The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-01-04 00:00:00

KONESTE AUDA X.

ADDRESS.

-

Tux well-marked turning-point in the course of
Time—the events of the past year being now
matter of history, and those of the year to come
shrouded in the unknown future—becomes, by
the force of an amiable conventionality, a
fitting season for the exchange of congratula-
tions and good wishes. There is something in
the hopes and fears, the smiles of fortune, the
struggles and vexations of the world—constantly
affecting the mind and condition of mortals—
which leads one to look back upon the year that
is gone with peculiar interest in its relation to our
fellow-men moving around us ; while, in refer-
ence to ourselves, a vain but unwonted sobriety
of reflection seeks to penetrate the hidden story
of the coming year, and to define the character of
the future by a reference to our experience of -
the put. But the vicissitudes of the world—the
ever-changing and milooked-for conditions which
affect mankind— the joys and sorrows which
move us strongly, constantly alternating one
with the other, varying in kind and degree—
coming and departing no ULM knows when ;—all
this uncertainty, all this impenetrable mystery,
refuses to yield to the test of a forßgone know-
ledge of events, however accurately they may be
marked, ani however assiduously we may seek
to fit them "to the coining on of time." Hence
it is, probably, in a great measure, that " man's
i 'hunt:why to man " is, on the advent of a
new year, most perceptibly and gratefully mall-
ti al—passions abated—selfishness relaxed. We
are 'just entering upon a new and well-defined
pliase in our existence—we know not what is
before us—we hope for the best—and we dale
not altogether steel our hearts against the in-
fillollCe of kindly emotions towards our fellow-
men. No ; not even those, whose cold sensi-
bilities, stern disposition, and sterile minds
render them by habit in a great degree in-
different to the sweet effects and offices of
human kindness, can entirely, at this particular
season, "shut up the access and passage" of
philanthropic aspirations. Then, if this be so
with such as abide in the bleakness and duo-
hit' of the world, with how much warmth of
kindly sentiment, of gratitude and regard, must
those be animated who are of a more genial
temperament, and find themselves surrounded
by nothing but the most kindly and generous
dispositions I Such it is our happy lot (coining
now to speak ono word personally about our-
selves) with which—a becoming sense of obliga-
tion once more obliges us to say—fortune
favours us. With this the first No. of the
Express for the year 1859, we have to acquit
ourselves of a most pleasant duty. We have
to thank our numerous readers, one and all,
for the steady support and encouragement
given to our humble efforts; and we acknow-
ledge with a feeling of pride, which it would he
useless to dissemble, the large accession to our
subscription-list which has come in during the
past year—thus endorsing, in a most flattering
manner, the judgment of our earlier patrons.
The latter gave us strong hopes of life on enter-
ing into the world of letters, in 1855; while the
constantly increasing number of new friends,
honouring us with their approbation and pat-
ronage during the subsequent years of 1856-
57-58, have given to the Express not only a hale
and vigorous existence, but have constituted
it a tower of strength, as respects its f. lo-
tions and its resistance to all manner of dete-
riorating and adverse circumstances. This being
so, we have, indeed, abundant cause to tender
our most hearty thinks for the manifold favours
conferred upon us, anti for the substantial testi-
mony thus afforded of the acceptability and
apparent usefulness of our Inunble professional
exertions. The evidence of so much kind and
unwavering appreciation must have the best
attainable effect in holding us faithfully and
zealously to the path of duty we have pre-
scribed for ourselves, and in keeping us intent,
with a vigilant eye and a fearless pen, upon all
that concerns the county of Dorset—all that is
bound up with its interests, its wholesome pre-
dilections, and its well-founded desires. 'We
will conclude with the brief but time-honoured
salutation—offered by us in all sincerity—to our
many kind friends and readers—