with his station in life and situation upon earth as a probationer. He is not an animal impelled by instinct he possesses reasoning powers, rational faculties, an intelligent mind-the voice of conscience, the law of nature, and the WORD OF GOD; and if, with these assistances, he cannot resist the incitements to the gratification of passions and malevolent propensities that are inimical to his well-being, the evil or suffering which his deviation from right must necessarily incur can only be imputed to himself, to his blindness, weakness or folly, to his hardness of heart, his depravity or moral degradation.

Youth, said Lady Berine, is the season for the cultivation of the benevolent affections, and for the attainment of every superior and ennobling principle of action.

'Yet art thou young, and yet thy pliant mind
Yields to the gale, and bends to every wind.
Seize, then, this sunny, but this fleeting hour,
To nurse and cultivate this tender flower.'

Happy is the man, said Sir Edward, who in the early period of his life has imbibed just and proper principles to direct his actions, and laid up stores of wisdom and knowledge to be his

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resource and consolation in every subsequent

period of his life; for

'He, who has treasures of his own,
May leave a cottage or a throne,
May quit the world to dwell alone,

Within his spacious mind.'

CONVERSATION VIII.

On the Necessity of cultivating the Benevolent Principle of Action, and on the Importance of Female Education.

OUR preceding observations, said the

Vicar, evidently demonstrate that the characteristic distinctions existing amongst men proceed from the prevalence and operation of the various modifications of the two grand influential principles, Benevolence and Selfishness. Benevolence is the in-dwelling essence of the Divine Mind, and the primary operative attribute of Creative Power. It is combined with, and results from the active principle of LOVE, animating nature, extending existence, and diffusing happiness. Benevolence emanates from its inexhaustible source, and approximates the soul in which it resides to its divine origin: it generates

every virtue in the human breast, and eradicates every propensity repugnant to its pure energetic influence enlarges the mind, raises it above the exclusive consideration of self, and enables it to grasp into its view the whole of creation: it inspires devotion, and every intellectual pleasure that proceeds from the contemplation of infinite goodness and transcendant wisdom: it constitutes the happiness and perfection of man, and is the glory and essence of God.

It is much to be regretted, said Sir Edward, that the philosophy of the mind, and particularly that branch of it which teaches the nature and the various operations of the principles of action, is not more generally cultivated. An acquaintance with the structure, nature, and laws of the mind, and the principles of human actions, are essentially requisite, and should be indispensable qualifications in every person who is engaged in the instruction of others; as the principle of benevolence generates every virtue that elevates and ennobles our nature; and the principle of selfishness produces every vice which occasions moral degradation.

Selfishness, said Charles, is the lowest degree

of self-interest, or that principle which induces us to seek our own separate and personal gratification, exclusively of the rights, privileges or wants of others. It proceeds from or is combined with gross self-interest, incites to the most nefarious and iniquitous conduct, and may justly be considered as the lowest spring of action. Rational and refined self-interest combines the consideration of self with the happiness of others. These are therefore superior to the merely selfish principle; but the benevolent principle only can produce virtue, inspire devotion, and animate to the attainment of the highest degree of moral perfection.

The happiness and well-being of the human race universally, said the Vicar, is so intimately combined with the extensive diffusion, and dependant on the permanent operation, of the benevolent principle, that every means of extending its influence must be ultimately beneficial to society, and radically efficacious in diminishing those evils which arise from the predominance of the lower and selfish propensities.

The social virtues, continued Charles, emanate from this divine source. The affections