36 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
may be claimed for special literature, or that devoted to a 
separate and distinct section. 
We have ever been anxious undeviatingly to maintain the 
course we at the first laid down for our guidance. The inte¬ 
rests of our readers and our own are identical. Whether at all 
times we have done that which is most conducive to the end 
we have had in view, it is not for us to say. The adage, Nemo 
mortalis , &c., will not be forgotten by our friends. Never¬ 
theless, wliat has been must be accepted as a guarantee for 
what is to be. We have no fresh pledges to make, no protests 
or promises of amendment to offer. Our earnest desire is, 
not only to maintain the position in which we stand as a 
profession, but also to advance it; and the experience we 
have gained makes us bold to believe that our efforts will 
not prove in vain, while the state of our pages gives unequi¬ 
vocal proofs of the estimation in which our Journal is held. 
May no lack of zeal, no dereliction of ours, ever cause a 
forfeiture of this support; but with succeeding years may it 
both continue and increase ! 
It is an old, old story—as old nearly as the world, and 
probably will remain the same to the end of it—to tell of 
unrequited toil. But the poet has said 
“ The rose that has been ruffled by the storm, 
Droops not for aye her leaves ; 
After the rain 
She lifts her tearful head, radiant again.” 
It always has been the lot of some men to labour and others 
to reap the fruit of it. There are those in every community 
who, like the Athenians of old, are always seeking after 
something new, while they themselves do nothing. These 
are the fortunate in life, and men count them wise. 
We have before stated that the Journal has become 
enlarged since in our hands. We have also been obliged to 
continue the frequent use of small type, and } r et at the close 
of the year we found ourselves in arrears. This gratifying 
state of things we owe to our contributors ; and although it 
adds to our labour, the occupancy of our time, and our 
