of illustrating it, and bringing in
the artist's pencil to aid the writer's pen. I soon resolved to do this,
and the third and fourth numbers contained a woodcut on the front page.
In the fifth number there appeared an exquisite little burlesque sketch
of the Calling of Samuel, by a skilful artist whose name I cannot
disclose. Although not ostensibly, it was actually, the first of those
Comic Bible Sketches for which the _Freethinker_ afterwards became
famous; and from that date, with the exception of occasional intervals
due to difficulties there is no need to explain, my little paper was
regularly illustrated. During the whole twelve months of my imprisonment
the illustrations were discontinued by my express order. I was not
averse to their appearing, but I knew the terrible obstacles and dangers
my temporary successor would have to meet, and I left him a written
prohibition of them, which he was free to publish, in order to shield
him against the possible charge of cowardice. Since my release from
prison they have been resumed, and they will be continued until I go to
prison again, unless I see some better reason than Christian menace for
their cessation.

The same fifth number of the _Freethinker_ contained an account of
the first part of "La Bible Amusante," issued by the Anti-Clerical
publishing house in the Rue des Ecoles. That notice was from my own pen,
and I venture to reprint the opening paragraphs.

"Voltaire's method of attacking Christianity has always approved
itself to French Freethinkers. They regard the statement that
he treated religious questions in a spirit of levity as the
weak defence of those who know that irony and sarcasm are the
deadliest enemies of their faith. Superstition dislikes argument,
but it hates laughter. Nimble and far-flashing wit is more
potent against error than the slow dull logic of the schools;
and the great humorists and wits of the world have done far
more to clear its head and sweeten its heart than all its
sober philosophers from Aristotle to Kant.

"We in England have Comic Histories, Comic Geographies, and
Comic Grammars, but a Comic Bible would horrify us. At sight
of such blasphemy Bumble would stand aghast, and Mrs. Grundy
would scream with terror. But Bumble and Mrs. Grundy are less
important personages in France, and so the country of Rabelais
and Voltaire produces what we are