TEMPERANCE-sober from satiety ! grave trusted counsellors, sworn to uphold his power, nobles and commanders paying him obsequious court,-friends loaded by him with benefits, all combining to thrust him from his throne, and transfer their allegiance to another. If this be glorious to England, unswerving justice and unsullied honour may be no more recognized in the dealings of man with man :-let the law of heartless selfishness, that "the end will justify the means," be the adopted motto of politicians. 18 "Do you not think piety to be a more important qualification for the ministry than learning?" once asked Mr. Wilberforce of an eminent prelate. "Certainly I do," he answered, “but they can cheat me as to their piety, but they can't as to their learning." 19 "This tottered Colt which once had high desires, hath now low fortunes; his thoughts were wont to reach the starres, but now stumble at stones. He was his Father's dotage, and his Mam's darling. He did of late swim in gluttony, but now is pinched with poverty. He was wont to devise what to eat, and is now destitute of any food. He hath worn more upon his back than the gold (which procured passage for the ape into the castle) would defray. His drinking so many healths hath taken all health from him."-The Foot-Post of Dover with his Packet stuft full of Strange and merry Petitions. 1616. Theophilus Cibber, having asked his father for the loan of a hundred pounds, received from him this reply: "When I was of your age I never spent any of my Father's mo DISSIPATION,19 dancing, piping! In their favor wind and tide, -2 ney." "I can't say," replied the son, "but I'm sure you have spent many hundred pounds of my Father's money!" Diamond cut diamond!. We hope Colley cashed-up. . . 20To see a man roll himself up, like a snow-ball, from base beggary to right worshipful and right honourable titles, unjustly to screw himself into honours and offices; another to starve his genius, damn his soul, to gather wealth, which he shall not enjoy, which his prodigal son melts and consumes in an instant."-Robert Burton. 21" Besides, how many Villaines are advanc'd Whilst Vertue lies obliviously entranc'd, A Fig Fortune, 1596. 22"In seeking virtue if thou find poverty, be not ashamed the fault is none of thine. Thy honor, or dishonor is purchased by thy own actions. Though virtue give a ragged livery, she gives a golden cognizance: if her service make thee poor, blush not. Thy poverty may disadvantage thee, but not dishonor thee."-Enchiridion, by Francis Quarles. 1681. "He whose mind Is virtuous, is alone of noble kind; Though poor in fortune, of celestial race; And he commits the crime who calls him base. Dryden. Base DETRACTION 23 -ever first 23 Thearidas, being asked, as he ground his sword, if it were not sharp enough, said, "Not so sharp as slander." "There was something noble," said Alexander, "in hearing myself ill spoken of while I was doing well.” People do not, as a general rule, lightly charge others with crimes of which they are themselves incapable, or of which they have a genuine horror. 24 We should look at superior abilities not with envy, but admiration, and a desire to imitate.-The world however is not of this opinion. Its littleness would lower the gifted mind to its own level, its vanity would crush the excellence that wounds its self-love. If, in some adverse hour, Genius, too sorely tempted, "stoop, reluctant, to low arts of shame," how sternly will your worldly-wise wind-bags, flatulent with fury! arraign the offender at their bar. A donkey eloquently discoursing over his thistles is not more musical! From such mere syphons of victuals and drink, fruges consumere nati! genius expects nor justice nor sympathy. It appeals to nobler natures and to higher powers - It demands to be tried by its peers. Its glorious inspirations and fine sensibilities, its triumphs and its trials, its firmness and its failings, touched by a truthful yet tender hand, shall present a picture of mingled light and shade at which the generous heart will throb with admiration, and melt with pity and forgiveness; since the shade that darkened was the dust of the world, but the light that illumined was light from hea ven!" SELF-the plague-spot that infects That opes to every vice the door, KNOWLEDGE NEW-of which the sum is, JUSTICE 28-deaf, as well as blind! 25 What is Truth?" of TRUTH INCARNATE (For earth and sky will soon reply) The rushing wind, the darken'd sun, To Pilate's question answer gave !-Uncle Timothy. 26 We laugh at the wisdom of our ancestors, and posterity (for whom we are attempting such great things!) will laugh at the wisdom of theirs. Our aspirations are as big as the genius that came out of the tin kettle in the Arabian Tale, and their realisation will be as small as that same genius when he was soldered up in the same kettle again! "When I was a young man, being anxious to distinguish myself, I was perpetually starting new propositions. But I soon gave this over, for I found that generally what was new was false."-"A fine passage," remarks Dr. Johnson, "that Goldsmith was fool enough to expunge" from his Vicar of Wakefield. . . ... 27"I know so much of that sort of people called lawyers, that I pity most heartily any one that is obliged to be concerned with them: if you are not already, I hope you will be soon safe out of their hands.”—The Earl of Oxford's Letter to Dr. Swift, July 15, 1730. 28 In the Olden Time Kings bestowed their bounty, and CHARITY 29-retiring soul! That hangs her lantern on a pole. administered justice in their own persons. An appeal to the sovereign was not made through an official go-between. The humblest subject might place in the royal hand his petition, and receive summary relief or redress. Kings walked, and rode abroad like other folks, without having their whereabouts watched by a court lord, and chronicled by a court newsman. If they did any thing moderately good, or said any thing immoderately bad, the doing and the saying were not blown by the trumpet of a penny-aliner. It was no remarkable event for a prince to visit a peasant, to partake of his frugal fare, joke with the "Gudeman," make himself agreeable to his buxom wife and bonny daughters, and listen to their humble joys and sorrows. In those primitive days the King saw and heard for himself. He cut short the intricate and roundabout road of the law, and made its sharp sword fall heavily on the wrong-doer. If justice was deaf and blind, the touch imperial soon restored her hearing and sight; if lagging, it quickened her halting, hobbling pace; and if her scales were out of order it was an annoyance jury" with a vengeance! His Majesty thought a hasty decision not so dangerous as a vexatious delay; and if sometimes he proved a little "fast," the hearts of his suitors were not made sick by hope long deferred. Royalty (in this sense) has ceased to be a reality and a refuge. The Sovereign is a ceremony, to be approached through automaton files of gentlemen-pensioners with Fool's coats and gilt battleaxes! and should the subject intrude his petition upon the "Presence" his presumption would be made a privy. council job! Pleasant tales have been told. how, in the Olden Time, princes, by accident or design, came in familiar contact with plebeians. Who has not read the story of the King and the Miller of Mansfield, and the nocturnal rambles of |