By this entire body it was Mr. Sadler's fate to be constantly followed with misrepresentation, vehement abuse, and affected contempt. And their united efforts, though they could neither prevent the enactment of a Poor Law for Ireland, nor rescue the Malthusian theory from utter ruin; still effected at least this minor mischief, that they prevented the author of both these good works from receiving, in his lifetime, that meed of public gratitude which was his due. In the present instance, except in so far as the insignificance of the writer may protect him, a repetition of the same system of disingenuousness may be expected. For his own part, he anticipates it with the most entire equanimity. He humbly trusts that the volume now offered to the public owes its formation in a very small degree indeed to any motives personal to the writer. Simply wishing to follow in Mr. Sadler's footsteps, as an expounder of the great principles which it was the business of his life to enunciate, he is quite content he should rather say, will be eminently happy, if he may, in any degree, share his fate; at least so far as to aid in producing beneficial results, without desiring or receiving any personal reward. |