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nations. Nobility is the Corinthian capital of polished states." The august fabric of society is deformed and encumbered by such Gothic ornaments. The massy Doric that sustains it is labour, and the splendid variety of arts and talents that solace and embellish life, form the decorations of life, form the decorations of its Corinthian and Ionic capitals. -Mackintosh.

R

LIX.

EFORM NEEDS AGITATION.-Power vegetates with more vigour after gentle purgings. A slender

reform amuses and lulls the people-the popular enthusiasm subsides, and the moment of effectual reform is irretrievably lost. No important political improvement was ever obtained in a period of tranquillity. The corrupt interest of the government is so strong, and the cry of the people so feeble, that it were vain to expect it. If the effervescence of the popular mind is suffered to pass away without effect, it would be absurd to expect from languor what enthusiasm has not obtained. If radical reform is not, at such a moment, procured, all partial changes are evaded and defeated in the tranquillity that succeeds. The gradual reform that arises from the presiding principle exhibited in the specious theory of Mr. Burke, is belied by the experience of all ages. Whatever excellence, whatever freedom is discoverable in governments, has been infused into them by the shock of a revolution, and their subsequent progress has been only the accumulation of abuse. It is hence that the most enlightened politicians have recognized the necessity of frequently recalling governments to their first principles.

Whatever is good ought to be pursued at the moment it is attainable. The public voice, irresistible in a period of convulsion, is contemned with impunity, when directed by that lethargy into which nations are lulled by the tranquil course of their ordinary affairs. The ardour of reform languishes in unsupported tediousness. It perishes in an impotent struggle with adversaries, who receive new strength from the progress of the day. No hope of great political improvement (let us repeat it) is to be entertained from tranquillity, for its natural operation is to strengthen all those who are interested in perpetuating abuse. The only apparent exception to this principle is, the case where sovereigns make important concessions to appease discontent, and to avert convulsion. This, however, rightly understood, is no exception, for it arises evidently from the same causes, acting at a period less advanced in the progress of popular interposition.—Ibid.

LX.

MPROVABILITY OF Governments.—-Who will be hardy enough to assert that a better constitution is not attainable than any which has hitherto appeared? Is the limit of human wisdom to be estimated, in the science of politics alone, by the extent of its present attainments ? Is the most sublime and difficult of all arts-the improvement of the social order, the alleviation of the miseries of the civil condition of man-to be alone stationary, amid the rapid progress of every other art, liberal and vulgar, to perfection ? Where would be the atrocious guilt of a grand experiment, to ascertain the portion of freedom and happiness that can be created by political institutions ?—Ibid.

LXI.

EFORE AND AFTER DINNER.-Before dinner, men meet with inequality of understanding; and those who are conscious of their inferiority, have the modesty not to talk; when they have drunk wine, every man feels himself happy, and loses that modesty, and grows impudent and vociferous; but he is not improved; he is only not sensible of his defects.-Johnson.

LXII.

UMANITY.-The most eloquent speaker, the most ingenious writer, and the most accomplished statesman, cannot effect so much as the mere presence of the man who tempers his wisdom and his vigour with humanity.—Lavater.

LXIII.

NFLUENCE OF MAN'S AFFECTIONS.-It is the nature of that happiness which we derive from our affection to be calm; its immense influence upon our outward life is not known till it is troubled or withdrawn. By placing his heart at peace, man leaves vent to his energies and passions, and permits their current to flow towards the aims and objects which interest labor or arouse ambition. Thus absorbed in the occupation without, he is lulled into a certain forgetfulness of the value of that internal repose which give health and vigour to the faculties he employs abroad. But once mar this scarce felt, almost invisible harmony, and the discord extends to the remotest chords of our active being. Say to the busiest man whom thou seest in mart, camp, or senate, who

seems to thee all intent upon his worldly schemes, "Thy home is reft from thee- thy household gods are shattered— that sweet noiseless content in the regular mechanism of the springs, which set the large wheels of thy soul into movement is thine nevermore!"—and straightway all exertion seems robbed of its object-all aim of its alluring charm, "Othello's occupation is gone!" with a start, that man will awaken from the sunlit visions of noontide ambition, and exclaim in his desolate anguish, "what are all the rewards to my labour, now thou hast robbed me of repose? How little are all the gains wrung from strife, in a world of rivals and foes, compared to the smile whose sweetness I knew not till it was lost; and the sense of security from mortal ill, which I took for the trust and sympathy of love!"-Bulwer.

LXIV.

INCERITY AND TRUTH BEFORE ALL THINGS.-The feeling which we are considering, (conscientiousness,) is the most important of all, because it regulates the proper action of all the others, by confining them within the bounds of what is right. It makes us desire " to do to others as we would they should do to us," and to love truth and sincerity above all things. It is painfully evident to all who think upon the subject, how much the world needs the proper cultivation, exercise, and direction of this faculty. It is disheartening to contemplate the vast area which "Vanity Fair" occupies, in which earth acts a part, and wears a mask, each endeavours to deceive his neighbour by passing for something more or less than he is, and each is satisfied with mere seeming, without being, or doing. Love of approbation i

the prime mover; the craving for distinction, not excellence -to appear, not to be. Praise is the grand desideratum; and as to be virtuous is often too troublesome, the semblance is assumed of whatever will best secure the approbation of society. The development of a large conscientiousness can alone counteract the wide spreading and infectious tendency. -Anon.

LXV.

OETRY.—It has long been an easy thing for hundreds of men and women to write verses which have almost the air of poetry. Poets, we know, are rarities; but what tribes of poetasters there are! And if you compare the average verses now with the average of the last century, or even later, how excellent they seem! The poetical common-places of our day are of a higher mood. People write verses so correct and musical, so polished in diction, so picturesque and fanciful, that, if not actually diamond, these verses are the very best of paste. It is the same in most things. Elegance has become democratised. The general standard is raised. In manners, speech, furniture, elegance, and literature, things are now commonplace which not long ago were exclusive. It is with poetry as with oak carving; the real work of labour wedded to art is possessed only by e few, but imitation of oak carving by machinery is to be had cheap enough.—Anon.

LXVI.

EMALE FRIENDSHIP.-Women are generally more devoted to their friends than men, and display an indefatigable activity in serving them. Whoever