present and future happiness, was thus perverted and debased, and became in the hands of these stupid fanatics a chief means in poisoning the best and sweetest blessings of society. Society has been aptly compared to a heap of embers, which when separated, soon languish, darken, and expire; but if placed together, glow with a ruddy and intense heat;;—a just emblem of the strength, the happiness, and the security derived from the union of mankind.

Pain of every kind generally makes a deeper impression on the imagination than pleasure does, and is longer retained by the memory. Sympathy is not a passion, but that quality of the soul which renders it susceptible of almost any passion, by communication from the bosom of another. Pity is not a simple passion, but a group of passions strictly united by association, and as it were blended, by centering in the same object. Wit and humour commonly concur in a tendency to produce laughter, by exhibiting a curious and unexpected affinity; the first generally by comparison either direct or implied, the second by connecting in some other relation, such as causality or vicinity, objects apparently the most dissimilar and heterogeneous. In matters of criticism it is of the utmost consequence to ascertain with precision the meanings of words, and, as nearly as the genius of the language in which one writes will permit, to make them correspond to the boundaries assigned by nature to the things signified.

The seas shall waste, the skies in smoke decay,
Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away;
But fixed his word, his saving power remains;
Thy realm for ever lasts, thy own MESSIAH reigns.

Thus the brave soldier, in the wars,

Gets empty praise, and aching scars;

Is paid with fame and wooden legs;
And, starved, the glorious vagrant begs.

But soon the mediate clouds shall be dispelled;
The sun shall soon be face to face beheld
In all his robes, with all his glory on,
Seated sublime on his meridian throne

That day I oft remember, when from sleep
I first awaked, and found myself reposed

Under a shade on flowers, much wondering where
And what I was, whence thither brought, and how.
Near yonder copse, where once the garden smiled,
And still where many a garden flower grows wild ;
There, where a few torn shrubs the place disclose,
The village preacher's modest mansion rose.

Still the sad prospect rises on my sight,
Revealed in all its mournful shade and light.
Swift through my pulses glides the kindling fire,
As lightning glances on th' electric wire.
But ah! the force of numbers strives in vain,
The glowing scene unequal to sustain.

Sweet bird! thy bower is ever green,

Thy sky is ever clear;

Thou hast no sorrow in thy song,
No winter in thy year.

A graver coxcomb we may sometimes see,

Quite as absurd, though not so light, as he;

A shallow brain behind a serious mask,
An oracle within an empty cask,

The solemn fop; significant and budge;
A fool with judges, amongst fools a judge;
He says but little, and that little said
Owes all its weight, like loaded dice, to lead.

Man in society is like a flower

Blown in its native bed; 'tis there alone
His faculties, expanded in full bloom,
Shine out; there only reach their proper use.

Bold, firm, and graceful are thy generous youth,
By hardship sinewed, and by danger fir'd,
Scattering the nations where they go; and first
Or on the listed plain, or stormy seas.

Lo! at the couch where infant beauty sleeps,
Her silent watch the mournful mother keeps!
She, while the lovely babe unconscious lies,
Smiles on her slumbering child with pensive eyes,
And weaves a song of melancholy joy.

There is mercy in every place,

And mercy, encouraging thought!

Gives even affliction a grace,

And reconciles man to his lot.

PUNCTUATION.

The

Punctuation has its origin in modern times. ancient Manuscripts of the Greek and Roman Authors have no points; they seem to have been written continuously,—in many instances without spaces between the words. The introduction of points must have succeeded the invention of printing.

The proper use of punctuation is for marking the sections into which sentences and paragraphs are divided, that the

grammatical connection, and consequently the sense, may be accurately distinguished.

The period is used to mark the completion of a sentence. It is the most important point in writing, and, in reading or speaking, its place should be marked by a distinct pause.

The use of the colon (:) is not very well ascertained and defined; its powers are so indistinct and so liable to misconception, that, in practice, it is almost disused, and the period is used in its stead.

.

The semicolon (;) is employed to separate and distinguish the members of a compound sentence. 'Catiline, who was astonished by the thunder of Cicero's speech, had little to say for himself in answer to it; yet, with downcast looks and suppliant voice, he begged of the Fathers not to believe too hastily what was said against him by an enemy; that his birth and past life offered every thing to him that was hopeful; and it was not to be imagined, that a man of patrician family whose ancestors as well as himself had given many proofs of their affection to the Roman people, should want to overturn the government."

The comma (,) is used when a nominative case consists of three or more members joined in construction, with a copulative or disjunctive particle. A similar succession of objective members are separated by commas.

Interjective words and phrases which interrupt the natural arrangement and succession of the members of a sentence, are marked off by commas.

An ellipsis generally requires the insertion of a comma, to mark the omission of an important phrase or member. A thorough knowledge of Syntax is the best guide to accuracy in pointing.

The interjection (!) marks a strong or sudden mental emotion.

The interrogation (?) is placed after a question.

The parenthesis is almost disused; commas are used instead.

Inverted commas (" ") indicate a quotation.

EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION.

Diseases, poverty, disappointment, and shame, are far from being, in every instance, the unavoidable doom of

men.

Intemperance engenders disease; sloth produces poverty; pride creates disappointments; and dishonesty exposes to shame.

Let us always remember where we are, from what causes the human state has become subject to depression, and upon what accounts it must remain under its present law.

Be silent, be grateful, and adore.

That discipline, therefore, which corrects the eagerness of worldly passions, which fortifies the heart with virtuous principles, which enlightens the mind with useful knowledge, and furnishes to it matter of enjoyment from within itself, is of more consequence to real felicity than all the provision we can make of the goods of fortune.

Let our happiness be sought where our proper praise is found; and that be accounted our only real evil, which is the evil of our nature; not that, which is either the appointment of Providence, or which arises from the evil of others.

Children of men! it is well known to you that you are a mortal race.

The great and the good, the prince and the peasant,