existence of matter.* Malebranche had an inflammation in his lungs, and was found preparing a medicine in his cell, and cooking it in a small pipkin, for his disorder. The philosopher, however, exerted himself so much, and with such vivacity, in the dispute, that he increased his disorder, which carried him off in a few days.Biograp. Britann. vol. ii. p. 251.

Lord Chesterfield and Machiavel.

His Lordship's Epistles to his Son, and the "Prince" of the Italian author, are melancholy proofs of the perversion of eminent knowledge and talents. Whoever reads my Lord Chesterfield's Letters will, if he be not a man of extraordinary good sense, and sound principles, learn to be very soon, in the worst sense of the word, a man of the world, who, if used after his deserts, shall not escape a whipping.' Machiavel's Prince would, no doubt, shew himself to be a very clever fellow; but if not born among a set of abject slaves, would soon fall shorter by the head.

Why should Cæsar be a tyrant then?

Poor man I know he would not be a wolf,
But that he sees the Romans are but sheep;
He were no lion, were not Romans hinds.

Shakespeare's Julius Cæsar.

This system has been attacked by a very ingenious, and eloquent, and witty Essay, called "On the Existence of a Material World." London, 1781.

N. B. The systems of both these authors were founded on the same broad popular basis, viz. selfishness.

Old and New Acquaintance.

Every one has felt the superior enjoyment of old acquaintance and friends over new, though, perhaps, few have enquired into the causes of this difference. The friends and acquaintances with whom we become intimate in youth, are chosen with warm passions, and little experience of the characters of mankind at large. The acquaintances of our maturer years are chosen, if not more discreetly, yet more coolly, and with a greater insight into the buman mind. Hence we become more tardy in our approaches to forming any new connections, and less attached to them when we have formed them. The wax becomes too cold to take a deep impression; and a new acquaintance, at a certain time of life, seldom ripens into friendship: so sings an old bard

Lay this unto your breast,

Old friends, like old swords, still are trusted best.

Webster's Duchess of Malsy.

Palladio.

This eminent architect relates* an anecdote of an artist, by name Baptista Maganza, who dedicated the different apartments in a gentleman's house to

* Plate 16.

several moral virtues, as Chastity, Temperance, and Honesty; so that the guests might be appointed to the room sacred to his favourite virtue. The rich and young widow would be lodged in 'Chastity,' the alderman in Temperance,' and the Prime Minister in Honesty,' &c. Palladio, among the qualifications of the same architect, adds, he was also a poet. What a fine subject would this anecdote have been in the hands of Addison; it might have made one of his most facetious and witty Spectators.

Bon Mot of Augustus Cæsar.

When the Trojans sent an embassy to Augustus Cæsar, to say that a Palm* grew on the altar which they had raised to his name, and which no doubt proclaimed his future victories; "it declares also," said the Emperor sarcastically, "how seldom you burn sacrifice on my altar." Whence M. Menaget drew this story does not appear, but it accords with the witty character of Augustus, as given by Suetonius, and with the lines of Horace in book second, satire 1.

My unpolish'd lines,

Unless by chance a happy time appears,

Will never pass thro' judging Cæsar's ears.

Whom if you try to stroke, he's free from pride,

And kicks you off secure on ev'ry side.

Creech.

Palms were given to victors in games, &c,

+ Menagiana, vol. i.

An adroit Courtier.

A French Prime Minister was amusing himself in a retired apartment with trials of his activity, by jumping over some chairs and tables which he had arranged for that purpose. A gentleman was suddenly shewn the way to this apartment, and this active statesman was detected riding his hobbyhorse at a violent rate. The gentleman, who was a very good courtier, immediately imitated the great man, and leaped over some of the chairs, but took care not to do it so well as the Minister. A short time after, this adroit imitator jumped into some good preferment.

Modern Parthians.

Those ladies who strip themselves behind, and expose their bare shoulders to angry winds, and laughing spectators, no doubt have read of the regiments of Parthian soldiers, who used to turn their backs, and fire upon the enemy in their feigned retreat from them; but being closed in the pursuit, wheeled round upon the foe, and discharged their most destructive arrows. The historians of Greece add, "The Parthians shot their arrows with equal dexterity, when their backs were turned, as when they faced the enemy.'

* Battle of Cannæ,

Dr. Franklin.

It was the practice of this cool-headed philolosopher, (as is recorded in his life,) when a question was proposed to him of a complicated nature, to put down all the circumstances relative to it which he could recollect, both pro and con, and then to consider and weigh them, one by one, against each other, with as much care as possible, before he ventured to make any conclusion. It is in moral reasoning as in arithmetic; if one article be omitted in the summing up, the proof will bè deficient. In general, those who write on subjects of difficulty, advocate some favourite theory, and leave out what may seem against it. So that, their opponents, using the same uncandid process, truth is neglected by both.

Ancient and Modern Experimentalists.

"To bend over a furnace inhaling noxious steams, to torture animals, or to touch dead bodies, appeared to the ancient philosophers not more unbecoming their humanity, than unsuitable to their dignity. The workshops of tradesmen then revealed those mysteries which are now sought for in colleges and laboratories; and useful knowledge was not the less likely to be advanced while the arts were confined to artists only, nor facts