I have already referred to our printer's defection. Acting under
advice, Mr. Whittle declined to print the Comic Bible Sketch in the
number for July 16, and the following week he refused to print at all.
He announced this decision after all the type was set up and the
"formes" were almost ready for the press. Only forty-eight hours
remained before the _Freethinker_ was due. During that period,
in company with my friend and sub-editor, Mr. J. M. Wheeler, I made
desperate efforts to get a printer to undertake the work. At last
I discovered a Freethinker who placed his inadequate resources at
my disposal. He could only set up four pages of type, and only
print copies with a hand-press. Even that was better than nothing;
anything being preferable to lowering the flag in the heat of battle.
But alas! fate is stronger than gods or men. I was foiled at the
last moment, just as victory seemed within my grasp; _how_ I forbear
to explain, although the incidents of that eventful day would form
an interesting chapter of my Autobiography. Enough copies were
pulled to constitute a legal issue of the paper, and one of these
is safely deposited in the British Museum; but none were printed
for the market, and it was everywhere reported that the _Freethinker_
was dead. Christian Evidence lecturers joyously announced the
fact at their meetings, and Mr. Maloney ironically alluded to it
in Court. I bore all these taunts with grim silence, which was at
last broken, not by words, but by deeds. These people did not know
that the _Freethinker_, like the founder of their faith, had
disappeared one week only to reappear the next. With the aid of
Mr. Ramsey, who again stood by our side, we succeeded in restoring
our paper to the light of day. Type was purchased, compositors
were engaged, and a little shop was taken in Harp Alley. The
_Freethinker_ for July 30 struck astonishment into the souls of