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great responsibility rests upon those who would make encroachments upon them. Revolution is the order of the day, but in a seminary of learning nothing more effectually unsettles the habits, and injures the character of students than constant change. Let those who are the true friends of learning unite, then, and by an anxious investigation of our systems, seek to reform what is useless, to improve where improvement is required, and in short, to silence the objections of the disaffected, and render our literary institutions what they may be, what they ought to be, more extensively useful.

Be pleased, reader, to compose yourself while we disclose to your view the mysteries of the editorial department. Know then, that "rotation in office" was early adopted as the motto of the corps, and that our former presiding officer, having discharged the duties specially assigned to him, was awaiting in his rock. ing-chair of state, the decision of fate as to his successor.

"All hail!" shouted Beppo, "the chair is mine, I am the fortunate holder of the letter E."

Immediate preparations were made for the installation of our new chief with all due ceremonies. Scarcely had he seated himself in that chair of chairs, and was looking around the room with an air of conscious dignity, when the late incumbent, envious of the ease and perhaps the dignity of the station he had so lately left, disturbed the revery of his successor by the shrill cry of "A speech from Beppo."

"A speech, a speech,” shouted the remaining three.

Beppo arose, and with evident embarrassment, delivered himself of a speech, of the preamble of which, we could only catch such disconnected sentences, as, the high honor," "his sense of unfitness," "pressure of College duties," "the generosity of his associates," &c. Soon, however, he assumed the attitude, and the voice of "a man of authority," and said that amid all the duties of his station, he could discover none which caused him much uneasiness; but that he had long been perplexed, concerning a matter which interested us all, viz. the course pursued by our correspondents. "You can imagine my feelings, Fellow Editors, as I heard the author of the piece entitled

say that his composition, elegant and faultless when handed over for publication, now appeared void of proportion, possessing no form or comeliness. My self-respect scarcely prevented me from using personal violence, especially as it occurred to me that his piece was utterly inadmissible, was a grand collection of words misapplied, and sentiments incongruous, indeed any thing but a fair composition, and that after much labor it had been deemed worthy of an unappropriated corNow gentlemen what shall be done to punish such miscreants, or, in future to prevent such slanders."

ner.

"Publish them in a black list," muttered Alcibiades, with difficulty restraining his angry passions.

"Caution," said Zotoff, “let us not act upon this matter while under the influence of feelings excited by the eloquence of our presiding officer."

"I move," said Nang Boah, "that this matter be referred to a committee, to consist of one member, who shall report at our next meeting, such a plan as may seem to him best calculated to remedy the evil."

The chair appointed Caius on that committee, very much to the mortification of Nung, who averred it to be "Parliamentary usage" to appoint the mover of a resolution the chairman of the committee for its consideration. The chair remained inflexible, and the record saith, "referred."

At the next regular meeting, Caius presented the following preamble and resolutions.

Whereas, our experience proves that articles intended for publication in the Yale Literary Magazine, are frequently defective in some minor points, such as words improperly used, sentences transposed, &c., and

Whereas it is not generally understood that it is the right and duty of the Editors to criticise pieces which appear in the Magazine, therefore

Resolved, that no piece shall be published in the Yale Literary Magazine, whose author is unwilling either, that it should be corrected by the Editors, or that his name shall be subscribed to it.

Resolved, that the above preamble and resolution be published for the benefit of all concerned.

A true copy,

Attest,

CAIUS, Secretary.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The communications of "S. N." and "R.," have been returned, as directed, through the post office.

An essay by "P. Q. N." and "A Brother's Farewell," are declined.

"The Siege of Jerusalem," has some merit, but has also many faults, and the metre is grossly neglected.

Lines "To," had much better be sent to her in manuscript, if sent at all. "Fantasticus pedanticus bombasticus," is respectfully declined.

"Ochile, an Indian legend," and "Lines written in an Album," by J. R., are under consideration.

"P.'s" verses are rejected.

The Editor to whom the "Song of the Maiden Convention" was addressed, considers himself highly flattered. We fear, however, that its insertion would not tend to soften our readers into sympathy with

"The pride of her sex, the good old maid."

N. B. As it is our wish to issue the next number at an early date, it is requested that all communications may be sent as soon as practicable.

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THE spirit of Democracy is the spirit of the age. Various as have been the peculiar characteristics of other ages, they have all been favorable to the power of the few. But the age in which we live has taken a higher stand; it will be known through all coming time as that period when the true principles of government were first and generally recognized, when the people became invested with their natural rights. The influence which this great change will exert upon the happiness and general advancement of the human race, is a subject of enquiry of the deepest interest to every friend of man. The result of such an enquiry is to determine whether the march of mind has for ages been upward; whether man is advancing to a more perfect state; or whether the human race is retrograding as to all the great principles of government, of virtue, and of religion. So many are the interests united in opposition to the spirit of democracy, and so numerous are the misrepresentations of it, that much labor is necessary to enable us to arrive at a fair and satisfactory view of its real tendency. All the means which ingenuity could devise, or power control, have been employed against the people's rights. At one time they have been called to withstand the sneers of the wise and the learned, and again the terrors of the Inquisition, and superstition with her hundred forms, have been summoned to the onset, and yet the spirit of democracy has not yielded; it has acquired new strength from every struggle.

It becomes us to ascertain the character of the principles which are thus so unerringly advancing, not from the representations of those whose vision has been obscured by interest, but as they are exemplified in the actions of men who partake largely of their influence. It may be remarked here that the real tendency of any principle cannot necessarily be inferred from the effect which is first witnessed, since the peculiar circumstances which attend it may mo

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