and pleasing discussion is the result. Talk may be the product of memory; conversation requires talents. Dr. S. Johnson very justly appreciated a man's faculties by his powers of conversing.

David Hume.

The predominance of cant over candour and reason is strongly exemplified in the praises bestowed on David Hume. He is said by some to have been a benevolent and good man. Yet this writer endeavoured to overturn the hopes of a life hereafter, and to reconcile mankind to the practice of suicide. Surely many a man has been sent to Botany Bay, or suffered at the drop in Newgate, for a less outrageous abuse of his talents than this eminent historian and philosopher. The difference between the evils produced by a robber, nay a murderer, and such a mischievous writer, is incalculable, from its duration and publicity.

Lopez de Vega.

Though this voluminous Spanish writer of play's and poems is often obscure and puerile in his conceits, yet he has an ingenious thought in one of his poems, on the similitude between a brother and sister of remarkable beauty. "Nature," he says, though generally rich in invention, and productive

of endless variety in her portraits, is yet sometimes contented to be only a copyist."

The "divine" Dante,

As he is ridiculously styled by his countrymen, shews 30 much virulence and love of satire in his poems, that he may rather be said to hate his species than to disapprove their vices. His correction savours more of the voluntary executioner, than of the pitying and offended angel who drove our parents from the confines of Paradise. From such a display of a diabolic disposition in the poet himself, neither the genius of a Dante or a Byron can justify him.

Sonnets.

I have thought that the writers of sonnets much de base themselves by making their own cares and sorrows the subjects of their poems. If they complain of their poverty and want, what is this but mumping and mendicity? If they complain of the frowns and cruelty of their mistresses, at the same time do they not proclaim their own impudence, and the wisdom of their favourites, who refuse the presumptuous aspiration of these poor swains to beauty and opulence? In prose these complaints would not be listened to for a moment; and these bardlings avail themselves of a poetical licence for mumping and begging.

Travelling.

"In

J. Rousseau, speaking of travelling, says, England the middle ranks of life stay at home, and the rich and the noble travel into various countries on the contrary, in France the nobles and opulent reside in their own country." The reason he gives for this difference carries with it full conviction of the truth of these observations, viz. "The French travel in order to enrich themselves, and the English to get rid of their money."

Education.

Though much brilliant theory exists on this very important subject, yet how little is founded in useful practice. I will instance this defect by the two elementary parts of education-reading and writing. How few persons however accomplished in other particulars, read intelligibly or write legibly. In neither of our Universities is the useful art of elocution taught; and at the bar, and the pulpit, how few tolerable speakers are to be found: ranters, gallopers, mumblers, seem to divide the species of public speakers; and some ecclesiastical orators, by appearing to separate word from word, and giving each an equal force of accent, seem to read always in italics.

Strong Impulses

Are necessary to some minds to bring forth their energies, and to counteract the predominancy of the "vis inertia" in their constitutions. The fear of a jail has confined many an author to his study that nothing else could; and many a writer, from the pressure of calamity, (like the toad under the harrow,) has made those exertions that a more desirable situation would never have suggested. It is said that the Eider, an Iceland bird, produces most eggs in stormy weather.

Elegant Allusions.

In that admirably witty poem, called the "Spleen," written by Matthew Green, of the Custom House, many very happy allusions are to be discovered. Speaking of exercise as a destroyer of "ennui," he says, in allusion to David and Goliah,

Throw but a stone, the giant dies.

And when he mentions his attachment to a newspaper, how elegantly he praises his favourite reading

And news, the manna of the day.

M. Prior, in one of his light poems, describes the laudable ambition of posthumous fame very elegantly

And in life's visit leave your name,

Youth and Age.

In our younger days, it is our most prudent way not to be too fond of the world; and, in our latter years, not to dislike it too much, and to fly from it. He who is carried away by the eddies which the hurrying pleasures of the world produce around him, may sink in the whirlpool, and yet by good luck escape often; but the hermit, who in disgust. with the world, and a slave to misanthropy, throws himself into solitude, dies by inches amidst his own self-tormenting thoughts, from which he can by no lucky chance escape, or turn the strong stream of melancholy from overwhelming him in its fathomless abyss.

Quizzing.

This modern and fashionable sport of words. and jests, though upon the attackable foibles of one another, is a dangerous game. It begins in joke, and ends 100 often in earnest, especially where there are too great inequalities of rank or talent among the sparrers. 1 would especially advise young ladies never to touch this harlequin's wand: their tender frames are as little capable of bearing a bruise, as they are of suffering the infliction of a wound. Females would be in a very awkward predicament, should they have taken liberties