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"Ou, nae doot o' that, sir !" replied the smith. "Though wl' reverence be it spoken, a canna' just see how siccan a hint as that jumps very weel wi' your declaration, that nane could be mair disposed than you are to see the Reform Bull fairly administered, noo that it's an ack. But giff you wull be content to ha'e your hunters shod by gleed Wally Robb, puir chield, or even by the bit genty body up the street, that mak's the nice pokers an' tangs, an' nit-crackers, an' nitmug graters, a ha'e naething for to say against it; an' gif ony o' them, or ony ither man, can shoe ye're hunters as weel as a can do, what for no employ him? But if the truth be, as a jalouse, that a can shoe your horses better than ony ither smith i' this part o' the country side, then, ma opinion just is, that if ye gang elsewhere to fare waur, ye ha'ena just a' that wusdom for your ain interest that fouk gi'e ye credit for."

"Why do you talk so long?" called out one of the personages from the interior of the vehicle, in an impatient tone. "Come away! come away!"

Mr. B hastened to the side of the carriage, and after a little private parley, a servant was called to open the door, and to let down the steps; and the indefatigable Mr. B- returned to the charge, reinforced by the presence of

his two friends from the interior.

"Mr. Strongitharm, this is my father-in-law, the earl of and this is my wife's cousin, the Marquis of F, said the candidate.

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"Mr. Strongitharm," said the marquis, with a good-natured, familiar air and manner, "you know that I keep hounds, I believe; that I hunt a pretty wide extent of country; and that not only all my shoeing work is done in your shop, but that I have it in my power to give you, or to take from you, half the shoeing work and farriery business of this county, and those on each side of it. Will you refuse me your vote for my connexion, Mr. B—— ?” "Mr. Strongitharm," said the earl, taking up the discourse before the smith had time to reply, "you know that I also have some shoeing in my stables, and much smith work a-doing at the castle; all this I have the power of giving or withholding. But there is yet another thing to which I would earnestly call your attention: you hold a farm of three hundred a-year from me; and now, will you refuse me your vote for my son-in-law, Mr. B

man for barely doin' that which he would be a rascal for no doin'. But, troth, a maun say that some poor deevils are subjeckit to sair temptations by thae anti fouk, or conservatives, as they are cain' themsells. But, an they dinna let poor fouk alane, to be guided by God and their ain consciences, in the exerceese o' a trust, the whilk they hould for sae mony ithers beside themsells, a'm muckle mistane gif ballot be na the upshot o'd."

SCRAPS.

ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.

ADVICE OF A PHRENOLOGIST TO ELECTORS.-Flee to

the hall of the nearest statuary; entreat him to exhibit to you the bust of the American patriot Franklin; mark well the size and the configuration of that great philanthropist's head; impress upon your minds its great size, and the prethose behind and below, and call to your recollection the dominance of its anterior and superior departinents over unwearied perseverance and industry, the calmness and sagacity, and the strength of mind and aptitude for the prac tical duties of life which he displayed, and the prodigious impulse which he gave to the cause of civil and religious liberty. Then go forth into the world, and whensoever the wigs are doffed, pick out the man whose head most resembles that of Franklin; for you may rely with confidence, that such a man will " go and do likewise."

A SIMPLE MARRIAGE CEREMONY.-There have been

many elaborate works published on the marriage ceremonies of nations, both savage and civilized. I do not, however, remember to have read of any so brief and unceremonious when on a visit to a gentleman in Carolina. A fine-looking as the following, which I had the opportunity of witnessing Negro, and the handsomest mulatto or yellow girl I had ever seen, were the parties who desired to be made one for life. The matter was thus arranged: In the course of our evening walk, my friend, the planter, was sheepishly addressed by the slave in these words :-"Please, massa, me want to marry Riddiky." (This is the "Nigger" for Eurydice.)" Does Riddiky want to marry you ?"—" Yes, massa."-"If you marry her, I won't allow you to run after the other girls on the plantation-you shall live like a decent fellow with your wife."-"Massa, me lub her, so dat me don't care one dam for de oder gals."—" Marry her then, and be cursed."-"Yes, massa." Washington then gave Riddiky a kiss, and from that day they became man and wife: no other form than that of permission from their owner, thus graciously accorded, being necessary to legalize their union.-Notes on America.

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"Ma lords," replied Mr Strongitharm, apparently now resolved to permit the negotiation to be as little spun out as he possibly could; "as to the horse an' smith part o' your twa speeches, a maun just say to you what a ha'e already said to this gentleman himsell, what has the shoein' o' horses and the makin' o' members o' Parliament to do wi' ane anither? Gin ye dinna like to ha'e yer horses shod by me, TO QUENCH THIRST, pour vinegar into the palms of ye maun just gang elsewhere to ha'e the job dune; an' gin the hands, snuff it up the nostrils, and wash the hands with ye find as gude a smith as me, a' that a say is, that a wuss it. This will allay the most intense heat. ye baith joy o' him. An' as for the matter o' the farm o' which his lordship, the yearl, spak yenoo, a canna see, for the soul o' me, what that has to do wi' makin' o' a Parliament man, mair nor the shoein' trade. A ha'e gotten a gye stark bargain o' the bit place, but a ha'e a tack o't, an' a'm aye yebble to pay the rent; an' sae a'm thinkin' there's naething left to mak' or mend atween us. But, Lord's sake, sirs! a hinna time to be stannin' haverin' here ony langer: a maun till ma wark as fast's a can; for a daurna leave ma study to gang and catch saumonts, and shoot deuks, as this gentleman can do." And suiting the action to the word, he snatched up the fore-hammer, and began to thunder such a peal upon the anvil as quickly drove the nervous senators of both the Houses to their carriages; and he never stopped his noise till that of their wheels was quite lost in distance.

There was a good-natured waggish leer of comical humour on his face, when he ceased his cannonade of blows, to receive the money which we had all this time been holding in our hands. Before again placing ourselves in our vehicle, we could not resist paying him some compliments on his firm, noble, and straight-forward conduct.

"Fegs, gentlemen, it's a bad account o' human nature," said he, "that ye sould think it wordy while to commend a

ADVANTAGES OF CARD PLAYING.-What so truly tells the real disposition and temper of a person as this amusement? Are they inclined to dishonesty, they will cheat: if of a hasty uncontrollable temper, it is almost sure to be shown; if not very scrupulous respecting falsehood or ill-language, here they present themselves unmasked; whilst in almost all other transac tions of life those passions are carefully concealed from public view, or glossed over, so as to make them generally palatable to the world.

CONTENTS OF NO. XV.

EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE,...........
A Chapter for Martinmas Term,..
The Barometer-The Thermometer,..
Memorable Battles,.....

225

927

228

.229

.230

.231

ELEMENTS OF THOUGHT-Happiness-Well-being,
THE STORY TELLER-Story of Lady Grisell Baillie, 233-Scot-
tish Voters,.....

232

USEFUL AND SCIENTIFIC NOTICES,.
The Original Story of Bill Jones,.

SCRAPS, Original and Selected.........

.236 ...243

EDINBURGH: Printed by and for JOHN JOHNSTONE, 19, St. James's
Square. Published hy JouN ANDERSON, Jun., Bookseller, 55, North
Bridge Street, Edinburgh; by JOHN MACLEOD, and ATKINSON & Co.,
Booksellers, Glasgow; and sold by all Booksellers and Venders of
Cheap Periodicals.

THE

AND

EDINBURGH WEEKLY MAGAZINE.

CONDUCTED BY JOHN JOHNSTONE.

THE SCHOOI. MASTER IS ABROAD.-LORD BROUGHAM.

No. 16.-VOL. I. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1832. PRICE THREE-HALFPENCE.

THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE

EDINBURGH YEAR.

To their high-built airy nests

See the rooks returning home.

ramids of sweat meat jars and jelly-glasses, in all the confectioners' shops. These are but samples of the mighty internal change, of which some flagrant symptoms are always amusingly apparent in the puff paste-ry of the North Bridge, where traders of all descriptions conglomerate notices of their wares; and trump and over-trump each other's tricks, to the mighty bewilderment of the innocent, gaping Hallow Fair folks.

Here the SCHOOLMASTER ABROAD! peers modestly forth under a flourish of CHAMBERS' JOURNAL, price only three-halfpence! and there is-ELEGANCE AND ECONOMY COMBINED-in-SHEEPSMEARING MATERIALS; A SERMON TO BE PREACHED —BY THE REV.-STATUES ON THE CALTON HILL; Now EXHIBITING-the CHEAPEST BOOTS AND SHOES IN EDINBURGH ; and again-SELLING off, at and BELOW PRIME COST-HOT TRIPE EVERY NIGHT, PREPARED IN THE GLASGOW WAY-BY ORDER OF THE MAGISTRATES!

But the centre of this complex movement, and of Edinburgh civilization, as well as of some other qualities belonging to an advanced state of society, is unquestionably the Parliament House.

"It was a merry spot in days of yore,

THE London business year begins in October, and that of high fashion about the end of February. The busy year of Glasgow, Manchester, and Liverpool, either knows no ending, or its periods of leisure depend on causes at work in the uttermost parts of the earth, producing, it may be, its hottest haste in July, and most icy stagnation in January. The Dublin year commences about the same time as that of Edinburgh; with the opening of the Courts. The commencement of the Edinburgh year is, however, manifested by more striking symptoms than that of any other city with which we are acquainted. The University and the Courts of Law extend their crooked ramifications to every corner of Scotland, and the 12th of November brings all to a centre, and puts all in motion. Symptoms of returning life are then apparent in a hundred agreeable ways. Coaches and steamers are arriving every hour, passenger and baggage-laden. The late grass. grown streets kindle to life, and become crowded; and a certain alacrity of movement and look, communicated even to the stationary inhabitants, proclaims the return of the season. The consumption of gas, cigars, mutton-pies, jellies, and newspapers, is doubled in one day. Lodging-boards disappear from the windows, as rig-and-fur hose appear in the streets. The mercers and jewellers hang out their most tempting wares; the Professors re-touch their lectures; the Ministers preach their best sermons; the very ballad-singers and the Outer-House-the wit of Henry Erskine, played oyster-wives scream and yell with redoubled ani- in a lambent flame for a few seconds round the mation and vigour, and the lubricous commodity flashed over the marble features of of the latter traffickers rises 50 per cent in one -- and-expired for ever. Legal Humour, Fun, night,—thus giving young students a practical and and Glee found the climate of the New Town of impressive lesson in the principles of political | Edinburgh chill and ungenial; and they died economy, before they have been two days among under it, bequeathing the residue of HIGH JINKS to us. Mr. Murray paints anew his drop scenes, and the SPENDTHRIFT CLUB, and their wigs to whoever gets up a new piece; the tobacconists re-blacken would pick them up. The consequence has been, the blackamoors, who, in Prince's Street, mount that to find any thing about that House worthy of guard over the Havannahs; and new pretty faces the "amber immortalization" of the SCHOOLMASare seen beaming from among the high-raised py- TER's pages, we must plod back over some quarter

But something ails it now the place is haunted," by what kind of spirits we are not metaphysicians, nor yet conjurors enough to tell, though the buoyant, the brilliant, the sparkling have certainly evaporated. The dynasty of the Crosbies, Boswells, and Erskines has fallen, never to rise again. Even Scott and Jeffrey are among the things that were. The last spark of the bright wit, which "Made a sunshine in that shady place"

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century of tradition, guided by this final scintilla- ford no relative defence, provided the calling it so were a tion of the wit of the Scotch Barconvicium-and there my doubt lies.

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LORD PRESIDENT, Sir ISLAY CAMPBELL. Your Lordships have the petition of Alexander Cunningham against Lord B————'s interlocutor.

It is a case of damages and defamation, for calling the petitioner's Diamond Beetle an Egyptian Louse. You have the Lord Ordinary's distinct interlocutor on pages 29 and 30 of this petition :-" Having considered the condescendence of the pursuer, answers for the defender," and so on, "Finds, in this respect, that it is not alleged that the diamonds on the back of the Diamond Beetle are real diamonds, or any thing but shining spots, such as are found on other Diamond Beetles, and which likewise occur, though in a smaller number, on a great number of other Beetles, somewhat different from the Beetle libelled, similar to which there may be Beetles in Egypt, with shining spots on their backs, which may be termed Lice there, and may be different, not only from the common Louse, but from the Louse mentioned by Moses as one of the plagues of Egypt, which is admitted to be a filthy troublesome Louse, even worse than the said Louse, which is clearly different from the Louse libelled; but that the other Louse is the same with, or similar to the said Beetle, which is also the same with the other Beetle; and although different from the said Beetle libelled, yet as the said Beetle is similar to the other Beetle, and the said Louse to the said other Louse libelled, and the other Louse to the other Beetle, which is the same with or similar to the Beetle, which somewhat resembles the Beetle libelled, assoilzies the defender, and finds expenses due."

Say away, my Lords.

With regard to the second point, I am satisfied that the Scarabaeus, or Beetle itself, has no personu standi in judicio; and therefore the pursuer cannot insist, in the name of the Scarabæus, or for his behoof. If the action lie at all, it must be at the instance of the pursuer himself, as the verus Dominus of the Scarabæus, for being calumniated through the convicium, directed primarily against the ani mal standing in that relation to him. Now, abstracting from the qualification of an actual dominium, which is not alleged, I have great doubts whether a mere convicium is necessarily transmitted from one object to another, through the relation of a dominium subsisting between them; and if not necessarily transmissible, we must see the principle of its actual transmission here, and that has not yet been pointed out.

Lord HERMAND.-We heard a little ago, my Lord, that there is a difficulty in this case; but I have not been fortunate enough, for my part, to find out where the difficulty lies. Will any man presume to tell me that a Beetle is not a Beetle, and that a Louse is not a Louse? I never saw the petitioner's Beetle, and what's more, I don't care whether I ever see it or not; but I suppose it's like other Beetles, and that's enough for me. But, my Lord, I know the other reptile well-I have seen them, my Lord, ever since I was a child in my mother's arms, and my mind tells me, that nothing but the deepest and blackest malice, rankling in the human breast, could have suggested this comparison, or led any man to form a thought so injurions and insulting. But, my Lord, there's more here than all that, a great deal more; one could have thought the defender would have gratified his spite to the full, by comparing the Beetle to a common Louse, an animal sufficiently vile and abominable for the purpose of defamation-[shut that door there];—but he adds the epithet Egyptian, and I know well what he means by that epithet. He means, my Lord, a Louse that has been fattened in the head of a gipsy or tinker, undisturbed by the comb, and unmolested in the enjoyment of its native filth. He means a Louse ten times larger, and ten times more abominable, than those with which your Lordships and I are familiar. The petitioner asks redress for the injury so atrocious and so aggravated, and as far as my voice goes, he shall not ask it in vain.

Lord MEADOWBANK.-This is a very intricate and puzzling question, my Lord. I have formed no decided opinion; but at present I am rather inclined to think the interlocutor is right, though not upon the ratio assigned in it. It appears to me that there are two points for consideration: -First, Whether the words libelled amount to a convicium-and, secondly, Admitting the convicium, whether the pursuer is entitled to found upon it in this action. Lord CRAIG.—I am of the opinion last delivered. It Now, my Lords, if there be a convicium at all, it consists appears to me to be slanderous and calumnious to compare in the comparatio, or comparison of the Scarabæus or a Diamond Beetle to the filthy and mischievous animal just Beetle, with the Egyptian Pediculus or Louse. My libelled. By an Egyptian Louse, I understand one which first doubt regards this point, but it is not at all found- has been formed in the head of a native Egyptian, a race of ed on what the defender alleges, that there is no such men who, after degenerating for many centuries, have sunk, animal as an Egyptian Pediculus or Louse in rcrum at last, into the abyss of depravity, in consequence of havnatura; for although it does not actually exist, it may ing been subjugated for a time, by the French. I do not possibly exist, and whether its existence be in esse vel posse, find that Turgot, or Condorcet, or the rest of the econois the same thing to this question, provided there be habi-mists, ever reckon the combing of the head a species of proles for ascertaining what it would be if it did exist. But my doubt is here: How am I to discover what are the essentia of any Louse, whether Egyptian or not? It is very easy to describe its accidents as a naturalist would do-to say that it belongs to the tribe of assteræ, or that it is a yellow, little, greedy, filthy, despicable reptile; but we do not learn from this what the proprium of the animal is in a logical sense, and still less what its differentia are. Not withstanding these, it is impossible to judge whether there is a convicium or not; for in a case of this kind, which se quitur naturam delicti, we must take them meliore sensu, and presume the comparatio to be in the melioribus tantum. And here I beg that parties, and the bar in general (Interrupted by Lord Hermand-"Your Lordship should address yourself to the chair.") I say,-I beg it may be understood, that I do not rest my opinion on the ground that verites convicii excusat. I am clear that, although this Beetle actually were an Egyptian Pediculus, it would af

This jeu d'esprit is understood to be an early production of Mr. Cranstoun, now Lord Corehouse. The allusions are necessarily local, and some of the characters are already beginning to be forgotten even in Scotland. But the wit is as fresh and sparkling as ever.

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ductive labour; and I conclude, therefore, that wherever French principles have been propogated, Lice grow to an immoderate size, especially in a warm climate, like that of Egypt.

I shall only add, that we ought to be sensible of the bles sings we enjoy under a free and happy constitution, where Lice and men live under the restraint of equal laws, the only equality that can exist in a well-regulated state.

Lord POLKEMMET.-It should be observed, my Lord, that what is called a Beetle, is a reptile well known in this country. I have seen mony ane o' them in Drumshorlin Muir. It is a little black beastie, about the size o' my thoom nail. The country people ca' them clocks, and I believe they ca' them also Maggy-wi'-the-mony-feet; but this is not a beast like any Louse that ever I saw, so that, in my opinion, though the defender may have made a blunder, through ignorance, in comparing them, there does not seem to have been any animus injuriandi, therefore a'm for refusing the petition, my Lords.

Lord BALMUTO.-A'm for refusing the petition. There's more Lice than Beetles in Fife. They ca' them Beetleclocks there; what they ca' a Beetle, is a thing as lang as

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my arm, thick at the one end, and small at the other. thought when I read the petition, that the Beetle, or Bittle, had been the thing that the women have when they are washing towels or napery with things for dadding them with-and I see the petitioner is a jeweller to his trade, and I thought he had ane o' thae Beetles, and set it all round with diamonds, and I thought it a foolish and extravagant idea, and I saw no resemblance it could have to a Louse; but I find I was mistaken, my Lord, and I find it only a Beetle-clock the petitioner has; but my opinion's the same it was before. I say, my Lords, a'm for refusing the petition, I say

Lord WOODHOUSELEE.-There is a case abridged in the third volume of the Dictionary of Decisions, Chalmers against Douglas, in which it is found that veritas convicii excusat, which may be rendered, not literally, but in a free and spirited manner, according the most approved principles of translation, "the truth of calumny affords a relevant defence." If, therefore, it be the law of Scotland, which I am clearly of opinion it is, that the truth of the calumny affords a relevant defence, and if it be likewise true that the Diamond Beetle is really an Egyptian Louse, I am inclined to conclude, though certainly the case is attended with difficulty, that the defender ought to be assoilzied.-Refuse. Lord Justice-clerk RAE. I am very well acquainted with the defender in this action, and have respect for him and esteem him likewise. I know him to be a skilful and expert surgeon, and also a good man; and I would go a great length to serve him, if I had it in my power to do So. But I think on this occasion he has spoken rashly, and, I fear, foolishly and improperly; I hope he had no bad intention-I am sure he had not. But the petitioner (for whom I have likewise a great respect, because I knew his father, who was a very respectable baker in Edinburgh, and supplied my family with bread, and very good bread it was, and for which his accounts were regularly discharged) it seems has a Clock or a Beetle, I think it is called a Diamond Beetle, which he is very fond of, and has a fancy for, and the defender has compared it to a Louse, or a Bug, or a Flea, or something of that kind, with a view to render it despicable or ridiculous, and the petitioner so likewise, as the proprietor or owner thereof. It is said that this beast is a Louse in fact, and that the veritas convicii excusat; and mention is made of a decision in the case of Chalmers against Douglas. I have always had a great veneration for the decisions of your Lordships, and, I am sure, will always continue to have while I sit here; but that case was determined by a very small majority, and I have heard your Lordships mention it on various occasions, and you have always desiderated the propriety of it, and, I think, have departed from it in some instances. I remember the circumstances of the case well. Helen Chalmers lived in Musselburgh, and the defender, Mrs. Bailie, lived in Fisherraw, and at that time there was much intercourse between the genteel inhabitants of Fisherrow, and Musselburgh, and Inveresk, and likewise Newbigging, and there were balls, or dances, or assemblies every fortnight, or oftener; and also sometimes, I believe, every week; and there were card parties, assemblies, once a fortnight, or oftener; and the young people danced there also, and others played at cards, and there were various refreshments, such as tea, and coffee, and butter and bread, and, I believe, but I am not sure, porter and negus, and likewise small beer; and it was at one of these assemblies that Mrs. Baillie called Mis. Chalmers a, or an —— and said she had been lying with Commissioner Cardonald, a gentleman whom I know very well at one time, and had a great respect for le s dead many years ago. And Mrs. Chalmers brought an action of defamation before the Commissaries, and it came by advocation into this Court, and your Lordships allowed a proof of the veritas convicii, and it lasted a very long time, and in the end answered no good purpose, even to the defender herself, while it did much hurt to the pursuer's character.

I am, therefore, for REFUSING a proof in this case, and think the petitioner, in this case, and his Beetles, have been slandered, and the petition ought to be seen.

Lord METHVEN.-If I understand this a-a-a-interlocutor, it is not said that the a-a-a-a- Egyptian Lice are Beetles, but that they may be, or a-a-a-a-resemble Beetles.

I am therefore for sending the process to the Ordinary, to ascertain the fact, as I think it depends upon that, whether there be a-a—a—a—convicium or not. I think, also, the petitioner should be ordained to a-a-a-produce his Beetle, and the defender an Egyptian Louse or Pediculus, and that he should take a diligence a—a—a— to recover Lice of various kinds, and these may be remitted to Doctor Monro, or Mr Playfair, or to some other naturalist to report upon the subject.-AGREED TO.

FUMIGATION.

Fumigation is practised in various ways, and a great many substances are employed in fumigating processes. Some preparations of mercury have been burned, and patients have been exposed to their fumes, for the purpose of producing on the body the peculiar action of mercury; and fumigation is much employed to destroy the contagious matter of several diseases. One of the most beneficial instances of this, is the employment of the fumes of nitric or muriatic acid to destroy the contagion of fever. This is done by pouring sulphuric acid on saltpetre; the sulphuric acid combines with the potash of the saltpetre, and the nitric acid fumes thoroughly mixing with the air, destroys the contagious matter of which it is the vehicle. The best way to fill the chamber, the ward, or the ship, where contagion is suspected, is to place a number of saucers in different parts of the room, to put saltpetre in each of them, and to pour on the sulphuric acid. The doors and windows should be shut for some time, and then a current of fresh air admitted. Another gas, which has been employed to destroy contagion, is the muriatic acid gas, or vapour from sea-salt. This is to be extracted from sea-salt by nearly the same process, pouring sulphuric acid upon it; the vapour which rises is probably equally effectual, but it is more irritating and offensive to the lungs of those who are exposed to it. Fumigation with sulphur may also be practised. The clothes of those who have been ill of fever should be carefully fumigated, and the walls of their apartment, and the furniture should be completely exposed to the disinfecting vapour. In the small-pox, there is a most peculiar odour in the apartments of the sick, which continues many weeks or months after their recovery; and the contagion of fever, though less obvious to the senses, may reasonably be supposed to lurk as long, if not carefully destroyed, The sprinkling of the sick chamber with heated vinegar, or throwing it upon hot coals, though it may not have the power of destroying contagion, is nevertheless a very good practice, as it encourages ventilation, is refreshing to the sick, and gives confidence to the necessary attendants.

TO MY CARRIER PIGEON.
COME hither, thou beautiful rover,
Thou wand'rer of earth and of air,
Who hearest the sighs of the lover,
And bringest him news of his fair;
Oh! perch on my hand, dearest minion,
And turn up thy bright eye and peek,
With thy love billet under thy pinion,

And gold circle round thy white neck.
Here is bread of the whitest and sweetest,
And there is a sip of white wine;
Though thy wing is the lightest and fleetest,
'Twill be fleeter when nerv'd by the vine;
I have written on rose-scented paper,
With thy wing quill, a soft billet-doux ;
I have melted the wax in Lover's taper,
'Tis the colour of true hearts-light blue.
I have fasten'd it under thy pinion
With a blue ribbon round thy soft neck;
So go from me, beautiful minion,

While the pure ether shews not a speck ;
Like a cloud in the dim distance fleeting,
Like an arrow he hurries away;
And farther and farther retreating,
He is lost in the clear blue of day.

ON THE MORAL TRAINING OF CHILDREN. (For the Schoolmaster.)

LETTER II.

self-will, and engenders pride and selfishness, the other no less embitters present existence, debases the mind, and strikes at the root of the most valuable social virtues Where the dread of punishment predominates, the disposition is generally artful; hence, the fear which is thus produced, prompts children not so much to avoid committing faults, as to elude detection by base subterfuges, which still more tend to debase and vitiate the mind.

WHEN the faculties of the mind begin to open and expand, children are curious and inquisitive. The objects around them affect their senses, and induce them to ask a variety of questions; and it is at this period, principally, that parents, by a simple and affectionate manner of conversingplied to the mind than the body; so far, at least, as the with them, acquire almost unbounded influence over their young minds. But, do not parents, alas! too often neglect to improve this important period by their impatient conduct? At first, indeed, when the little prattlers begin to unfold their ideas, by expressing them in words, we listen eagerly to their simple observations, and are delighted with them; yet it generally happens that, after a while, what had been so delightful and entertaining ceases to be so; when instead of meeting with that encouragement which they ought, in expressing their ideas, they are repulsed for their troublesome talkativeness, or unbecoming presumption. Thus, we not only deter them from opening their minds to us, but also deprive ourselves of the means of affording them that information and instruction which, at their time of life, they so much require; and which it is our duty, as it ought likewise to be our happiness, to communicate.

Correction, when it is necessary, ought rather to be ap circumstances will admit. Let it be administered as medicine for the cure of mental disorder; but let children see that it is done with reluctance; let them be convinced that it is necessary, and intended solely for their good. Depriv. ing the offender of something on which he sets a value; withholding our customary marks of affection; putting him into temporary confinement or disgrace; showing him, at the same time, that we are more afflicted than offended with him for what he has done, will in general have a much better effect than the frequent recurrence to the rod, which only irritates the disposition, without convincing the judgment. If, indeed, the rod should apparently effect a cure, it frequently happens that the will to do wrong still remains; and, what is worse, the odious and much-to-bedetested spirit of revenge is but too apt to be generated by

such a mode of correction.

But, in objection to this, it may be urged, what Solomon says," He that spareth the rod hateth his son," a saying which, it is much to be feared, has, in too many instances, (in consequence of being too literally understood,) been the cause of both parents and others intrusted with the education of children, resorting to corporal punishment much oftener than they ought, or, in all probability, would have done, had they viewed it in a proper light. It is nothing more, indeed, than a strong emblematical figure, imjection; and was never meant to be taken literally, as it plying the necessity of keeping the will under proper substands, any more than a number of other sayings of a simi

Children feel severely this change of behaviour towards them; the consequence is, they become shy, silent, and reserved towards their parents, and are induced to associate with those who will be more accommodating to them, such as complaisant servants, from whom it is not to be expected they can derive much improvement. Generally speaking, the ideas of common servants are very limited, often absurd, and even dangerous; while their language is vulgar|lar nature, which, it is manifest, can only be understood in and their manners coarse. From familiarity with them, a figurative or emblematical sense. Such, for example, as therefore, children can derive no advantage; while, by such "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him;"-or this, intercourse they frequently contract awkward habits, and "Withhold not correction from the child; for if thou beatlearn ungrammatical and low, if not bad, expressions. It est him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him is well if the evil go no further. Too often, alas! is the with the rod, and shall deliver his soul from hell." Or dreadful contamination of vice communicated from such this, "The rod and reproof give wisdom; but a child left society, and the young mind polluted by the knowledge of to himself bringeth his mother to shame." And so in a what it ought never to know. Would it not be better still variety of other instances, where by “the rod," is not literally meant the rod, or corporal punishment, but an early to continue our attentive regard, by listening patiently to and careful restraint of the will, by whatever means. Other what they have to say, and answering their inquiries with- mistakes may be as readily made, as, indeed, many are, by out suffering even their frivolous prattle to put us out of not attending to this figurative mode of expression,—as temper? Very different is this kind of indulgence and enwhere it is said "God is angry!" and also "punishes!" which is to be considered not only as peculiar to the sacred couraging familiarity, from that of gratifying their self-writings, but as the best adapted to general comprehension; will or unreasonable demands; which is only done by the indulgence of their improper desires, with which every idea of happiness becomes identified, to the exclusion of all concern about the happiness or welfare of others, except so far, indeed, as it may be connected with their own. Thus, selfishness becomes the predominant feature of the character, accompanied with pride, peevishness, and anger, whenever the will is thwarted; and thus, a capricious humour is the unavoidable consequence.

the Divine Book being read and understood by the simple according to his simplicity, and by the wise according to his wisdom.

totally abandoned ?" To which we answer,—If it can be Still, it may be asked-" Is corporal punishment to be wholly dispensed with, so much the better; but when all other means fail, there is then certainly no alternative. In the case of those, however, who have been under proper training from their infancy, the instances in which it would be necessary to resort to the rod, particularly if they are capable of being reasoned with, would be extremely rare. Many are the tyrannical husbands and fathers, and reThe necessity for it at all, indeed, arises entirely from misfractory wives and mothers, that have been so formed, by an management or neglect in their previous moral training. education in which the will had never been accustomed to But when it is necessary to inflict correction upon children, be thwarted, or brought into subjection by wholesome cor- never let it be attended by furious looks, or loud tones of rection and reproof in early life. And may we not appeal to voice, nor any other external symptoms of anger and passion, those who have lived in a family of spoiled children, that lest it be mistaken for revenge, create mischievous associathe gratification of the will is uniformly productive of mi- tions, and weaken filial respect and filial affection. Viosery, not only to the children themselves, but to all who lence will never cure obstinacy; it can only inflame the have any thing to do with them? But whilst we endeavour passionate, and confirm the stubborn. Obstinacy frequentto avoid all improper indulgence, let us beware of the op-ly is the offspring of strength of mind and active powers posite extreme of over severity. If the first strengthens taking a wrong direction.

Patience and mildness will

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