indissoluble, has by these two things done more towards the peace, happiness, settlement, and civilization of the world, than by any other part in this whole scheme of divine wisdom." -Burke.

To this sublime passage of that eminent states. man, we may add, for the reader's amusement, a poetical eulogy on this "reverend and honourable state."

It is a sign that nothing can assuage
Your love but marriage; for such is
The tying of two in wedlock as is

The tuning of two lutes in one key; for

Striking the strings of the one, straws will stir

Upon the strings of the other; and in

Two minds link'd in love, one cannot be

Delighted but the other rejoiceth.

Lilly's Sappho and Phaon.

Pronunciation.

It is wonderful how different the same discourse appears, pronounced by a good and a bad reader. When Eschines, after his retreat to Rhodes, was one day reading aloud to some friends his rival's famous speech, and the hearers were lost in wonder at the eloquence of Demosthenes, "What," said he," would you have thought, if you had heard him pronounce it?" Martial, in an epigram, has well illustrated this subject

Those verses that you read, my friend, are mine;
But as you read them, they may pass for thine.

Conversation.

To those who are too willing and eager to exhibit their superior powers of reasoning and quickness, the following lines will give a very wholesome and intelligible caution

Would you be well received, where'er you go,
Remember each man vanqish'd is a foe;
Resist not therefore with your utmost might,
But let the weakest think he's sometimes right:
He, for each triumph you shall thus decline,
Shall give ten opportunities to shine;

He sees, since once you own'd him to excel,

That 'tis his interest that you should excel.

Essay on Conversation, by Benjamin Stillingfleet.

Absurdities in Architecture.

The Greeks and Romans, with all their taste, have committed considerable errors in their favourite art. The capital of the Corinthian order represents a basket, with flowers overflowing the edges, and a tile placed on the top of it. On this slender foundation the principal architrave of the building is often placed. Another error, still more disgusting to the eye and the reason, is a female figure supporting an architrave in the manner of a pillar. Modern architects, with more gallantry than good taste, have put cushions on the heads of their ladies, to enable them to carry their weights more easily. They, however, saw the error of

their predecessors, though their mode of obviating it was not very happy.

Images and Pictures in Churches.

Wherever controversial writers enter upon a subject, contention, rage, and misrepresentation take place of the pursuit of truth. Hence the custom of the Roman Catholics, of placing pictures, &c. in their churches, has been stigmatized as idolatrous. Pope Gregory, in a letter to Bishop Masilien, explains this matter very clearly. "Aliud est enim pieturam adorare, aliud per picturam historiam quid sit adorandum addiscere." It is one thing to make a picture an object of adoration, and another thing to look upon the same picture as a history of the good actions or character which it represents for our instruction and example. It was with this view that the ancient Romans placed statues of their heroes and other great men in their public streets, that the spectators might be animated with their examples. To illiterate persons in the Romish church, or in the Roman republic, they were more striking objects of instruction than historic writings.

Segnius irritant animos demissa per aures,
Quam quæ sunt oculis subjecta fidelibus,

Says a sensible Roman Poet.

Slow comes instruction through the sluggish ear;
Embodied truth is to the eye most clear.

Monasteries and Abbies.

How many persons, disgusted with the tollies, terrified at the misfortunes, and wearied with the. dulness of the world, will read with approbation the. following remarks of a very ingenious, though fanciful, writer, in the praise of monastic lite. "Some monasteries and collegiate cells might well have been spared, and their revenues charitably employed in good towns and cities, at least, for men and women of all sorts and conditions to live in, and to sequester themselves from the cares and tumults of the world, that were not desirous or fit to marry, or willing to be troubled with common affairs."See Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy.

Desultory Reading.

The youthful student would do well to give a serious attention to the following confession of a very laborious, learned, and miscellaneous student. "This roving humour I have ever had; and, like a ranging spaniel that barks at every bird he sees, leaving his game, I have followed all, saving that which I should. I have read many books to little purpose for want of good method. I have confusedly tumbled over divers authors in our libraries with small profit, for want of art, order, memory, and judgment."Ibid.

Independence.

Such is the anxiety in some minds for this happy state of existence, that no exertion is thought painful, no forbearance irksome, when this fair prospect is in view--when the mind retreats on itself,

"Scar'd by the spectre of pale poverty."

A young man should be aware, that, on starting in life, men of bad principles watch his errors, and take advantage of them; and learn to depend on himself. A. Pope, when he wrote the above quoted line, in his "Imitations of Horace," felt the horrors he described; and by his own honour. able exertion of the faculties with which he was blessed, became an independent man early in life.

Late Marriages.

The grand objection to persons entering into the state of marriage in advanced life is, that it is seeking the rose, when the season would have told. us we could only find the thorn. Late marrying is adding a burden to a state in itself burdensome; it is as if we should ride double upon an old horse, who has not strength enough remaining to carry. us safe singly. It is forming a wish to take a