Nothing is more difficult in small com munities than to avoid running counter to some one 1 s hobby —and it is still more diffi cult to do so, without a possibility that they who are brought under the mild castigation of public criticism, will not make a personal application of it to themselves. There is an over-sensitive ness in the belief of most people that criticism is akin to enmity ; and that to employ the one, is to indulge the other. The public questions we have discussed and brought under notice ; the evils we have censured ; the complaints we have made; the wrongs we have endeavoured to redress ; the rights we have tried to maintain —all have had but one motive power, “ the greatest good of the greatest “ number.”

The good opinion of our fellow 7 men, is a jewel which no prudent man would willingly forfeit or reject. We know but too well that in the firm maintenance of our creed we have had to put some to the test, and so force them to choose between a quasi good opinion, with their faults uncovered, and an open resent ment, with them laid bare. We have had to risk much in compassing small ends ; and we have had to bear the hatred of unphilosophical minds. This we regret, but cannot help; it is a part of the reward which we could see plainly from the beginning; and we need not repeat that, so long as we are conscious of doing our duty, no terrors of that kind will unnerve us.
