history, poetry, eloquence, philosophy, so many stores of intellectual wealth, fills the mind with regret, and inspires saddening reflections on the vanity of human labors. Time has engulfed more than it has spared. The buried treasures of literature are more than those which are left.

Yet there are cheering as well as gloomy views, which rise in the mind; cheering, as showing the permanency of what has been thus far saved from the wreck of former ages, and to which the activity of the human intellect is continually adding new stores. Of the influence which the rapid and extensive circulation of knowledge, daily augmenting, the result of the very simple invention of moveable metallic types, is to exert on the character and condition of the species, on the social and political organization of the several races which people the earth, on their moral and intellectual training and habits so intimately connected with physical well-being and comfort, we can, at present, form no estimate, for we want elements of calculation, which the past, in the present case, does not furnish. That it is to be great and salutary is not to be doubted. Of one fact we rest assured. The night of the dark ages can never return. Knowledge has gone forth, working changes, and can never again be remanded back to the walls of the cloister. Books can never again become the imprisoned, buried treasures, they once were. The destruction of literature and science can now be occasioned only by some general convulsion, which shall sweep away all vestiges of modern civilization, shake the foundation of our present continents, and add another to the epochs of those stupendous revolutions, which, as geologists tell us, the earth has formerly undergone.

ART. II.-1. Report of the Arguments of the Attorney for the Commonwealth, at the trials of Abner Kneeland for Blasphemy, in the Municipal and Supreme Courts at Boston, January and May, 1834. Boston: Beals, Homes, & Co. pp. 93.

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2. Reflections on the Law of Libel, in a letter addressed to a Member of the Suffolk Bar." By a Citizen. Boston: Wells & Lilly. 1823.

3. American Quarterly Observer. No. V. Art. 7: The Periodical Press.

It is not easy for us of the present day, to obtain a clear perception of the change produced in the state of society by the invention of printing, and the influence of the press. When we read the works of Greek or Roman authors, it is not often that we advert to the fact, that their writings were in manuscript only, and therefore of very limited circulation, until within the last four hundred years; nor do we often recollect, that when our fathers first settled this country, the press had been in operation about the same number of years that have elapsed since that memorable era. Few, probably, have ever paused long on the thought, that all the events of our country's history have occurred in the open daylight of an expanded intelligence, and the knowledge of them been diffused by an instrumentality never vouchsafed to the infancy of any other nation. We have nothing in our annals, nor in our traditions, that reminds us of the days when printing was unknown, and when all information was imparted orally, or was to be sought-with great labor, expense, and delay-from written parchments. It would be well for us to ponder this matter more, so that we might more correctly estimate our condition, and more firmly resolve to act as behooves those who are thankful for a goodly heritage, and desirous not only to preserve it from destruction, but also to secure it from reproach.

To the friends of christianity, there can scarcely be any earthly source of joy so full and perennial, or any cause of gratitude so tender and so operative, as that which is connected with the wondrous facility with which the scriptures may be distributed throughout the world by means of the press. Until this great discovery, "the Word was hindered." While it remained in manuscript, very few could peruse it, and fewer still could possess it

entire. Cowper's "cottager" could not then, as now, have free access to it,

"And in that charter read, with sparkling eyes,

Her title to a treasure in the skies."

In that book we read, "there is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body;" and we are taught to anticipate, that in a spiritual state our means of acquiring and communicating will, in some way at present incomprehensible, be immeasurably enhanced. Has it never occurred to our minds, that the progress of human invention and improvement has already enabled us to perceive some glimpses—faint, it is most true, and indistinct, but yet delightful, worthy of regard, and confirming to faith— glimpses of the spiritual state, and of the intercommunications of spiritual beings? If, as is believed, all natural objects are types or representations of the spiritual, we may rationally suppose that this suggestion is not entirely groundless.

Who, for instance, can examine an exquisitely painted miniature portrait, and not feel that there may be a spiritual body, impalpable and divine?

Do not the philosophy of light and the laws of vision encourage us to anticipate, in another life, an unlimited range of perception, and a power to discern the remotest objects in the height and breadth of the heavens ?*

The recent impulse given to locomotion has rendered the

movement of

Uriel, gliding through the even

On a sunbeam, swift as a shooting star
In autumn thwarts the night,"

scarcely a poetical license.

And who can contemplate the art of printing, with its agencies of communication, and contrast it with those restricted means of diffusing knowledge which were in use before this art was discovered, and not believe that we have already, in this lower world, reached a state intermediate between the rudeness of barbarian life, and the perfected powers of acquisition and communication in the world above?

It is not, however, the design of the remarks on the press which we are about to make, to celebrate its triumphs, or to descant on its glories. Its glories and its triumphs are neither for

* See "Physical Theory of another Life," ch. iv. NO. VI.-VOL. III.

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gotten nor undervalued ; we are reminded of them, with sufficient frequency, in all that we hear and in all that we read. The fashion and the taste of the day are sure to bring before the minds of the people of this country their advantages, their blessings, their glorious prospects-and, above all, their inherent and inalienable rights. It may be wise occasionally to consider our duties and our perils-to examine the evils of our condition, and learn, if possible, how to remove or to mitigate them.

That the press is powerful for evil as well as for good, no one will deny. All the mechanic arts may be, and have been, employed to work the purposes of mischief. The ingenuity of rogues keeps pace with that of the honest; and no locksmith can long baffle the picklock. The same is true of the fine arts. Music breathes to fan the flame of lust, and the pencil sheds its colors to swell into life the images of pollution.

The press is peculiarly susceptible of abuse, and has always been greatly abused--never more, however, than at the present time. Let no one suppose that what may be said on this subject is intended as an intimation that the press should be restricted by law, or its constitutional liberty be at all impaired. For its shameful violence, its want of decency and principle, it is to be censured and denounced; and for its exceeding silliness and stupidity it may deserve contempt: but it must be and ought to be free. In what that freedom consists, will presently be shown. To muzzle the press because it utters mischievous works as easily as good, could no more be justified, than the prohibition of speech, because out of the same mouth proceed both blessing and cursing.

We have all heard much, especially of late, from the press itself, of its own powers, and of its mighty effects. In proportion as its issues have become vapid and shallow, have been its selfcomplacence and self-conceit. If we were to take the notions of its noisiest and most blustering conductors as the test of its character and the measure of its influence, we should be forced to the conclusion, that the more trash it disseminates, the better are its patrons entertained; and the more unmannerly and unprincipled its effusions, the more manly and the more independent of ancient prejudices will the present and the succeeding generation become. Indeed, no careful observer of the times, who has the well-being of his race strongly at heart, can avoid being sometimes oppressed by the fear that this great instrument of civilization, intelligence, and diffused knowledge, may at length, by its perverted use, bring back the reckless and savage spirit,

if not the barbarous manners and contempt of lettered refinement, which it is the glory of its earlier labors to have ameliorated, softened, and repressed. This fear, however, is greatly diminished at least in the best informed and most deeply reflecting minds by the instability and devious course of those who attempt to propagate mischievous doctrines. It has been truly said, that "men cannot act consistently and energetically without full confidence in their own views; and this confidence cannot endure-though it may continue during a short excitement or conceit unless supported by the authority of others." This simple truth seems to warrant "the grave cheerfulness of a circumspect hope," that the restlessness of the present day, and the numberless new projects of evil, and heresies of opinion, put forth and advocated by the press, will defeat one another, and ultimately be overwhelmed by the triumph of truth and virtue.

The press exultingly boasts itself to be the lever by which the intellectual world is moved; and this strong metaphor is not inapposite. But no lever can act with power unless its fulcrum is stationary. A resting point was all that Archimedes wanted, in order that his machinery might move the globe: "Give me where to stand, and I will upheave the earth." What he lacked, the press, that defends truth and right, fully possesses. The press that is bent on evil has never yet rested long at any given point. Its fulcrum has always shifted its position, as often as does the vane by which its conductors guide their course. Hence it is that the vigor of the fomenters of mischief, and the apostles of error, has generally been signalized and exhausted by rapid marches and hasty onsets-by gaining sudden advantages, and as suddenly surrendering or abandoning them.—It is a familiar remark, that evil principles are more active than good-because they are more restless: but good principles, when brought into action, are the strongest and most enduring.

I. The first thing now to be noticed in reference to the press, is, the recent claim of some of its conductors, and of many of its honest but mistaken defenders-that it is above and beyond the reach of the law. This most alarming and detestable heresy is founded on an exposition (so called) of the constitutions of the United States and of the several states.

The first article of amendment of the constitution of the United States provides, that "Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press." Similar