recollection, Sir," replied Miss Wilson," of the passages you refer to ; I suppose they were the contents of the lost pages. There was a little about the burning of Troy, but the greatest part of the second book was gone." Unfortunate discovery! for Mr. Gregory as a man of poetical taste and decernment sunk instantly in the estimation of Dr. L. But his exposure was not to rest here. The conversation soon chanced to turn on monasteries; and Mr. Gregory concluding he had before him in the person of the Doctor, a zealous protestant, thought a few sarcasms on monks and friars would not be unacceptable. At first the Doctor smiled at the merry anecdotes he related; but when Mr. Gregory closed his observations by calling the monks an indolent, useless, set of people, all the Doctor's literary spirit was awakened, as he replied " You astonish me, Sir, by your indiscriminate censure. Are we not obliged to the monks for the preservation of -learning amidst the barbarism of the Gothic ages? Had they not collected what remained of the great wreck of literature, ancient history would have been forgotten. What would have become of the noble specimens of genius and eloquence displayed by the poets and orators ot Greece and Rome? We have incontestible proofs that some of the monks were pious as well as learned ornaments to the age in which they lived. Prejudice should never influence our judgment so far as to induce us to implicate whole communities in the criminality of some of its members." " You approve, then, Doctor, I presume, of monastic institutions," replied Mr. Gregory, evading the force of his reasoning by starting another question. "The propriety of all human institutions,” observed Dr. L. must be estimated according to their adaptation to

human circumstances in different ages and countries. During the Gothic and middle ages, monastic institutions had their use; but now they cannot possibly be of the least utility, and I hope to hear of their universal abolition."

Warned by the lateness of the hour, the Doctor soon took leave, probably hastened also by chagrin at his disappointment in not meeting in Mr. Gregory a companion of taste, sense, or learning. "You see,” observed Mr. Gregory, as soon as Dr. L. was withdrawn, "we found something to talk about." " Our visitor," replied Mr. Wilson, "certainly talked something to the purpose; but as for you and I, brother, we have no more right to the word we, than the bundle of straw which swam along the stream with the apples." "I wish he may not be a bit of a Papist in his heart," returned Mr. Gregory; "he seem'd quite offended at my reflection on monks." "I suspect no such a thing," replied Mr. Wilson, " 'twas only his respect for learning, which we care nothing about." "None of your we's in this ease." said Mr. Gregory. “I have as great a respect for learning as any one." "Say you so, brother," replied Mr. Wilson, " 'tis a wonder then you have not courted its acquaintance more." 99 Mr. Gregory's countenance testified he felt a little the force of the application; and his good tempered relative refrained from further observation, though he privately hinted to his wife that he began to suspect his brother did not know half so much of books as he pretended, and as he once thought he did. "However," added he, "this would be of no more consequence to him than it is to myself, if he was enriched with the wisdom which comes from above, full of mercy and good fruits.'"

6

CHAP. XIII.

IT may be supposed that the arrival of a new rector was not an uninteresting event to most of the inhabitants residing at His first sermon

was

was a great object of attraction, especially as it was announced to be intended for the benefit of the Sunday-school, which was also a subject of conversation,— of approbation with some, and of opposition with others. On this occasion not a single inhabitant absent, unless those detained at home by necessity. A profound attention was seated on every brow, and hope animated the minds of the benevolent promoters of the charity for which the youthful preacher was about to plead, that he would not plead in vain.

Now, we also indulge a hope that our readers will participate in the feelings of this large congregation, and thus hoping are emboldened to introduce the general heads of the discourse. Their imagination must supply the graceful, unstudied manner in which it was delivered.

The minister, in the first place, urged his hearers. to consider the utility of the Sunday-school, as it af fected society in general. "Society," said he, "has been compared to a pyramid, of which the basis is the lowest ranks; consequently its stability depends on a virtuous populace. Subordination of rank is essential to its existence, and an enlargement of reason is necessary to enable men to comprehend the true grounds of authority, and their obligations to obedience. Nothing can render legitimate government so insecure as extreme ignorance in the people; for they are then an easy prey to seduction, prejudice, and

false alarms. Ignorance, too, is often the parent of cruelty witness the ferocious spirit discovered in those destitute of ali moral culture. History, it is true, represents them as influenced by wiser though not less depraved members of society in the higher ranks; but had they possessed more knowledge of just reasoning and propriety of conduct, they could not in such multitudes have been deceived by their sophistry. Tyrannical and unlawful governments must be maintained by fear, to which ignorance is congenial: but 'tis England's boast that her constitution needs only to be known to be esteemed, standing on the firm basis of truth and justice. Now, my friends, where shall we find the best definitions of these two principles ? Undoubtedly in the christian religion. As you value, then, your excellent government, teach your poor the rules of examination; that is, instruct them in te pure words of the Bible, which is one of God's appointed means, not only of making us wise unto salvation, but of imparting opinions, or that form of knowledge which is the prop of just government-a settled conviction of its being a public good.

"In the second place," continued the minister, "I would press this benevolent work on your attention, as it respects the objects to be benefitted. They belong to a class of our ignorant fellow-creatures, who are cut off from any other means of instruction, in consequence of their situation in life. Their necessary employments at home, exclude them from a participation of the instruction of your week day charityschool; and alas! we are compelled to add, that in too many cases the conduct of their depraved parents renders that home on the Sabbath day a scene from which they should be excluded. Probably the parents

vices might proceed from the lack of religious instruction in early years. Let us then snatch the offspring from the pit of destruction into which they fell. And let us indulge the hope, that by so doing even the unhappy parents may be recovered out of the pit; for the force of example does not always take the downward direction. The child made pious, by the blessing of God on our instruction, may communicate an influence around. Delightful thought! what an assemblage of pleasing ideas does it excite ! Let us indulge the hope which stimulates us to acts of benevolence.

"A third motive I would suggest, is the interest of the established church, of which it is your privilege to be members. The prejudices of education are universally felt in a greater or less degree by all ranks in life, and particularly as it respects a miele of worship. I am far from wishing to lessen innyour estimation the pious separatists from our mode and discipline. Liberty of conscience is the indisputable right of every individual; but, satisfied with the purity and utility of our national church, we may be allowed an ardent zeal for its continuance and increase. A reasonable hope may be entertained that the youth accustomed to our communion will not forsake us. But if we neglect to invite them on the Sabbath day within these walls, we leave them to the benevolence of our sectarian neighbours, who will assuredly supply our deficiency, and initiate them into the mode of worship they adopt themselves."

The young divine strengthened the force of the above argument by an appeal to the words of a celebrated prelate on the subject, whose penetration and judgment are generally acknowledged, who says,