OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 27 



politicians or financiers as to whether there exists a glut of gold or 

 the opposite. There are several among the older amongst us who 

 have often heard at one time of glut, and at another time of 

 scarcity, but never have we heard of a sufficient and equal distribu- 

 tion of this means of supplying men's desires. The poor we always 

 have with us, and there is a strong impression that they ever shall 

 be, although there have been many and notable plans for procuring 

 their disappearance. In the meantime the Hamilton Association is 

 with us, and its treasury is not so full as it might be, hence its book 

 shelves show much unoccupied space. To this we freely direct the 

 attention of members, in the hope that the empty spaces shall be 

 quickly filled. 



But if our shelves are not full neither are they empty. Let no one 

 refrain from adding a book under the impression that his donation 

 may look singular for lack of company. It need not be said that 

 donations will be gladly received. But for ourselves we must remem- 

 ber that the best and most needed works will most likely have to be 

 of our own choosing, and therefore of our own buying, and no doubt 

 we shall by degrees increase the number of our volumes in the usual 

 way, to wit by exchange for something else of equal value. 



We have to congratulate ourselves on having obtained recogni- 

 tion in a very pleasant acceptable way, from a most important quarter. 

 The Government of our Province has been ever prompt to extend 

 its countenance, and where possible its material aid to institutions 

 similar to the Hamilton Association. It is doubtless persuaded that 

 these institutions greatly tend to promote the well being of the com- 

 munity, both now and for the time to come, and we must see to it 

 that the expectations which may have been formed with regard to us, 

 are not disappointed. 



A great ruler of the last century, whose aims, we believe, to 

 have been beneficent, is reported to have had as one of his maxims, 

 " everything for the people, but nothing by the people." In 

 our day we see reason to take exception to this dictum. 

 We have, nearly all of us, become convinced from our obser- 

 vation and experience that if government is not "by the 

 people" it will not be "for the people ;" that, with government as 

 with all other business, there is the greatest safety in its being cared 

 for by those who have their interests in its proper administration. 



