has its plenary force. But, though these alternations of excess do thus enlarge and enrich the understanding, and minister to wisdom so far forth, they must yet, by the shocks which they occasion to the moral will, do injury on the whole to that com posite edifice, built up of the moral and rational mind, in which wisdom has her dwelling. The injury is not so great as in the other case: better are winter and summer for the mind than the torrid zone-feasts and fasts than a perpetual plenty--but either way the temperament of genius is hardly ever favourable to wisdom; that is, the highest order of genius, or that which includes wisdom, is of all things the most rare.

On the other hand, wisdom without genius (a far more precious gift than genius without wisdom) is, by God's blessing upon the humble and loving heart, though not as often met with as "the ordinary of Nature's sale-work," yet not altogether rare; for the desire to be right will go a great way towards wisdom. Intellectual guidance is the less needed where there is little to lead astray -where humility lets the heart loose to the impulses of love. That we can be wise by impulse seems a paradox to some; but it is part of that true doctrine which traces wisdom to the moral as well as the intellectual mind, and more surely to the former than to the latter-one of those truths which is recognised when we look into our nature through the clearness of a poetic spirit:

"Moments there are in life-alas how few!

When, casting cold prudential doubts aside,
We take a generous impulse for our guide:
And, following promptly what the heart thinks best,
Commit to Providence the rest;

Sure that no after-reckoning will arise

Of shame or sorrow, for the heart is wise.

And happy they who thus in faith obey

Their better nature: err sometimes they may,

And some sad thoughts lie heavy in the breast,
Such as by hope deceived are left behind;

But like a shadow these will pass away
From the pure sunshine of the peaceful mind." *

*Southey's Oliver Newman.

The doctrine of wisdom by impulse is no doubt liable to be much misused and misapplied. The right to rest upon such a creed accrues only to those who have so trained their nature as to be entitled to trust it. It is the impulse of the habitual heart which the judgment may fairly follow upon occasion-of the heart which, being habitually humble and loving, has been framed by love to wisdom. Some such fashioning love will always effect: for love cannot exist without solicitude, solicitude brings thoughtfulness, and it is in a thoughtful love that the wisdom of the heart consists. The impulse of such a heart will take its shape and guidance from the very mould in which it is cast, without any application of the reason express; and the most inadvertent motion of a wise heart will for the most part be wisely directed; providentially, let us rather say; for Providence has no more eminent seat than in the wisdom of the heart.

Imitation of Horace.

SWIFT AND POPE.

[THIS professes to be an imitation of the Sixth Satire of the Second Book of Horace's Satires. The first part, to the 124th line, is by Swift; the remainder was added by Pope.]

I've often wished that I had clear,
For life, six hundred pounds a-year.
A handsome house to lodge a friend,
A river at my garden's end,
A terrace walk, and half a rood
Of land set out to plant a wood.
Well, now I have all this and more,
I ask not to increase my store;
"But here a grievance seems to lie,
All this is mine but till I die;
I can't but think 'twould sound
more clever.

To me and to my heirs for ever.
If I ne'er got or lost a groat,
By any trick, or any fault;

In short, I'm perfectly content, Let me but live on this side Trent ; Nor cross the channel twice a-year, To spend six months with statesmen here.

I must by all means come to town, "Tis for the service of the Crown. "Lewis, the Dean, will be of use; Send for him up, take no excuse. The toil, the danger of the seas, Great ministers ne'er think of these; Or let it cost five hundred pound, No matter where the money's found, It is but so much more in debt, And that they ne'er considered yet. "Good Mr Dean, go change your

gown,

Let my lord know you're come to
town."

I hurry me in haste away,
Not thinking it is levee day;
And find his honour in a pound,
Hemmed by a triple circle round,
Chequered with ribbons blue and
green:

How should I thrust myself between?
Some wag observed me thus per-
plexed,

And, smiling, whispers to the next, "I thought the Dean had been too proud,

The duke expects my lord and you,
About some great affair at two-
"Put my Lord Bolingbroke in
niind,

To get my warrant quickly signed:
Consider, 'tis my first request.'

Be satisfied, I'll do my best.
Then presently he falls to tease,
"You may for certain, if you
please :

I doubt not, if his lordship knew—
And, Mr Dean, one word from
you"-

'Tis (let me see) three years and more,

(October next it will be four,) Since Harley bid me first attend, And chose me for an humble friend; Would take me in his coach to chat, And question me of this and that; As "What's o' clock?" and "How's the wind?"

"Whose chariot's that we left be hind?"

To justle here among the crowd!" Or gravely try to read the lines Another in a surly fit,

Tells me I have more zeal than wit:

"So eager to express your love,
You ne'er consider whom you
shove,

But rudely press before a duke."
I own I'm pleased with this rebuke,
And take it kindly meant to show
What I desire the world should know.

I get a whisper, and withdraw;
When twenty fools I never saw
Come with petitions fairly penned,
Desiring I would stand their friend.

Writ underneath the country signs;

Or, Have you nothing new to-day
From Pope, from Parnell, or from
Gay?"

Such tattle often entertains

My lord and me as far as Staines,
As once a week we travel down
To Windsor, and again to town,
Where all that passes inter nos
Might be proclaimed at Charing.

cross.

Yet some I know with envy swell Because they see me used so well.

"How think you of our friend the Here no man prates of idle things,

Domestic Jars.

[IT may appear singular that we should turn to "Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Consistory Court of London," to select a passage from one of "The Best Authors." Yet, in all the attributes of strong sense, of deep insight into character, and in force and elegance of style, there are few compositions more remarkable than some of the judgments of Sir William Scott, afterwards Lord Stowell. The following extracts are from his judg ment in the case of divorce, instituted by Mrs Evans against her husband,