of teacher and pupil, and we must part perhaps to meet no more. That this reflection filtrates from my mind to my heart with saddening influence, I need scarce assure you. But Hope, in a voice sweet as the wild strains of the Eolian harp,' whispers in dulcet accents, we may again meet.' In youth the impressions of sorrow are fleeting and evanescent as 'the vapery sail,' that momentarily o'ershadows the luciferous orb of even, vanishes and leaves her disc untarnished in its lustre so may it be : with you-may the gloom of this moment, like the elemental prototype, be but the precursor of reappearing radiance undimmed by the transitory shadow. 66 Happy and bright indeed has been this small portion of your time occupied, not only in the interesting pursuit of science, but in a reciprocation of attentions and sympathies, endeared by that holiest ligament of earthly sensibilities, religion, which so oft has united us in soul and sentiment, as the aspirations of our hearts simul taneously ascended to the mercy-seat of the great Jehovah! The remembrance of emotions like these are ineffaceable by care or sorrow, and only blotted out by the immutable hand of death. These halcyon hours of budding existence are to memory as the oasis of the desert, where we may recline beneath the soothing influence of their umbrage, and quaff in the goblet of retrospection the lucid draught that refreshes for the moment, and is again forgotten. Permit me to solicit, that the immaculate principles of virtue, I have so often and so carefully inculcated, may not be forgotten, but perseveringly cherished and practised. May the divine dictates of reason murmur in harmonious cadence, bewitching as the fabled melody of the musical bells on the trees of the Mahomedan Paradise. She dwells not alone beneath the glittering star, nor is always encircled by the diamond cestus and the jewel'd tiara! indeed not! and the brilliancy emulged from the spangling gems, but make more hideous the dark, black spot enshrined in the effulgence. The traces of her peaceful footsteps are found alike in the dilapidated hovel of the beggared peasant, and the velveted saloon of the coroneted noble; who may then apportion her a home or assign her a clime? In making my acknowledgments for the attentive interest with which you received my instructions; and the respectful regard you manifested in appreciating my advice, it is not as a compliment to your vanity, but a debt due to your politeness and good sense. Long, my beloved pupils, may my precepts and admonitions live in your hearts; and hasten you, (in the language of Addison,) to commit yourselves to the care of Omnipotence, and when the morning calls again to toil, cast all your cares upon him the Author of your being, who has conducted you through one stage of existence, and who will always be present to guide and attend your progress through eternity." An advertisement of Mr. Bonfil's Collegiate Institute for Young Ladies, after enumerating the various branches of literature to be taught, winds up with the following paragraph : "And finally, it will be constantly inculcated, that their education will be completed when they have the power to extend unaided, a spirit of investigation, searching and appreciating truth, without passing the bounds assigned to the human understanding." I have now completed three volumes, and although I omitted the major portion of my Diary, that I might not trespass too long upon the reader, my task is still far from its termination. The most important parts of it-an examination into the American Society and their Government, and the conclusions to be drawn from the observations already made upon several subjects; in short, the working out of the pro lem, as it were, is still to be executed. I have not written one line of this work without deliberation and examination. What I have already done has cost me much labour-what I have to do will cost me more I must, therefore, claim for myself the indulgence of the public, and request that, in justice to the Americans, they will not decide until they have perused the second portion, with which I shall as speedily as I can wind up my observations upon the United States, and their Institutions. THE END. N F. M. Printed by J. L. Cox and SONS, 75, Great Queen Street, |