Dr. Samuel Johnson..

This modern Socrates gave most excellent lessons to his companions and the world, by exhibiting an example in his narratives of the duty incumbent on all to be as accurate as possible in all stories which they related. How many wellmeaning persons, from a neglect of this golden rule, must appear to strangers to be liars; when, in fact, a loose and inconsiderate mode of narrating has grown on them by early habit, so that they become not indeed rebels and traitors to truth, but are only guilty of misprision of truth, by not seeking after it diligently. Some writer says of these foolish talkers, that when their memories should furnish them with ready eash, they drew upon their imaginations.

"Thinking for himself."

This seems a phrase more used than understood, and as frequently abused in the same manner as liberty is. Thinking for one's self can only mean a power of deliberation under the guidance of reason, as liberty can only claim to. itself the privileges granted by the laws of our country. NED is a dull fellow, and no very rigid moralist, but strenuously maintains that he

will think for himself. Of course, NED is continually involved in some misfortune or disgrace, from which the advice of more prudent and modest friends might easily have preserved him.

Modern Philosophy.

This term anciently expressed with modesty the love of wisdom; but in modern times, the word Philosophy means nothing less than modesty or a love of wisdom. To depreciate the experience of ages in political matters, and the venerable authority of time and tradition in religious matters, seems the office of modern philosophers. To substitute jargon of their own on the affairs of state, and a blind metaphysics instead of an active code of religion, is the common practice of these soi-disant sages. Among really wise men the only consolation to be obtained is from the hope that such theories cannot last, seeing the hardihood and the paucity of these sectaries. Few are rash enough to second their decrees. To use the simple and energetic phrase of the elder Pliny, "Credidit ita-sed nemo præter illum."

"Miseries of Human Life."

The author of this ingenious work has made a very fair joke of the minor inconveniences of life,

which a true grumbler calls by the hard name of human miseries, and which he places to the account of ill chances operating upon his untoward fate. Every wise and ingenuous man, who considers his own actions, will be forced to acknowledge, that the human miseries which have fallen to his lot have been too often of his own creating, and arising from his own fault. Such a man has put his property into the hands of an agent with whom he had no previous acquaintance; or has married a wife after a short courtship; or has trusted to the advice of flatterers or fools, whom he mistook for friends because they were often of his opinion, &c.

A wise Pope.

It is told of Pope Innocent VIII. that during his pontificate a book was published, vehemently arraigning the conduct of the Court of Rome. The Pope called a council of his Cardinals, and read to them some passages out of the author; adding these remarkable words, "This book speaks truth, therefore we ought immediately to reform ourselves, in order to make this fellow a liar."

Middle-aged Men.

When we are young, we fly from the grave pursuits and the dull converse of the aged; when in our turns we become the venerable personages, we are as apt to fly from the unmeaning noise and merriment of young persons. Middle-aged men are like jacks on both sides in a game, who are ready to join either party, and to take up the bat when either side is out. It is an observation of Cicero, that we should all, in early years, mix as much of youth as to be able to join the young with alacrity, and as much of the gravity of the old as to be companions to them also, when occasion calls on us.

Old Books.

The purchasers of these rare commodities, if they are not irreclaimable antiquaries, have little reason to defend their very unaccountable propen

sities to dust and book-worms.

An author is

either scarce, because in course of time the edition has been sold, and by neglect and accidents lost to the public, and no one has thought it worth while to reprint it; or because the edition was very expensive, and in the first place consisted of few copies. If mere antiquity and scarceness are the

grounds on which these very curious purchasers proceed, we might expect, provided they were well gilt and in good condition, they would seek their wives among the venerable and scarce specimens of ancient maidens and widows.

Good kind of Men

Are a race of people that no one blames and no one praises with any great degree of warmth.. They act in life with much honesty and equity, yet they do not gain many very ardent friends. To use an expression of the painters, their manner is hard; when they do a kindness, they mar the pleasure which the receiver would otherwise experience, by an appearance of unkindness, and press your faults upon you, whenever they have an opportunity, with an air of superiority. Whilst the head acknowledges the excellent qualities of such persons, the heart hesitates on the compulsory homage. In our intercourse with men, we wish to love as well as reverence our friends, and do not like, in the words of Falstaff, to give our reasons upon compulsion.”

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Verses of Eight Syllables

Seem the most convenient measure for subjects of light humour and gaiety, and most accommodated