472 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
inheritance of all. It is not the dumb oracles of stone — with their restricted 
records, and their local application — though they put a torch into our 
hands to illumine the dawn of the past. It is the winged words of the 
printed book, which cover with an eternal effulgence the destinies of the 
future. Not things, but thoughts, now control human actions, and regu- 
late the progress of human minds. The glories of all languages, deeply 
indebted as we are to them for profundity and practice — are in the destiny 
of printing but as tongues and dialects, to the glories of the diffusion of 
our own. It is not the millions of Bibles that sow Truth broadcast over 
the earth. It is not the billions of books that create and mould knowledge 
to the requirements and form of every mind. It is not the Giant Press, 
that from the four winds of Heaven wafts to all quarters of the world the 
woes and wants, the wickedness and worth of man, and unfurls in its 
hand the nevec-drooping standard — Liberty ! Deals with the high politics 
of nations, and descends to the humblest needs of human life ! Elevates 
the being into the Man, and teaches men and men, though divided by 
oceans, that they are brothers ! It is not even this. It is this : the life, 
the spirit, and the principle that pervades it, and renders it immortal ! It 
is this : that Printing has rendered intelligence imperishable ! This power 
neither Sorbonne nor Index Expurgatorius can suppress. This power, 
neither Csesar nor Satan can withstand. And if ever, in the providence of 
God, the prophecy of Lord Macaulay should be accomplished, that the New 
Zealander shall one day sit upon the ruins of London Bridge, the civilization 
that shall have led that soul-enfranchised savage to survey and to mourn 
over the mother that had yearned for and saved him, will all have emanated 
— to him and to his countrymen, and to millions like him, w r ho have 
escaped into the “marvellous light” — from the might and the majesty, the 
power and the purity, of England’s Printing and of England’s Press.” 
And now, what is the result of “ What has been done” ? 
Simply this. We have been taught the advantages of 
scientific education. There has taken place in our schools 
increased facilities for the acquirement of knowledge. The 
curriculum has been extended, and will continue to be with 
the onward march of mind. The man of scientific attain- 
ments is sought for to the exclusion of the mere pretender 
and charlatan. All this is as it should be. They are steps 
in the right direction, and we heartily wish that they may 
increase and continue. 
As to What is to be done ? — that may be summed up in a 
very few words. First we would say, let there be union 
amongst us, and a determination on the part of each to act 
for the general good of the profession, coupling this with a 
friendly feeling towards one another, and all will be well. 
We have before declared, that we are not destructives. 
We would be no Sceva among the gods. To pull down is 
much easier than to build up. We are altogether opposed 
