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petition no more! "For a nation to be free, it is sufficient that she wills it :" she not meaning the young lady without whose sanction of their choice (and this for no better reason than that some of her cousins had not German Mothers) the chosen Speaker of the "Representatives" of a great Nation, he who ought to be the Voice of the Nation, may not presume on utterance. Why are there not Republican Societies here as well as in France? not to assassinate the sovereign, for ours is no tyrant, but most inoffensive-not to say useless. Long live Victoria-happier than on a throne! Long live THE SOVEREIGN PEOPLE.

AN EPILOGUE.

OUR Number of the present week completes a volume; and brings our labour to a close. We need not recapitulate the intentions with which the NATIONAL was commenced: and very few words will suffice to explain the causes of its discontinuance. They are simply these:-The work does not pay its way, and the circumstances of the projectors will not warrant a prolongation of its existence. Our current sale will not pay the expense of paper and printing -to say nothing of literary labour, illustration, and other requirements-and this (though certainly with very little advertising) with very favourable notices and some most earnest recommendations from the Radical Press; notices which must have been in the hands, at least, of more than a hundred thousand readers. However, as all the numbers continue selling, it is probable that had we sufficient capital to force attention by repeated advertisements, and to enable us to bide our time, we might succeed in establishing a remunerating circulation: but, while the grass grows? Still, in giving up our purpose, we are not disheartened. It is a great satisfaction to know that we have stood our ground longer than was anticipated by any of the holders of "extreme" opinions, with whom we are acquainted; that we have to a certain extent realized the promise of our prospectus, by bringing within the reach of the Working Man so many of the divinest thoughts of the world's master spirits. Thanks to the Spirit of Progression, we have outgrown the days in which a book could be arbitrarily suppressed. Ours may sell but slowly, its circulation may be very limited; but it will do its work in the minds of men. It will not be in vain that we have given so many specimens of the rich fruit hid in the leaves of the forbidden knowledge. We do not think it requisite to follow the custom of Editors, by thanking our subscribers-who rather are indebted to us-save for the power with which the encouragement of their support and sympathy endows us to attempt further heights for the benefit of humanity and for this fostering of our faith most earnestly we thank them. But we must not omit our acknowledgements to the great teachers of the present time, whose names and powerful assistance appear in our pages. Nor would we be ungrateful to those of the Apostles of Free Thought, who, perhaps from modesty, the common failing of authors, are only to be reckoned among our anonymous contributors. Many more of Truth's Advocates would, we doubt not, have held out to us the right hand of zealous co-operation, had our humble endeavours met their observing: but a work undertaken expressly for, and circulating among the People, was not likely to be introduced to those who deservedly are elevated to a respectable rank in society. We may be better known to them by the time we commence a second volume. We purpose doing this as soon as the present volume shall have cleared its expenses, should our opportunities permit: if not, there are many ways of helping humanity, and abundant means of beneficence not only offered to, but even thrust upon, the least powerful of well-wishers. Meanwhile we bid our fellows God speed; and resting in the faith that no truth-inspired or loving attempt ever fell, or can fall to the ground without producing good, calmly and cheerfully we say Farewell! W. J. L.

June 29, 1839.

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