stances, I felt myself released of course from all obligation to act as editor, and was well satisfied besides, to be in possession again of my original freedom. I am very willing, to believe indeed, that the want of sufficiently prompt and full action to which I have just referred, in the case of the subscription list, may be the result of mere procrastination, rather than of actual indifference towards the enterprise in hand. There is a natural disposition with most persons, in every enterprise of this sort, to move slowly, and to wait for the actual appearance of the publication they are called upon to support, before yielding themselves in form to its claims. But however this might be allowed under other circumstances, it has seemed to me altogether unreasonable in the present case, so far at least as regards what may be called the primary circle of patronage, here relied upon for encouragement and support. My own interest in the object has been conditioned throughout, by the supposition that it was of interest also for others. Much has been said, for years past, of the importance of having such a publication as that which is now proposed, under the general banner displayed at Mercersburg. I have been personally urged from different quarters, by ministers, particularly in the German Reformed Church, to undertake such a publication on my own responsibility, with the assurance that they and others stood ready to second the movement with their most hearty and active cooperation. Finally, the Alumni Association resolved to embark in the enterprise, placing it under the most desirable form, as it seemed to most persons, which the case could well admit. It was fair in these circumstances, to calculate on so much of a response from the very start, as would fully justify and sustain the movement. Why should a few persons be expected to commit themselves for the whole enterprise, if others, including some perhaps who had shown themselves forward in urging the general measure, saw proper to hesitate about the assumption of a merc fraction of it in the form of carrying out its subscription list? This reflection was sufficient at all events, to deter mine my own course. There seemed to be after all no such earnest and urgent demand for the publication in question, as could be said really to call for my services in the way which had been proposed. There was room enough for a doubt besides,

whether this very arrangement, instead of helping the general design, might not be operating rather in some degree to its prejudice; by seeming to throw the enterprise too much under my control, and so embarrassing its proper liberty and independence. Altogether, as already said, I have found it a privilege and relief, to resign my editorial trust back again into the hands of the Alumni themselves, as represented by their Publishing Committee.

Nor is this all. I have even gone so far, as to advise and recommend the abandonment of the whole undertaking, on the general ground which has now been mentioned. No one could blame the Committee, of course, for refusing to go forward, in the midst of such apparent disposition on the part of others to excuse themselves from action; and it has been with me a serious question, whether in view of all the circumstances of the case, this was not the only policy that could be prudently and safely pursued. My advice was accordingly, to give up the enterprise altogether.

But in this my judgment has been overruled by the more sanguine zeal of the Publishing Committee. Confiding not so much in the actual subscription already secured, as in the general pledges and promises which are expected to be fulfilled in its proper completion hereafter, and having great faith besides in the character of the enterprise itself as well as a high sense of its necessity and importance, they have resolutely concluded to go forward with the publication as at first proposed; and the first number of it is here issued accordingly in the execution of this design. My hope and trust is, that such success may crown the undertaking, as fully to justify in tinc to come the courageous spirit with which it was made to start. For I would not wish at all to make the impression by any thing I have said, that it is to be regarded as ill-advised and rash. On the contrary, I look upon it as starting under very favorable auspices, though not in such form of absolute security as in this case might reasonably be required. There is good cause to believe that the calculation. on which it rests, will be found to have been judicious and safe; and it is hardly necessary to add, that, in these circumstances, uo one is likely to be better pleased with the result than myself.

It seems to me now, at all events, that the present .arrangement is decidedly better for the general object of the publication, than that which was proposed in the beginning. Its leading character will remain of course substantially the same. It will

be devoted to the same interests, it will occupy the same relations, it will represent the same spirit and tendency. As a mere contributor to its pages, I expect myself of course to write for it full as much as I should do, if its editorial management were formally in my own hands. At the same time, the relation on both sides will be more independent and free; and more room will be allowed, or at least more immediate encouragement given, for the revelation of a suitably various and manifold life in the Review itself. There is less danger of its coming to be regarded in this way as my publication simply, rather than that of the Association in whose name it is issued. It is important that the Alumni should feel it to be truly and strictly their own; though of course always for the high purposes which are embraced in its origina! plan; and this requires that the whole responsibility of its character should be allowed to continue in their hands. J. W. NEVIN.

MERCERSBURG, December, 1848.

APOLOGY TO THE ALUMNI.

AT their last meeting the Alumni of Marshall College resolved to publish and sustain a Review of a given character. They appointed and properly empowered a committee to actualize their will. They pledged to this committee such cooperation as the success of this enterprise demanded. The committee at once addressed themselves to the accomplishment of their task. In doing this, certain expenses were incurred; but, infinitely more than this, the public were assured that a want, which for several years has been pouring reiterated urgent

cries into the private ears of Mercersburg, should at last be heard. Circulars and subscription papers were sent out to the Alumni, and also to others, and a time set, when they would be expected to return freighted with the promised co-operation. The result of this has already been told in the foregoing letter. The committee were thus brought to an issue alike unexpected and unprovided for. In this emergency, the letter of their instructions was indeed silent-but it was the silence of death to their enterprise. There was an hour of painful suspense. The expense already incurred, though comparatively trifling, was not to be despised. But, vastly more than this, how could the committee go back to that Egypt of false promises and resolutions, which has so often darkened certain places of our land, and thus re-enslave our Israel, without the hope of defence, in degrading bondage to the flesh pots of its cruel and insulting Rationalism? A sea of uncertainty was indeed before them, and-the hosts of Egypt behind them. At last the spirit of their instructions, clear-toned and joyous, bade them "go forward." This first number of the Review, is the "rod of Moses" now stretched upon that sea of doubt. The wind of approbation already blows; the sea begins to divide; Israel is safe; let Egypt beware.

Three hundred subscribers were required as a sufficiently secure basis, on which to build the success of this Review. One-third of this number was obtained in a few hours on the morning of last Commencement; and, although there has been an almost total failure of returns since then, yet there seems to be a perfect moral certainty that far more than the number of subscribers required for a beginning will be sent in before the second number is issued. In all probability the true cause of the failure here spoken of, has already been given in the preceding letter. In reality it is doubtless still the firm purpose of the Alumni and others, fully to redeem the pledge given to the public for the establishment of this Review. Though they have apparently deserted their committee and left them in the lurch before the public, yet otherwise the committee have not the least indication of a disposition on their part to "go back to Egypt." Though the committee have neither seen nor heard

of them for many days; yet, beyond a shadow of doubt, they are merely scattered here and there, honestly and diligently redeeming their pledge-only it takes them a little longer than they expected. This being the case, had the committee dropped their undertaking, the whole association, and others with them, would have been left in a position of falsehood before the public --and that, too, without any real necessity in the case.

Again: The Alumni desired a publication of a certain character; and, in order to secure this, it was at the time supposed that a certain editorial control was necessary. But now it seems that this end can fully as well, if not more fully, be secured under the present than under the former arrangement; and this, for the simple reas: n that the fetter of delicacy, which the former arrangement imposed upon the chief pen, is now removed.

Thus, in these two respects, the spirit of their instructions bade the committee "go forward." Though literally and legally freed from the task imposed upon them, yet were they morally bound to rescue their own, and the honor of their masters from a disgrace that has of late become but too common in certain directions. This obligation, of course, was conditioned by the possibility and necessity of the case; for no one is bound to achieve a thing alike unnecessary and impossible. But both the necessity, demand or call for this publication, and the possibility of establishing it, are not one whit less now than on the thirteenth of September last; but, on the contrary, they are, if any thing, far greater; and have been rendered so, if by nothing else, at least by the expectation which has been created in the case.

Moreover, if such a Review, as is here contemplated, is ever to be established, it must be done now or never; for the present effort is one of the critical sort that can never be repeated-that must "either make or break"-that eventuate either in life or death. If this effort have not in itself enough of moral strength to give birth to this enterprise, after having been naturally generated, conceived, and brought to the birth-point in the historical womb of Want, it must, of course, perish at this point, never to be generated again. If this be a fact, (and the committee believed it to be such,) how could they do otherwise than they have done?