means mankind possessed for spreading the influence and advantages of learning amongst their fellow-creatures. And, again, how highly interesting is it, to observe the prodigious advancement resulting from an ingenious and successful application of machinery in the one case, serving at the same time to develop to our wonder and amazement the extraordinary capabilities of production which have since been revealed by the Printing Machine. Truly may we now pronounce— The Press! the venerated Press! Freedom’s impenetrable shield— The sword that wins her best success, The only sword that man should wield. It is stated that the daily aggregate printed surface of the _Times_ alone, actually exceeds that of thirty acres, and the _Illustrated London News_, on one occasion, sent forth no less than 500,000 double numbers, or one million sheets. In fact, 2000 reams, exceeding seventy tons in weight. The manufacture of four or five hundred square feet of paper per minute, and 12,000 impressions per hour, are now matters of every day occurrence, although it should be borne in mind, that without the _paper machine_, pouring forth its miles of web, these corresponding advantages in printing could not have been developed. We may take as an instance, that book of books, which Pollok very beautifully describes as— “The only star By which the bark of man could navigate The sea of life, and gain the coast of bliss Securely!” Although now a handsome copy, printed on tolerably fine paper, gilt edged, and bound in embossed roan, may be purchased for one shilling, in the reign of Henry the Third, it is recorded that two arches of London Bridge were built for a less sum than that for which a Bible could be procured. And, as we continue the search still further back, the contrast becomes increasingly interesting. For let it be remembered, that the sixty-six books of which the Bible is composed, were not always contained in so convenient a form. During the sixteen centuries which were occupied in making known this revelation to man, not only were the advantages which we possess altogether unknown, even in their rudest form, but substitutes, apparently far less promising than many we have referred to, were also at one period and another directed to be employed. As for instance, to Ezekiel, Jehovah once said, “Thou also son of man, take thee a _tile_, and lay it before thee, and pourtray upon it the city, even Jerusalem.” And elsewhere, “Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one _stick_, and write upon it, for Judah, and for the children of Israel, his companions.”