ments, and with such smiling self-satisfied assurance as to their results, that they irresistibly remind us of prestidigitators, or those who make lace by the swift movement of bobbins.

They may be right enough; but there is so much variety of opinion on many points, theological and political, among men of equal sense and honesty-and often so much positive difficulty in their discussion, that some semblance of modesty ought to be blended even with the greatest confidence; and the invariably triumphant air is not very becoming.

MANY of the old and rich so trust to, and so esteem the estimation of their wealth, that they openly prefer the most evident and servile sycophancy to faithful affection, if it wears the air of independence. It is but rarely that legacy-hunters defeat their own ends by any amount of impudent assiduity. The rich man does not like to see the shadow of indifference to his wealth.

THOSE who live alone are generally the most decided in opinion, because there is no one to oppose their conclusions; and the most undecided in action, because they can change their plans at the caprice of the moment, without interfering with the convenience of others. Books may, in a measure, c , correct the first evil, and habit the second.

FIRST try to find out whether there is any truth absolutely in the statement or view of your opponent;

secondly, whether there is any truth relatively to him, by putting yourself in his position as far as possible; thirdly, whether, if there is no truth in his view, there is no excuse for it.

"LICENSE they mean when they cry liberty," says Milton, speaking of the multitude: but tyrants quite as often, when they mean despotism, cry authority.

IF your friend, though a man of strong sense, is thoroughly determined to do what you consider a silly thing, by all means be kind enough to let him choose his own manner of doing it, as he thus may obviate part of the evil.

But observe, when a man of indisputably good understanding is said, in some single act, to have made a fool of himself, it is very often in consequence of some position, or circumstance, wholly unknown to those who form the judgment.

Let me for once illustrate these remarks by a few rhymes and a metaphor :—

Suppose your friend a man of nerve and sense,
Bent on an act of doubtful consequence;

The depth is fearful, and the ice is thin,

The awkward must, th' adroitest may fall in :

Yet at the root of his design may lie

Some unknown interest, or necessity,

Which makes him, though reluctant, leave the land,

And, for a time, cast off the helping hand :

All you can do is, to persuade, advise,

And point out clearly where the danger lies.
A friend's part is performed, then leave the rest;
Give him a parting cheer, and hope the best.
Nor, if the deed must at all risks be done,
Hang weeping at his skirts, and spoil his run.

grammar, co

EVERYTHING is comic now; comic mic history, comic law; the ultimatum would be, a comic funeral service: to which those perhaps would not object who can make a joke, or laugh at one, in a court of justice where a man is on trial for his life, and such cases are not uncommon.

THERE are some people who would not only destroy all wickedness in the world, but almost all goodness, when it does not make its appearance under the form, or with the sanction of their own particular opinions.

IN most families, interests are far safer subjects of conversation, than opinions.

PERFECTLY truthful men, of very vivid imagination, and great force of sentiment, often feel so warmly, and express themselves so strongly, as to give to what they say and write a disagreeable air of exaggeration, and almost of falsehood.

THE four marks of a gentleman by birth, education, and position, are: the form of the hands; the modulation of the voice; and, in the countenance, the expression of reflection, and the expression of command.

George Sand says of this :

"Tu sais commander, chose difficile à acquérir l'air du commandement, et qui se contracte en naissant.”

Mont. Revêche.

If she had said 'presque en naissant,' it would have been better, but the French are not fond of' presques.' I wish the expression of benevolence were equally necessary. This latter, (worth all the other four,) is, however, the usual stamp of what Dryden calls "God Almighty's gentlemen"-who may, accidentally, be peasants.

*

THERE is something in nobleness of character which we are in the habit of considering as beyond the apings of hypocrisy. But it is astonishing what a plausible amount of superficial magnanimity, and spurious generosity, may be attained by a cunning fellow, with a fine open air, and courage enough to part pretty freely with his money. If watched, however, he generally betrays himself by some want of sensibility and delicacy towards the feelings of others.

The two last-mentioned are, in their perfection at least, probably the rarest of all social virtues.

THERE are some men so coldly correct that they leave no one to regret their loss, not even a creditor.

THE imagination of man is never satisfied; it is ever vaguely in search of something beyond even its own wildest creations. The endless inventions of the heathen mythology are not enough: there must still be an altar built to the Θεὸς ἄγνωστος, the unknown God.

WE are often told to moderate our grief for the loss of those towards whom it would have been called cold-hearted even to have talked of moderating our love and yet one is scarcely less difficult than the other.

WHERE politeness and affability are without real benevolence, they arise, not merely from the wish to be thought polite, but from a desire to make the social atmosphere around us easy and agreeable for our own breathing.

THE fastidious and exacting are often more happy with new and transient acquaintances than with old ones, for three reasons: First, because they have not time to discover the faults of a temporary companion, especially as the latter will generally show himself to the best advantage at first. Secondly, the faults of strangers, even when perceived, appear of comparatively little import or interest, and, besides, new faults are often less annoying than old ones. Thirdly, there is the consciousness that, if the worst comes to