ing his brain, another his muscles, few labouring with both, uniformly and harmoniously.

The labouring intellect despises the labouring hands, and the man who performs no labour, often despises both, and yet this idler is sometimes called a nobleman. Even this ignoble nobility, of indolence as it would seem, is yet a creature of labour. The idle noble of to-day, is the child of an ancestor who ennobled himself by somewhat that he achieved with much labour and puissant valour; and so supererogatory was the merit of his grand labours, that they, monumentally, ennoble even his unworthy offspring.

Among the people of a nation who are all of one race, a despotic government may be maintained for an almost indefinite length of time, secure from internal convulsions, and under such a government there may exist a large degree of personal liberty; for, amidst the quietude which pervades such a nation, customs become indurated into laws, of such binding efficacy, that the ruler is almost as much constrained by them as are his subjects; and in such a nation a civilization sui generis will become developed in considerable beauty and harmony. The Chinese empire is an example of the truth of this proposition. It is far otherwise with a State whose population, made up of different nationalities, wants the important element of homogeneousness. The government of such a State must be either military or republican. The holy alliance is largely responsible for that condition of affairs in Europe which makes one of these forms of government a necessity in nearly every portion of the Continent.

No readjustment of the map of Europe will be permanent that is not subordinated to the interests and wishes of the peoples. The day is past when the interests of individual rulers and dynasties can long maintain an ascendant over those of the governed masses. The tendency of the nationalities to resolve themselves into homogeneous masses is constantly gaining momentum. The restoration of the unity of Italy demonstrates that in one instance this tendency has produced a positive result. Shall Germany be the next example of national regeneration? And if so, shall not Hungary and Poland reassert their nationality?

Austria, an empire made up of four principal elements, the German, Croatian, Sclavic, and Magyar, whenever it loses its martial power, loses its ability to retain these incongruous elements in combination. Is not even the restoration of Grecian nationality among the future possibilities of Europe? When we have seen the small kingdom of Sardinia extend its dominion over the entire Italian peninsula, we have no good reason for denying the possibility that Greece and Spain may re-enact the parts they formerly played in the grand drama of European history.

One of the strongest tendencies of the present era in Europe, is to the advancement of her civilization, by the cultivation of those arts and

sciences which flourish only amidst general peace and tranquillity. The only cloud that threatens to disturb the peace of Europe is the Eastern question. Great Britain, whose present policy is pacific, and as to Continental questions, is as insular as is her geographical position, has impressed the policy of Europe with a principle which lies at the foundation of this momentous question; and that is the principle of maritime repression. Both her interest and her duty demand that she should lend the full weight of her influence to eliminate this disturbing element from the code of national law. The development of the immense agricultural and industrial resources of the Russian empire is pretermitted by the want of convenient and ample access to the great oceanic highways of commerce. If this access is much longer denied to Russia, she will obtain it by force. While Great Britain was the dominant maritime power of the world, it was fitting to her general policy that she should hold in check the gigantic power of the autocrat by limiting his maritime strength; but "Britannia rules the waves" no longer; and not only has her career of conquest reached its limit, her immense Indian dependencies are threatened. The retention of her sway in India, Australia, the Pacific Islands, and America, may well tax. even her enormous power to the utmost that she can exert it beyond the bounds of the British Islands, where domestic troubles disquiet her. It is true that Ireland is weak, yet so was the little fox which the Spartan boy held beneath his tunic.

Every circumstance at home and abroad admonishes Great Britain of the necessity she is under of adhering to the pacific policy by which she professes to be governed. Let the law of nations be amended in the manner urged by the United States, by exempting peaceful commerce from the contingencies of war; make the Bosphorus and the Baltic as free as the Atlantic to the commerce of all nations; and the Eastern question will no longer disturb and perplex the diplomats of Europe. Russia does not want territory; she only wants commercial facilities, and she will have them. The day is not distant when the naval powers that dominate the Pacific Ocean will command an equal moiety of the commerce of the world, and their naval strength will be equal to that of the maritime powers of the Atlantic. The distance from the Amoor river to Australia and India and New Zealand, is not so great as from the British channel; nor should the recent capture of Bokara be overlooked. British statesmen of sagacity, considering these facts, with others that might be enumerated, should not be long in deciding whether it were best to play the part of a friend or that of an enemy to Russia.

The peace of Europe, which its inhabitants so earnestly desire, may be preserved, and with it prosperity and tranquillity, and gradual, yet steady, advancement in those political ameliorations which will make its States and peoples prosperous and happy; but persistence in forcible repression of civil liberty, and in the reactionary policy of her absolutists,

will inevitably precipitate revolutions that will overturn, one after another, every monarchy in the whole Continent.

INSURANCE.

1. New Charters of Insurance Companies and other Documents. 2. Ninth Annual Report of the Superintendent of the Insurance Department-Fire and Marine.

WE shall not say much these warm days on so exciting a subject as insurance; we prefer to advise both the insurers and the insured to keep as cool as they can for the next six weeks or so. Especially would we urge this on the "Insurance Press," which ought to be pretty wearied of fighting by this time. Doubtless they find their account in calling each other thieves, pirates, black-mailers, fugitives from justice, ignoramuses, &c., &c. Certainly, it is more profitable for their employers to pay them for making sport for them in this manner, than for getting up puffs that turn the laugh on the other side.

It is rather a humiliating kind of business for honest people to fight for the amusement of others; but it has the advantage of being very ancient, if not time-honoured. Did not the Roman gladiators not only attack each other with the greatest ferocity for money, but also attack wild beasts in the arena? Do not the Spanish bull-fighters pursue the same métier at the present day? It is true that we may seem to have a selfish object in showing thus that the system is classical, since as long as the insurance journals are abusing each other so fiercely as they have been for the last two or three months, they can hardly find time to abuse us. Be this as it may, we prefer to see them at peace with each other; and with this philanthropic view we beg leave remind them that it is only the lower breeds even of the canine species that tear each other for a bone; in proof that the educated spaniel, setter, or pointer never does so, we refer to Buffon, who, it will be admitted, is a good authority on Assurance as well as on the habits and customs of ferocious animals.

We also beg leave to remind all concerned, that it is not those who fight most desperately for the bone, that always get it. It sometimes happens that another animal, who has exposed himself to no danger, sneaks up to the scene of conflict, and carries off the prize in triumph. Has nothing of this kind occurred lately? Let the quack champions please look around them and see whether they have any new allies. You know, gentlemen, how many handsome jobs we have put in your way during the last seven years; if you are honest you will admit that you have got more ten-dollar checks and larger plates of oysters for abusing the National Review and its editor, than for any other outside work whatThis was all very well, perhaps; we do not grudge you all you have made by us; indeed, we prefer that you should have the money

ever.

rather than the quacks and sharpers who employ you. unwise in boasting of it.

But you were

A certain journal that died once of inanition, but has been brought to life again in a somewhat miraculous manner, took the hint, and also tried its hand on the National Review, showing how impudent and stupid it is in meddling with subjects so far beyond its ken, as Insurance, Martin Luther, Impeachment, &c., but especially Insurance. This did very well for the time, the hat was let round before and after the work was done, and a few greenbacks were thrown into it; but we fear not sufficient to make the thing pay as a whole. For our own part we wish to deal very gently with those who rise from the dead, for such are apt to be consumptive at best. We are willing to admit that what they say should be listened to with great attention, although it be as dull and pointless as what they said before their death. Who, for ex imple, does not mark every sepulchral word uttered by the Ghost in Hamlet? The Royal Dane was a very common-place personage, before he descended to Hades; but once risen from the dead, he is a hero. All his faculties are improved; he has even learned several languages while in his grave!

When the hat alluded to was let round the second or third time, certain objections were made, even by the quacks, which may be condensed as follows:-"We are very much obliged to you, Mr. Sellula, for attacking the National Review; we are willing to pay you for that; but we cannot patronize you as a regular thing." Being pressed for the reason, the interlocutor proceeds to say: "Well, to tell you the truth, we consider your Sellula too dull." Mr. Sellula gets offended, and gives the insurer a bit of his mind. "There's no use in mincing the matter," retorted the latter; "to pay a donkey for braying at a lion will never do.”

Mr. Sellula hesitated a little, as if struck by a new thought. "Well, you say that none read the Sellula but overgrown boys learning composition and ambitious to become authors; and I must admit myself that we have to depend a good deal on that class." "Yes," interrupted another, "and you depend a good deal, also, on your wholesale puffery of the publishers. Now, these long-winded puffs are very good things, perhaps, for the owners of the books; but how many others ever read them?" "Then suppose," says Mr. Sellula, "that we compile a paper ?" "What do you mean? I never thought yours any thing else but a compilation." "But supposing we get up a paper, consisting exclusively of articles taken from other papers, and duly acknowledged as such?" "Certainly, if you collect the brilliant, pointed, sensible articles of our principal daily and weekly papers, and insert them without a word of your own, you will have twenty times as many readers as you have for the Sellula; but rather few, after all, for not many like to buy second-hand goods, of that kind, especially when the new article is so cheap." The manuscript of our correspondent becomes illegible here, and so we cannot say what was the final agreement between the quacks and their new champion. We trust, at VOL. XVII.-NO. XXXIII.

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all events, that an arrangement was made which will prevent a second death, at least for some time.

Now, far be it from us to advise the insurance journals to be so hard-hearted as not to be concerned for the untimely demise of a fellow-creature. All we ask them to do is to cease fighting among themselves; then they. will lose fewer bones, and have time to treat outsiders, like ourselves, as they deserve. It might be the wisest way, for the Sellula also, to mind its own Insurance or Assurance business, and allow other journals to mind theirs; still if it has a taste for that sort of work, we are satisfied. We are even willing to put it on the way of making quite a handsome affair by its lucubrations against us. We presume that Morgan, of the North American Life, has already contributed towards the good cause. But has Eadie, of the United States Life, put any thing into the hat? Has Batterson been applied to? or Guy Phelps? What of the Sun Mutual and its "scrip" dividends? Since the Metropolitan reduced its capital, refusing to enter the grave yet a while, it has learned to appreciate even an awkward, pointless onslaught on those who are inconveniently curious about its "assets."

We might add quite a number of similar insurers; indeed, there is scarcely an insurer in the United States whose policy is of questionable value, who would not give at least ten dollars for more or less abuse of the National Review.

Then, again, there are insurers of a different class who, we are sure, would contribute ten, or even twenty dollars a piece, rather than allow any journal that has ever published three articles of any kind on Life Insurance to die of inanition. As a proof that, instead of being vindictive, or wishing to return evil for evil, we are disposed to do even our enemies a good turn, we will mention some of this class also, and at the same time take occasion to show, as far as the facts are within our reach, how well they can afford to be philanthropic and charitable.

Take the Knickerbocker Life, for example, to begin with. There is no journal published in New York which may be called "literary," even by the greatest stretch of courtesy, which Mr. Lyman would see give up the ghost for $50. And what are his means? The best answer to this is to be found in the fact that during the year which closed June 1, 1868, his company issued twelve thousand (12,000) policies, insuring $42,000,000, and that it issued more policies during the last month of the year than any other month, namely, fourteen hundred (1,400), insuring nearly $5,000,000.

We do not know how many the Equitable, the Manhattan, or the National, has issued since our last report, but we are sure that each has done good work, and equally sure that the officers of each are sufficiently imbued with the benevolent spirit of their profession to contribute more or less to keep away death, without examining too curiously into the quality of the article which they are called upon to save.