thought-tracing quill" has done so with a frame shaken by sickness, or a brain busied with care. The corps editorial, like their fellow-mortals, are subject to the varied vicissitudes of life, and liable to all the "ills that flesh is heir to;" but these the nature of their profession necessitates them to bear in solitude, and endure unknown to their readers. These thoughts, with their somewhat sombre hue, have arisen in our minds while recalling the circumstances by which we were surrounded during the preparation of a portion of our present Volume; and we could not, in justice to our feelings and position, have withheld this reference to them. But the foregoing words will suffice on this subject; for we can speak in the past tense of all that is personally painful, and do now rejoice that through it we were able to hold on our course, to discharge our duties, and to prepare a Volume which, we believe, will be found to be no unworthy companion of its predecessors. There is not much, perhaps, in the present Volume that in its distinctiveness requires special notice. Again have we brought questions of deep and enduring interest before the attention of our readers; and again have we been gratified with the earnest spirit in which their discussion has been carried on. If there has been any fault here, it has been in this earnestness occasionally developing the tendency to introduce a little of that personality the absence of which is so desirable in the prosecution of all important inquiries. Some of our contributors certainly appear not only to have

"Felt their strength, but made it felt;
They might have used it better, but allured

By their full vigour, sternly have they dealt
On one another."

We have referred to this subject here, because we are anxious to check even a budding evil; and because, in endeavouring to do so, we are supplying the best possible answer to an objection to our work which has been made by some would-be-thought wise ones, namely that the opposing articles which appear in our pages are not the bonâ fide contributions of different individuals, but the varied productions of the same pen. Now, however complimentary such an opinion is to the versatility of our own talents, we are anxious to correct it, because it is not true, and because its wide belief would greatly weaken our influence for good. The writers in our pages, so far as we know them, are men who have formed intelligent opinions on the subjects they discuss; and in stating the reasons which have led them to arrive at those opinions, and the arguments by which they consider them supported, they are assisting us to perform a great public service, and are helping on the glorious cause of truth. The amount of silent influence which our united labours are exerting it is not for us to estimate; but we have the means of knowing that it is wide-spread, powerful, and beneficial. It has been well said that "The detection of an error-the dissipation of a doubt-the extirpation of a prejudice-the establishment of

a fact the deduction of a new inference-the development of a latent principle-may diffuse its beneficial consequences over every region of the world, and may be the means of lessening the misery or increasing the happiness of myriads of unborn generations. The great interests of the human race, then, demand that the way of discovery should be open -that there should be no obstructions to inquiry-that every possible facility and encouragement should be afforded to efforts addressed to the detection of error, and to the attainment of truth; nay, that every human being, as far as he is capable, should actively assist in the pursuit." To afford new facilities for this was the original object of the Editors of this Magazine, an object which they have not failed steadily to keep before them during their four years of literary servitude.

In addition to the pursuit of this object, and in connexion with it, we have endeavoured, with increased interest and enlarged means, to assist our readers in the work of mental improvement and self-education. This we have done not merely by giving general precepts, but by furnishing individual counsels and improving exercises. To our various class operations we cannot but refer with pleasure, for though they have entailed upon us an amount of labour but very inadequately indicated in our monthly records of progress, we have in it all enjoyed the consciousness of carrying on a great and good work, and been cheered by the unmistakeable evidences given by our students of increasing knowledge and growing power.

With regard to the measure of outward success which has attended our labours during the past year, we shall be expected to say a few words; and we can do so now, as on former occasions, with a considerable amount of satisfaction, for though the circulation of our magazine has not equalled our expectations, we have found much encouragement in the flattering notices of our critics, and the gratifying expressions of our readers. With the former the public are familiar; and that an adequate idea may be obtained of the character and value of the latter, we may be permitted here to give an extract from a letter recently received from a distinguished professor at one of our ancient seats of learning. He says: “By this publication I consider you are doing a most important service in the work of mental education; and you have my most sincere wishes for the increased success of your well-directed labours." Such an unsolicited testimonial as this from such a man is indeed gratifying and stimulative. Surely none could have earned, as we have, the confidence and approval of thoughtful men of all classes, sects, and parties, without feeling, as we do, the honour of the position, and its responsibilities too.

But there is a future before us, and for that we must prepare: we hope to bring to the performance of our duties in it not only enlarged experience, but augmented zeal. We should be traitorous to the past, with its suggestive lessons, were we not to do this. We confess that we have not realised our ideal, either in our work or in its circulation; but while we strive to do it in the one, we must trust to our readers to aid us to attain it in the other. They have ever been ready to render us their co-operation; and now we solicit it once again. We are aware that our progress is opposed by many foes, under such forms as ignorance, prejudice, and party spirit; but we shall count them only as vanquished ones, if all our friends will but join hands in a cordial confederation, and—

"Not bate a jot

Of heart or hope; but still bear up and steer

RIGHT ONWARDS!"