amined and refuted. He who feels ashamed for his opinions to be compared with those of another, or is afraid to consider the reasoning of an opponent, pays but a poor compliment to his own character and creed. It has been well said, “Whoever fears to examine the foundation of his opinions, and enter into the consideration of any train of counter-argument, may rest assured that he has some latent apprehension of their unsoundness and incapacity of standing investigation; and as a fear of this sort is totally at variance with that spirit of candour and fairness which is the proper disposition for the attainment of truth, no man should suffer it to prevent him from engaging in the requisite examination." Our “constant readers ” have, during nearly six years, tested the practical value of these enlightened sentiments, and with the most satisfactory results. It is of course impossible for us to daguerreotype the secret workings and progress of truth, but we know of some cases in which, through the influence of our work, opinions have been beneficially changed, or materially modified, while “ the falsehood of extremes” has been exposed, a spirit of kindly and mutual respect has been generated, and, at the same time, a process of mental training has been going on, fitting its subjects to take a more important position in life, and to exercise a stronger and more elevating influence on those around them. We may here, without impropriety, refer to an interesting experiment made during the present year, for the purpose of registering the opinions of our readers on the subjects discussed in our Fifth Volume. It was thought that the deliberate judgment of " a constituency of cultivated intellect," engaged in an earnest search after truth-beyond the reach of corruption, intimidation, or even influence--and expressed only after thorough debate, would be a most novel, interesting, and valuable species of statistics; and although, from various causes, only a small portion of our subscribers sent in their "votes," the result was far from being uninteresting, as indicating, in their proportional relationship, the opinions of a large number of intelligent persons, resident in all parts of the United Kingdom. On the question of Church Polity, 240 voted for Episcopacy, 120 for Presbyterianism, 324 for Congregationalism, and 155 were Neutral. On the question of Communications being now made to Man from a Spiritual World, 143 were in favour of the Affirmative, 547 were in favour of the Negative, and 150 were Neutral. On the question of Napoleon Bonaparte being worthy of the admiration of the French people, 470 were in favour of the Affirmative, 151 were in favour of the Negative, and 125 were Neutral. On the question of Scotland baving reason to complain of Injustice, 265 were in favour of the Affirmative, 409 were in favour of the Negative, and 168 were Neutral. On the question respecting the Universities being Open to all, 612 were in favour of the Affirmative, 163 were in favour of the Negative, and 65 were Neutral. On the question of the Maine Liquor Law, 407 were in favour of the Affirmative, 385 were in favour of the Negative, and 48 were Neutral. And on the question of Slavery being Justifiable under any circumstances, 108 were in favour of the Affirmative, 709 were in favour of the Negative, and 23 were Neutral. Apart from the intrinsic worth of this Report as "a barometer of thoughtful opinion," we value it as an incontrovertible proof of our success in gaining the support and confidence of a large body of intelligent men of all sects and parties. Our editorial labours have not, however, been confined to polemical subjects; we have endeavoured to afford suitable advice and assistance to youthful aspirants and self-educationalists generally. Our “ Aids to Self-Culture," as well as the courses of study prescribed in the various classes, are not designed to be exhaustive, but rather stimulative and suggestive; and such, we believe, they have proved. The communications which we are constantly receiving, reveal bow wide-spread is the desire for instruction, and how acceptable are our efforts to promote it. The ultimate influence of the contents of this and preceding volumes we will not attempt to estimate. Every year deepens our conviction of their value, for we are frequently enabled to recognize amongst those who now occupy important and responsible positions in society, some of our first student readers, who are not slow in acknowledging the beneficial aid and impetus which they derived from this magazine. We cannot, then, but rejoice in the success of our preceding volumes, nor avoid looking with satisfaction on the one which we now send forth to the world; and, concerning all, we indulge the cheering hop', that when this work may have passed into other hands, or even ceased to exist, the influence of our labours will be felt in some cultivated minds and disciplined hearts. Nor would we forget our generous coadjutors, for they have enabled us to make this volume what it is. We beg them to accept thanks which come warm from our very "heart of hearts,” and we invite them to share with us our anticipations, all bright and glorious as they are! We cannot conclude without casting a hopeful but anxious glarce towards the future of the BRITISH CONTROVERSIALIST. What that future may be, we cannot, of course predict; but we cherish the belief that it will be not merely worthy of the past, but far excel it in character, and exceed it in success. That this may be the case, it is only necessary for our readers to remain faithful to "their own Magazine;” to lose no opportanity of making known its character and contents; and to aid it in other ways to carry out its designs to ENLIGHTEN, ELEVATE, and BLESS. 290 415 150 3 ......... 183 217 264 298 337 PAGE PAGE HISTORY :-(Continued.) Affirmative Article, I. Negative Article, I...... 331 373 Negative Article, II. ..... 376 413 Negative Article, III. Affirmative Reply Negative Reply ..... 460 No.II................... Is the Ballot more desirable than Open Voting? Affirmative Article, I.... Negative Article, I...... Affirmative Article, II.. Negative Article, II. Affirmative Reply ...... Negative Reply Was the British Government Justified in tering upon the Present War with Russia ? Affirmative Article, I. Negative Article, I. .. 261 Affirmative Article, II.. 128 Negative Article, II... 133 Affirmative Article, III. 166 Negative Article, III. 170 Affirmative Article, IV.... 379 Affirmative Reply Negative Reply .... 16 SOCIAL ECONOMY:- Is Secularism Consonant with the Highest Amount of Social Happiness? 106 173 191 ... 207 222 225 Negative Article, III. .... Affirmative Article, III. .. 302 287 306 326 342 Negative Reply .......... 347 368 Is the Unanimity required in Juries Conducive 405 to the Attainment of Justice ? .... 409 388 Affirmative Article, I. ... 390 ..450 427 Negative Article, II. Affirmative Reply .. 468 470 THE ESSAYIST:- Advantages to be derived from the Study of History.- Prize Essay, by D. M. West 350 145 Ditto, ditto, by J. W. Hardman, A.B. .... 177 Benjamin Franklin: a Study.......... 210 Byron ...................... .. 252 Decimal Coinage: The Necessity for its Adoption-Its Advantages over the Pre- 418 268 285 ......... 347 371 1. ....... 79 sent System and the Various Plans for REPORTS OF MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT carrying it out which have been proposed 33, 68, 113 Bow and Stratford Mutual Improvement 109 Association ..... Hints on Extemporaneous Speaking 431 Bristol (Cooper's Hall) Mutual Improve. The True Test of Merit ......... Christchurch 'Mutual Improvement and Debating Society .................... 238 Crieff Debating Club.................... 119 Young Men's Associations ........ 231 Edinburgh Young Men's Association .... 278 Glasgow, Dundas-street Young Men's Mu- tual Improvement Society ............ ... " Wardlaw" Young Men's Lite- Questions requiring Answers :-36, 71, 115, 157, rary Association ................ Great Yarmouth Discussion Society...... 238 High Wycomb Discussion and Mutual Im- A Course of Mathematical Study ........ 399 A Scripture Query ..................194, Kirkintilloch Young Men's Mutual Im- Law Students' Mutual Corresponding So- Liverpool, “ Franklin" Mutual Improve. Cause of the Apparent Size of the Moon in ment Society ........................ 196 London, Bermondsey, and Horselydown Mutual Improvement Association...... 360 Early Closing Association....... St. James's Literary Society .... 318 George Sand ............ .......74, 117 Society of Compositors ........ 360 Hebrew Grammar and Dictionary ....159, 434 Madras Young Men's Literary Society..... How to Obtain a Thorough Knowledge of Meirion Literary Institution .... How to Obtain Skeletons of Leaves .... 194 Monkton Young Men's Mutual Improve- Neophyte Writers' Society .............. Newcastle-on-Tyne Debating Society .... Redruth Mutual Improvement Society.... Retford Mutual Improvement Society..197, 310 Skipton-in-Craven Young Men's Mutual Matriculation Examinations of the London Spalding Mechanics' Institution ........ Staines Mutual Instruction Class ... Meaning of Names..................195, 275 Swansea Christian Literary and Scientific Walthamstow Mutual Improvement Society 198 Wolverhampton Mutual Improvement So- Religious Sect of Duchoborzen in Russia. 358 ciety ................................. 239 The Invariable Value of Gold .. LISTS OF NEW BOOKS ON EDUCATIONAL, LITERARY, AND SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS, The Scotch Bawbee 276 39, 119, 198, 279, 438. LITERARY INTELLIGENCE, 40, 80, 120, 160, THE YOUNG STUDENT AND WRITER'S An Essay on the Art of Writing ........ 472 Cyclopædia of Universal History ........ GRAMMAR CLASS :-Model Exercises, 37, Liber Cantabrigiensis ... 76, 117, 159, 195, 236, 276, 315, 435. Mann's Guide to the Knowledge of Life .. 280 MATHEMATICAL CLASS:- Questions for Ragg's Creation's Testimony to its God .. Solution, 37, 77, 118, 159, 195, 237, 277, 318, Ragonot's Vocabulaire Symbolique Anglo- Solutions, 118, 159, 195, 237, 277, 318, 359, 400, Ryland's Extension, Security, and Moral Influence of the Church of England.... 28 GEOGRAPHICAL Class:-Exercises, 77, 118, Sunday School Union Publications for 1855 160, 196, 237, 277, 318, 359, 400. LOGIC Class:-Exercises, 77, 118, 160, 196, The British Workman ... PHONETIC SHORT-HAND CLASS :-Exer- The Dignity of Labour, a Lecture .... 200 CONTRIBUTORS SIGNATURES. ...... 74, . 390, 415, 225 22 PAGE PAGE Arhoudhu...... ..... 409 Junius (Chelmsford)..... 264 Benjamin ...... 48, 225 L'Ouvrier (Birmingham) ...... 11, 145, 179, 305 Beta (Leeds .............. 390, 412, 470 Maxwell .. 312 na 210 06 Morfhaich .. B. S.... ........... 74, 190, 194, 195, 249, 426 Morfhaich............................ 393, 472 C. W., jun. ............. ..... 36, 71, 115 N. .......... 91 Clement (Ashton-under-Lyne) .... 133, 290, 457 Onward.................................. 465 D. M. W................. ... 233 P. D. (Dublin). 293, 460 E. L. J................. 468 Persona ..... 270, 287, 453 E. W. S. (Buckingham).... 67, 231, 314 | Philalethes. . 20, 210 F.J. L., B.A. (Bedford)........ 76, 217, 235, 435 Republicola ... 418 G. F. ... 376 Rolla 109, 298, 317 Gray....... 150, 157 Scotus .. Halket ..... 117, 308 Sigma .............. ..... 15, 50, 173 H. C.F. .......... 105 S. N. ................ 85, 106, 284, 367, 404, 446 H. D. L..... .... 25, 252 S. S. ... 9+ Horatio............. ... 350 Stanislaus ......... .... 59, 261 Irene .... , 267 Taliesin .. 373 J. A. C.. 128 Thor ....... 330 James ... . 192, 228 Threlkeld . . 54, 328, 379, 399, 430 J. F. (Ollerton). . 89,370 T. U. (Edinburgh) .... 33, 113, 140, 301, 337, 463 J. G. R. (Manchester). 103, 388 T. W.R. 428 J. L... 273 Vincat Veritas ..... ......... 28, 177, 257 John Brown... 100, 183 Vinculum ..... 450 358 ... ............. 450 ERRATA, Page 275, col. 2, line 13 from bottom, instead of “ By this process beautiful positive pictures are obtained for negatives," read “ By this process beautiful positive pictures are obtained;" and instead of " Albumen is used instead of collodion, as follows," read “For negatives albumeir is used instead of collodion, as follows." Page 326, col. 2, line 12, for “ arbitration," read “ abstraction." |