54 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
insertion to communications coming from members of the 
profession embodying complaints, such being made in a 
becoming spirit, not awakening controversy or indulging in 
personalities. This, indeed, we think they have a right to 
demand at our hands ; for through what other channel can 
they make known any grievance, real or imaginary? By 
what other means seek redress, or express their sentiments 
on matters affecting the profession as a body ? We at the 
first determined on being independent journalists, and we 
still intend to be so. We have not been used to trammels, 
and none can or will we bear. Nevertheless, we shall con- 
tinue carefully to guard against the introduction of all 
asperity, and to exclude that which provokes the uncourteous 
retort. But whilst we allow of the insertion of what we have 
alluded to, we must not be thought to hold with or to ad- 
vocate the particular views of our correspondents ; and we 
reserve to ourselves the right to offer comments on them 
whenever we feel it necessary to dissent from them, since we 
cannot and will not sacrifice our principles. The times do 
not admit of it, nor have we any desire to become exclusives. 
The consequences of this course of conduct we are quite con- 
tented to leave, for we fear them not. 
We did not in our last year’s address express ourselves so 
confidently as our convictions would have warranted us in 
doing. From what we had then experienced, our anticipations, 
it is true, were great, but the duties being somewhat new 
to us, at least in connection with this journal, we thought it 
prudent for a time to withhold them ; but now that another 
year has rolled away into the ocean of the past, upon taking 
a dispassionate review of what has been done during it, and 
reflecting on the kind support we have hitherto received, we 
think we may, without any ostentation, venture to predict 
that there is now no doubt of our success. We say 
without ostentation, because we shall owe this to others rather 
than to ourselves ; while it shall ever be our earnest study to 
merit the continuance of their support. And should the result 
be as we have ventured to predicate, then will the profession 
possess a record of valuable facts, which, while it ministers 
