quite the reverse. It has been justly observed, that deep despair and suicide have followed the giddy mind, which has not got fixed principles, above all, of religion. If the mental structure which we propose to build is not firmly fixed, from its early foundation, upon the principles of the Gospel of Christ, by which self-denial, obedience, and humility are taught, all other knowledge, derived from novelty and travelling, will be frivolous or pernicious. It is adversity which has been often the school of true wisdom, not continual variety and amusement. The Poet says,

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Happy Britannia! where each noble art
Comes forth, with public liberty abroad,
And private virtue, all secure at home.
Full are thy cities with the sons of art,
Commerce and industry in every street.
Of Rome, Oh! mark the difference!
Behold the poor and melancholy peasant,
Afraid to use his plough in noxious soil,
Where death is found in the unwholesome marsh;
The rank, uncultivated, stagnant growth
Of many ages, taints the passing gale,

And the malaria kills the labouring swain.
Far as the mournful eye can view around,
"Tis all one desert, desolate and grey,
Graz'd by the sullen buffalo alone.
Beneath the noxions blast the city pines,
Or sinks in gloomy ruins by disease.
Beneath it mourns the solitary road
Of ancient grandeur, and superior talent
Splendid, when former heroes were in triumph.

Behold it now, in desolate depression,

Pale and decayed in ruins. See thy villas

And cities. They are mourning, sad, and sombre!"

All these melancholy monuments of ancient grandeur shew the vanity of all greatness, if religion and virtue are forgotten, and idleness, vice, and wickedness, predominate in any nation. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, while folly and vice travel in search of novelty.

Yet we admit of many exceptions: some travel for health; some to gratify an enlightened taste for the works of art and the beauties of nature; while many travellers and others of rank and fortune do not wish to reside for many years away from their native country. But nine out of ten who have travelled from Britain since the peace, have gone abroad either from idle curiosity, and love of novelty, which they could not afford to gratify and to indulge; very young persons of both sexes, who could not derive any improvement of mind, or useful habits; and many with a view to economy, which great numbers have frankly confessed was not possible, all points fully considered. But the rage for novelty, and the force of example, have led thousands blindly to follow each other. Nothing is so powerful with many as fashion; and nothing is so scarce and rare as common sense. If government had imposed a tax, or ordered a ticket to be obtained from the Treasury at a certain price, by every person who went to the Continent after the peace in 1815, a considerable sum of money might have been raised for the poor; and many thousands who have gone abroad would have remained at home, greatly for

the advantage of themselves and their children. The education of the latter in Britain would have been far more useful to them; and agriculture, if once in fashion, (as it was in former times) would lead gentlemen, and officers of the army and navy, to have small farms well cultivated; and thus, by means of a garden, and small dairy and poultry, a happy, contented state of society in middle life would appear in Britain. We know from the novels of Mr. Richardson, written and eagerly read in England eighty years ago, Clarissa," "Sir Charles Grandison," and others, that the young ladies of polite accomplishments used to superintend the dairy, the garden, and the poultry yard. But since the circulating libraries with novels, all over Britain, have been read by farmers' daughters, &c. they, as well as the daughters of their more opulent neighbours, travel to the Continent; by which means the comforts of home are despised, and agriculture is wholly neglected.

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But let us not despair; let us hope this absentee folly will soon be renounced for ever. The travellers will return home to that happy island, where the Romans were glad to remain above four hundred years, in preference to France, where war was continually raging. The repose of Britain, surrounded by the sea, appeared delightful to those conquerors: they only left it to save Rome, when the Goths and Huns attacked the imperial city. Let us never expect too much of perfect happiness in a short life of trial.

"Wisdom is his, and his alone, who knows
His heart's uneasy feelings to compose,
While every disappointment he will find
Was wholesome medicine to improve his mind,
To bound his wishes to their proper sphere,
To nourish hope, and banish anxious fear.
Who, gracious Father, can complain
Under thy mild and gentle reign?
Who does a weight of duty share
More than his aids and powers can bear?
Oh! haste, life's arduous work pursue,
And keep the heavenly prize in view."

The late great traveller, Dr. Clarke, had seen much of the world: he addressed his native country as follows:

"Oh England, thou art the abode of comfort, cleanliness, decency and decorum. Oh! blessed asylum of all that is best upon earth. Oh! sanctuary of true religion, and of liberty for the whole civilized world. It is only by viewing the state of other countries that thy advantages can be properly estimated. May thy sons and daughters know and value what they so richly possess in thee. Oh! land of happy fire-sides, and cleanly hearths, and domestic peace, the cradle of heroes, the residence of virtue and industry, the asylum of innocence and sincere piety, void of affectation and avarice, the only bulwark of public honour and private security,

"Where'er I roam, whatever realms I see,
My heart, untravelled, fondly turns to thee.”

WARREN HASTINGS.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA.

THIS distinguished man went very young to Calcutta, from the house of his respectable parents, the family seat of Daclesfield in Warwickshire. His talents, diligence, vivacity, and unblemished integrity, had been remarkable from his early years. He made rapid progress in India, in various departments of the Honourable Company's service for many years. Finally, he was appointed Governor General in 1773. For thirteen years did he hold supreme power, at a period when a variety of important affairs, both during war and peace, were most ably managed by him; and for his skill and judgment he received the most ample commendations from the Honourable Company. His conduct gained him the highest respect and esteem both in public and private life. He was the friend of all good and eminent men; he had got a liberal education, and had found books a great source of pleasure, whenever public and laborious business allowed him any repose. Books were delightful cordials to his mind. The distinguished Sir William Jones was warmly patronized in India