C. Simive THE Englishman's FIRE-SIDE, MONTHLY PERIODICAL WORK, FOR THE YEAR 1820. "The Politics of the Bible are our Politics: the Morals of the OUNDLE: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY T. BELL; RIVINGTON. ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD, SOLD BY MESSRS. Preface. In presenting to his Readers this little volume of per riodical papers, now brought to a close, the Editor. must call their attention to a few prefatory remarks, as to the origin of the work-its progress and the cause of its discontinuance. Towards the end of the year 1819, it became evident to every unprejudiced mind, that our blessings as Englishmen-the blessings of a free Con stitution in Church and State-were in imminent danger of being overthrown by the daring and avowed designs of unprincipled men, who, after many a long year of secret agency in their endeavours to uproot Religion and Order, at length vaunted the gradual influence they had obtained over the minds of their countrymen,-threw off the mask-declaring all, good government Slavery-all religion a Mockery. Upon this, with every better feeling roused to exertion, and anxious to preserve to himself and to others within his sphere, the freedom with which he was blessed, the Editor proposed publishing weekly, in a cheap and easy form, such observations as might suit the character of the times, meet the objections of the Infidel and Seditious, and confirm good men in their adherence to rectitude*, though they might fail to reclaim the wicked, or might even bring down upon himself the sarcasms of the vain and scurrilous. 1 * In his concluding address, page 419, the Editor has stated at large the principles on which he has uniformly acted, and from which, he fearlessly declares, he will never swerve. Nor was he discouraged by fear of being thought to take upon himself an office, which might better have been done by others; for he considered that a check to the attempts of the wicked " is best provided by each honest man standing forth in defence of Religion and Order, as occasion shall call, and his abilities enable him-ready in due season, to exert himself in promoting the good of others, however weak his power, or slender his means. For if the well-intentioned defer doing what good they can, till they can do all the good they wish, they must expect not only to fail of doing much, but risk the probability of doing nothing."* Arrogating to himself, therefore, nothing but good intention, he ventured to publish, in November 1819, the first number of "The Englishman's Fire-side, price One Penny, to be continued Weekly." The work met with every encouragement;-and the Editor felt an honest pride in finding that he not only was one of the first to publish in a plain and cheap form, what might serve to weaken the efforts of infidel publications, so industriously circulated amongst all classes of his countrymen,-but that he received the most gratifying proofs of approbation. The Weekly Publication was, however, soon laid aside, in consequence of an act of the legislature, directed against the efforts of the Infidel, but affecting all periodical papers. † The Editor, therefore, published the work Monthly; in which form it has been carried on through a more eventful year, than any which the oldest of its readers can recal to memory recording the most important of those events; and having such reflections subjoined, as become a Christian and an Englishman. *See No. 1. of the Weekly Penny.' 111 The increasing circulation of the monthly work has been in every way gratifying. It has proved that if many were evilly disposed, many were better inclined; nay, those who have discouraged the work, rather hold cheap its unpretending character, than disapprove its views, or oppose its sentiments... Thus encouraged to proceed, the Editor thinks it only a just tribute of grateful respect towards his Real ders, to state, why at the close of the year he brings to a close his present labours. Infidelity, against which, as against the leader and forerunner of all Ill, he directed his chief aim, has, by the blessing of heaven, and by the united endeavours of good men every where, been foiled and checked; and, for a season at least, beaten from the field: The other Evils against which he strove, however humbly, to contend, we re those arising from Sedition; and these will probably soon find their own remedy in their very Excess: for, as in the natural body, so in the moral and political body, the quantity of poison may be so great that it fails to act, where a smaller portion would work slow but sure destruction. Of such vast and alarming magnitude are these evils, that the nation can no longer bear them:-There must be re-action.-Many will consent to use the language of disaffection, who yet will shrink from the open avowal of Sedition. Yet to remove altogether-to annihilate an Evil like this, requires the arm of power: It is at present a crying shame to this great country—a sad blot upon her Scutcheon-that every City, Town, Village and Hamlet, should be deluged by certain Newspapers and other publications,-filled either a 21 |