welcome change to vary the affecting tenor of her thoughts. She was much diverted and pleased with the vivacity of this party, and the novel mode of entertainment which had been introduced; and as she was much given to reflection, and frequently wrote down her thoughts, she made this party the subject of her solitary musings; and as the features of her mind are much unfolded in them, the reader will be pleased with the following "Reflections after returning home from an Irish party."

"Society! thou delightful source of true enjoyments, which awakenest the active energies of the soul, and callest into motion the genuine feelings of the heart. Thou in whose widening circle we discover all that is amiable, attractive, useful and endearing in life! Cheerless must be that man who, wrapped up in selfish and foreboding gloom, forbids the approach of his fellow-travellers-whose love and affection are centered in self-whose miserable soul dreads to encounter the trials of social life, lest they should interfere with his selfish enjoyments. Rather be it mine to weep with those that weep, to bear my part in human suffering―rather let me meet with disappointments, with confidence betrayed, with treachery and falsehood from some, than thus shut myself out from the opportunity of meeting free and gentle friends, whose countenances beam with kindness and friendship, who lessen the sorrows of life by participating, and enhance its pleasures by imparting them. Society is the touchstone of talent and genius-it is the steel and flint whose collision strikes out the sparks of wit and truth. In society, noble, free, and independent spirits dare to speak the truth in sentiment and feeling; here they meet with arguments which they are ready to combat or to submit to, as truth is elicited there learning brings forth her researches, reflection adds her stores, the

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young are entertained with novelty, and guided by wisdom; the best principles are here imparted by the hand of experience, which grow and flourish, and bear ripe fruit in future life here the voyage of life is contemplated by the young as from a light house, or traced as in a ship, while a compass is given them to steer their course aright through the rocks and quicksands which endanger the passage.

"By retiring from society, indeed, the timid and suspicious man may avoid the encounter of trials, the contest with foes. But will the ardent spirit of philanthropy be content to rest in idle indifference and cold apathy, with respect to the state of his fellow mortals around him? No: the proper study of mankind is man. Nature is beautiful; the study of it is engaging; the works of nature are stupendous; but the natural world with all its wonders is merely the habitation of the Creator's masterpiece-man. The green and flowery earth, so lovely to behold, and teeming with good, is spread out into valleys and piled up in hills, and intersected with streams for man-man who is the image of his Creator, whose soul was breathed into him from the Divine essence, and animates him to glorify his Maker with all his bodily and mental powers. Society. in thee we find the soul of benevolence, that animation of Divinity-and the smile of affection, faint emblem of the Creator's love for his creatures. In thee, society, we discern some of the attractive attributes of Divinity, occasionally shining forth in the sons of men, amid all the darkness of his natural ignorance, and all the clouds of evil influence which rest upon his moral atmosphere. The good, the generous, the scientific, and the brave are to be met with in thy abodes, sweet society! and in search of their presence I'll visit thy haunts, happy if amid the many ills and depressions of human life, I may

find hearts to sympathise, tongues to comfort, and eyes to cheer me with kindness."

We shall for the present take leave of Janeira, but as we shall have occasion to meet her again, we have copied the above from her note-book as a specimen of her mind and feelings.

THE RELIGIOUS PARTY-THE DEATH BED-AND THE GHOST.

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CHARLES having accompanied his friend Rowland to the small convivial party we have described, invited Rowland in the course of a day or two to accompany him and Mr. Hadley to a party of religious friends.

The gentleman was retired from business, and lived just out of town in a house pleasantly situated in the New Road, commanding a view of Highgate from the back windows, and affording in front the prospect of perpetual motion and bustle, from the continual movement of horses, [carriages, and passengers, but removed by the intermediate garden and trees to such a distance, as to soften the noise into a not unpleasant murmur, as from a distant cataract. "Here," said Charles, "is truly rus in urbe the spacious garden, relieved with the wood-crowned tops of Highgate and Hampstead, transport us in idea, far from the town; while the incessant hum of a mighty population for ever in motion reminds us that we are still on the precincts of society, with all its enjoyments.' -They found walking in the garden behind the house a physician, whom I shall call Agathus, and a clergyman, named Sincerus, with the friendly and pious host, whose name was Amyntor. We were soon invited in to tea,

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where the ladies were already prepared to regale us with their exhilarating.beverage. From more light conversation respecting books, authors, and preachers they entered into more serious debates. The Missionary Society was a topic which instantly engaged attention. Mr. Amyntor, who had been abroad as a merchant, was afraid it would long have to struggle with difficulties, because men of rank had not yet become its supporters. Mr. Agathus however was of a different opinion: He said "The cause requires no talents nor elevation of rank to support it. It will now reach a state of elevation in the public mind which will render it independent of such support. We have heard in the late sermons, and at the public meeting, sufficient to warm the coldest heart and raise the most sluggish mind. Who that has heard the tales of cruelty and misery abroad does not wish to forward the efforts of those who go forth to alleviate the sum of human wretchedness? Is it possible for any human being, animated by such prospects, and feeling these effects, to return with a cold heart and blunted feelings to his own fire-side, and fold his arms in indifference?" "How satisfied," said Mr. Amyntor, "every christian must feel, that by the exertions of this and similar institutions, Britain is likely at length to be rescued from that stain which has so long disgraced her character; truly, it was lamentable, that a nation so exalted in her principles and usages at home, should forget those principles when she left her own shores-that a nation who so magnified the splendour of her own policy and institutions, should forget the celestial splendours of her sanctuary, and the higher glories of the christian religion. There are indeed parts of the world, in which Britons have so disgraced the christian name, that it would have been an insult to the natives for Britons to breathe the names of christianity. With respect to Africa, I would apply what