THE FAREWELL. JACTA sit alea! exclaimed Cæsar, after a night of JACTA terrible deliberation, when he had determined to pass the Rubicon. "The die is cast!" say the Editors of the Omnium-Gatherum, after a little prudential consideration; and the connection between their work and its readers must, from the present moment, cease for ever. Not that they are become weary of their periodical labours, or feel • less pleasure in carrying them on than they experienced in commencing them; but they have seen too much of the world, to be ignorant that expensive amusements must end in ruin; and are aware, that as the carriage-wheel is at length worn out by ceaseless revolution, unless it be supplied with its due proportion of unctuous matter, so cheerful labour must eventually be converted into intolerable toil, if it be not animated and encouraged by a moderate but equitable share of reward. What should have occasioned that trifling demand for their work, which renders the resolution of discontinuing it imperative, they, like all other unsuccessful speculators in the line of authorship, are at a loss to conjecture. It may be, that the quantity of the matter contained in their respective numbers is not adequate, in the popular estimation, to the price demanded for each; particularly at a time when the load of corn is lessening in value, and the quartern loaf enlarging in bulk; and when, consequently, a shilling's worth of literature should be nearly double the size of its dimensions two years ago. It may be, that the nature of their communications is not suited to the public taste; which, entirely occupied with subjects useful, improving, or profound, turns with contempt from themes of a lighter and less instructive description. Or, it may be, as one of our most sensible correspondents has suggested, "that our papers "are somewhat too serious and religious for common "readers; and too free from party spirit and fanaticism, "for the bigot and righteous over-much." Whatever the cause of our unpopularity, however, may be, the effect is fatal to the continuance of the Omnium-Gatherum: we therefore drop our pen, and take our leave; in perfect good-humour with those who have not patronized our work; with deep feelings of gratitude towards the very few friends who have encouraged it; and with the pleasing reflection, that on a serious and last revision of what the Omnium-Gatherum contains, we do not perceive a single sentiment in it, which we could wish had been omitted; or find even a solitary line that we are desirous to expunge. On this subject we shall sleep in peace! CONTENTS. NTRODUCTION 57 × 65+ 70 75 81 × 89 94 100% Conclusion of Biographical Sketch of Rev. W. Original Correspondence, from Dr. FRANKLIN to the late DAVID HARTLEY, esq.` The Tourist. No. 2. Reason and Insanity, an Original Letter from a 213 223 227 · 236 + The articles magissed with are by the w?.R.W. Printed by Richard Cruttweli, FINIS |
