sophistry as he has, when in his "Old Age" he compares youth and age together. "I grant," says he, "that an old man has nothing to hope; but he has this advantage over youth, that what young men wish for, he has already obtained." Now youth does not wish to be arrived at old age, but to enjoy the intermediate years that lead to it. When old, he will not consider that he has obtained an advantage; but will find, in the language of a vulgar joke, that " he has gained a loss."

Marquis Bonasana Beccaria,

Born at Milan in 1735, died 1793.

The Marquis, in his Treatise on Crimes and Punishment, is sometimes, from his metaphysical turn of mind, obscure; but his thoughts on suicide and duelling seem worthy of consideration. Speaking of the public opinion being in favour of this private appeal to arms, he proposes that the challenger should be alone subject to punishment, and that the laws should be lenient to the man who accepts the challenge, because he acts under an opinion of honourable self-defence, against the evil influence of which the law cannot protect him.

Suicide.

The Marquis Beccaria treats this unhappy state of mind with great lenity and caution; and considers the punishment of the suicide, as it cannot be personal to him after death, therefore to be more properly assigned to God than man. To those who would punish the suicide by inflicting any penalty on his family as a means of preventing a man from slaying himself, bis answer seems conclusive. "If a man prefers death to life, and considers it as a burden instead of a state of the most moderate enjoyment, the consideration of the future welfare of his family will not stop his murderous hand."

Rage for the "Nude."

I should advise the ladies, not as a moralist, but as one of their most sincere though frank admirers, to dress themselves more modestly. Imagination is more alive, and a more active agent in love, than the eye. Habit soon makes the pleasures of sight to grow weary and be disgusting; whilst the pleasures of imagination are never to be satiated. I do not doubt that a young Chinese beauty, who shews only the tip of her foot, would gain more admirers than all the ladies in an eastern seraglio dancing at an "undressed ball," or in their baths.

Translations and Imitations.

It was a happy thought of Cervantes, to compare translations of the ancient poets to the wrong side of tapestry. It may be said of imitations, which have more invention in them, though inferior to their originals, that they resemble Wilton carpets, yet do not rival the true Turkish manufactures, either in splendour of colours or durability of materials. Pope's Imitations of Horace are more pleasing to an English reader than any translations could be; and R. Lloyd's imitation of the "Gossips," in Theocritus, will often raise a laugh in the English reader, who would have found the fidelity of a translation to ancient manners dry and uninteresting.

Blockheads

but are also very

Are not only very dull men, provoking companions. Mr. Msays he has turned all the poets out of his study; I should rather suppose, on the contrary, that they had turned him out. This is the dexterity of selflove, to endeavour to prove that what a blockhead does not or cannot relish, he immediately declares, with all his might, cannot be relished by any one.

What is all this, but a blind man quiz

zing the pleasure arising from prospects or pictures? and the deaf man who shall exclaim against the charms of musical sounds? Well says the Bard of reason,

Each want of happiness by hope supplied,
And each vacuity of sense by pride.

Essay on Man.

This preference in all men to their own pursuits and acquirements is quaintly ascribed by a French theologian to the mercy of God," who has taught the frogs to be pleased with their own notes as musical."-See Father Francis Garesse, in his "Somme Theologique."

Conquest of Mexico.

Montaigne, speaking of the Mexicans, commends their industry and skill in the arts, and their many virtues. "But as for devotion, observance of the laws, goodness, liberality, loyalty, and plain dealing, it was of service to us that we had not so great a share of those virtues as they for by this advantage they ruined, sold, and betrayed themselves. Take away, 1 say, this disparity from the conquerors, and you take from them all the source of so many victories."-Montaigne's Essays, vol. iii. chap. 6. This palpable irony of the honest old Gascon is as honourable

to his character, as disgraceful to the European invaders of South America. The philosophy of the matter is explained by the following lines in a dramatic writer of some credit:

Are not conquests good titles?

Conquests are great thefts.

Then would I rob for kingdoms; and if I obtained, fain would I see him that durst call the conqueror a thief.

Lilly's Midas.

Simplicity.

This is one of many words that are more often used than understood. M. Fontenelle, in his Essay on Pastorals, talks much against superfluous ornament in the description of rural life and manners; and yet in his own pastorals all the shepherds and shepherdesses talk and think like ladies of fashion and petits maitres in the coteries of Paris. The late Mr. Mason the poet addresses simplicity, and invokes her aid in the beginning of his "Garden;" but the nymph did not listen to the poet, or Mr. Mason did not know what simplicity is, for his poem is very starch and artificial. The story of the statue, though a love story, is very far from possessing the least pretensions to any of the charms of natural simplicity.