rial-the thinking principle. Perhaps the chain is connected to the mind of man through the instinctive principle of animals. The imponderables resemble some of the phenomena of mind, almost as much as they do those of matter. They resemble it particularly in the occupation of space being scarcely predicable of them, and also in their swiftness: nothing comes so near the swiftness of thought as electricity and light. What principles, too, have so vast a range? Light fills the universe; and there are no bounds to thought. The part too that they perform in the functions of animals is immense, far greater probably than we have any idea of.

The Creator is above comprehension or imagination. The works of nature imply, in their har

The Siroc's breath, the whirlwind's wrath, can but fulfil mony and order-mind; and this too we learn from

the Scriptures. But they imply something far higher and more inscrutable than this-something very different from mind or matter. Creation implies-not mind; but something far more mysterious, incomprehensible, and powerful.

22. No man of genius was ever satisfied with his own productions. He has an ideality of perfection, dimly painted on his mind, which no effort of his own can depict.

20. How beautiful is the meeting of day and night! When the stars are appearing through the His imagination-that lightning of the soul-by still twilight air-the stars, which nightly, since its occasional flashes, may cast over a portion of their first creation, image in their appearing that this dim ideality sufficient brightness for him to solemn time; each moment increasing in the co-ex- portray fragments of its glorious beauty, but it canistent number coming forth, (as night rolls over the not envelope it with that constant and sun-light earth, forever driving before her the gray twilight radiancy, which might enable him to depict the and the golden day,) until the whole sky is a sea whole in its exquisite proportion and divine loveliof radiance and beauty. And though this phenome-ness. And this perhaps is one difference between non occurs day after day, with its deep loveliness, yet the ordinary man, and the one of genius. The how little do we notice it. How little, indeed, do we former has no such heavenly ideality; his mind notice any portion of "the beauty in our daily paths," cannot soar above the clouds and stars; it is bounded or do we appreciate any thing familiar to us. We by the earth. This standard he can equal, and are continually striving after something which we hence he is satisfied with his inferior productions; think, when gained, will render us happy. And if our whilst the genius is ever disappointed in his gloefforts are crowned with success, the pleasure con-rious creations-creations which fill the rest of the tinues only whilst the novelty lasts; when this is world with pleasure, admiration, and wonder. past, that which we sought becomes like the evening twilight-unobserved.

It is only when separated, by distance or time, from any thing familiar to us, that we think highly of it. And separation from them, can cast a rosy light over things which we never imagined before to contribute at all to our happiness.

21. What a mighty system is that of difference! How numerous are the phases in every object and circumstance in the universe of things! No two objects are exactly alike: there is always a slight difference, however imperceptible. No two things are so unlike but that they may be traced as parts of the same mighty circle.

With respect to the constitution of bodies, there is a gradual change from solids to liquids, from liquids to gases, from gases perhaps to the impon

23. In novels, we generally find the machinations of the bad to be the means, not of leading them to success, but to punishment. A similar end happens to two follies which we meet with every day, viz. affectation and lying. Both of them are the result of vanity-both proceeding from the desire which their possessors have of making others think highly of them. The first excites ridicule, and the second contempt.

24. In this world of ours there are two mighty spirits-two mighty and opposing principles, floating through all things-the spirit of conservation, and the spirit of change. They are found alike both in moral and physical things, though under very different forms: but, wherever there is essence, there are they.

The one is ever aiming to give a new action or derables; and from these, it may be, to the immate-form to that upon which it is acting; the other en

deavors to keep it in its present condition.

first is continually conquering, or to conquer, because time is its constant assistant; yet still, like the Hydra of old, the second principle renews the contest in each subsequent form, so that ever being vanquished, it is always keeping up the contest. Thus is this warfare continually going on. In nothing that is are these two principles ever at rest-continually opposing each other in every property and quality that any thing has.

The nobles, and priests. England has been saved from such a calamity, by a gradual change in the government being consentaneous with that going on among the people, or by occasional small revolutions when the people got somewhat before the government. This consentaneous change has been chiefly brought about by the constant struggle of two political parties-in one of which has been embodied the spirit of change, and in the other the spirit of conservation. And this same contest is at present going To give examples of their different modes of ac-on there between the conservatives and radicals. tion in different things :-they take in chemistry But, whatever has been the names of the parties, the form of cohesion and affinity, or of opposing the contest has been always essentially the same as affinities. In all substances cohesion between their it is now. The spirit of change, in this case, reseveral particles is constantly tending to keep those solves itself into a constant endeavor to render the particles together, and thus to preserve the sub-government more liberal. The more strongly marked stance in its present state: but affinity is ever ex- and decided difference between the parties now than erting an opposing tendency, so as to cause the formerly, is owing to the progress of improvement substance to change its present form, and take up and civilization being so much more rapid in this another, by uniting with some other body; or if it latter age than it was then; and also to the vast be a compound body, the affinity between its com- progression of this spirit of change, or in other ponent parts is constantly opposed by the affinity words, the spirit of freedom, in other countries: for existing between each of them and other elements, its action upon them is reflected upon England, so that it is ever liable to be decomposed. whereas, formerly, she was freer than any other state. Whatever exertions they make, the conservatives cannot stop the progress of reform: but they place a wholesome check upon it. So that the government is modified so as to suit not the demagogue and enthusiast, who always go somewhat beyond the spirit among the people, but the whole population.

In the progress of any new theory or discovery in any science, we find them operating in the following manner. To the introduction of any new doctrine the old are almost always opposed; and here then is the first principle: the young and enthusiastic, on the other hand, are generally in favor of it, and through them the second principle ope

rates.

In most things, if the first principle have a long action on any thing, without the slightest perceptible change, the greater in general will be the convulsion on the victory over it by the second. Thus, on the complete overthrow of any political party by its rival, or on the destruction of any old and false doctrine, which had fiercely opposed a new and true one, the odium acquired by that which is worsted is always very great.

In the operation thus of these two principles, consists in some measure the essence of all revolutions. For these convulsions are owing generally to the continued existence of the spirit of conservation in the government, whilst the spirit of change is pervading the people.

But, whenever be the time, it will come, though gradually, yet at last, when kings and nobles and titles-those remnants of the darkness and barbarism of the past-shall be swept away: when “divine equality" shall pervade the earth.

This same spirit of freedom, which has existed in Europe ever since the beginning of what M. Guizot calls the "period of actual development”— that is, of the 16th century—is now, and has been all along, at work in this country also. And the utter annihilation of the federalists, in whom the spirit of conservation was embodied, by the republicans, the advocates of the spirit of change, was owing to its immense ascendancy here. Such will be the fate of every party that shall successively supply the place of the federalists. For in EuIf the government of any country remain nearly rope, on account of the many opposing circumstanthe same through a long succession of years, whilst ces, this spirit of change has advanced but slowly the people are continually undergoing changes-if and gradually. But here, where all these circumit preserve the same form through so long a time-stances are completely reversed-that is to say, a form perhaps suiting the people when first con- where the general condition of things is wholly fastituted, but very unsuitable in subsequent periods, vorable to its progress-its force and power is imthen will there finally result a revolution. Thus, mense. And whilst in some countries of Europe its whilst the French people were advancing in civi-action is silent and unseen-not being embodied in lization, their government was remaining almost any party at all-here no party with the opposite stationary. This state of things continued through- tendency can stand for any length of time. The out many centuries, until at last it was terminated only way, in fact, in which it can stand at all, is in the French revolution, that mighty convulsion, by mingling the main principle with other questions which swept away the whole government-kings, not essentially connected with it. And such has

Sad is the lesson-dark, and sternFrom the impartial page we learn

Which tells the fate of each:

Oh! who would fill a Despot's throne,
His hated memory to own?

How fell from his Imperial height
To deeper depths below,
The Corsican's all-daring flight,
Historic page will show ;
It tells-Macedon's mighty King
Died in his drunken revelling;

And Cæsar's fate we know-
He through a thousand battles pass'd
To die a Tyrant's death at last!

But turn to those-th' Immortal few,—
The good, as well as great;
And who-as rise before his view,

Devoid of pomp or state,

A Howard's deeds, a Franklin's name,
That learns not with the wish--their fame
For good, to emulate?

Deems not the love that hallows them,
More worth than regal Diadem?

Who feels not-in his Country's cause
Oh! nobler 'twere to die,

Than live, a Despot issuing laws

From fields of Conquest high?
And who-with all his lurid Fame-

Who, that can boast a Freeman's name,
Would give in History

For twenty of Napoleon,

The Mem'ry of One WASHINGTON? Cincinnati, Ohio, February 22, 1840.

MORAL INFLUENCE OF AUTHORS.

"Printing has made all other records barbarous; and great men build for themselves a living monument.'

spring; yet the energies of the people may be dormant: all else but Nature's works may be seared and dead. A wilderness of mind may exist amid a very paradise of external loveliness. The conclusion is irresistible: there is a want of intellectual influence. Let the unreflecting say what they may, literary men control the world-they press powerfully upon the balance-wheel of its destinythey are the true Promethean robbers, who snatch the very fires of heaven, and infuse into society its active, invigorating, moving principle; without which, like the fabled body formed by Prometheus, pulseless and soulless, it would want the energy and vitality of an immortal being.

To treat fully upon the controlling power of learned men, would form a subject which no single volume could contain. It would carry us back almost to the period when the earth, like a new creation, emerging from the waste of waters, beheld the bow of promise smiling above it, at least two thousand, or two thousand five hundred years before the Christian era-when Troth or Hermes gave writing to the Egyptians. It would involve the history of almost every nation-beginning with the time when some giant mind conceived the plan, and perhaps drew off in secret, like some skilful architect, the draught of that mighty Babel, whose top should reach the Heavens; and thus, stirring mankind up to that daring act of impiety and defiance, provoked GoD to scatter them in isolated communities through the earth. Without reverting, then, to the whole class of learned men, and to the power which they possess in leading society and in shaping the destiny of nations, we would solicit the reader's attention to a few thoughts on

the Moral Influence of Authors-to that class of literary men who deal in words, and thus render thought palpable and permanent. For what are words?

"Words are things-a small drop of ink Falling like dew upon a thought-producing That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think: "Tis strange, the shortest letter which man uses, Instead of speech, may form a lasting link Of ages;-to what straits Old Time reduces Frail man, when paper, e'en a rag like this,

When we look at the amazing difference which exists between enlightened and unenlightened communities, we must conclude that this difference is to be attributed in a great measure, and principally, to a disparity in the intellectual character of the people. And it is to this cause we attribute the fact, that those nations which pay little or no attention to literary pursuits, are not only mentally but morally and politically inferior to those in which an importance is attached to literary excellence. The distinctive character of nations does not deSurvives himself-his tomb, and all that's his." pend on physical causes. The page of history affords ample testimony, that high moral and intel- The moon moves in noiseless majesty through lectual attainments have been made by nations heaven's dark vault, yet her influence is felt and differing vastly in their geographic and other con- her power manifested in controlling the mighty tingent circumstances. Nay, more, communities waste of ocean's waters. So is it with the author. shrouded in the deepest ignorance and superstition, His eye may never flash-his voice may never and sunken to the very lowest grade of social and thunder, or his arm bear the avenging sword-yet political degradation, may claim many natural ad- the silent influence of his pen, like that of the vantages. The tropics may spread out their ever-moon upon the tumultuous sea, is often powerfully varying hues—the breath of Ceylon's isle may be exerted in arousing the sleeping waves of human wafted never so spicy-the skies of Ionia may passion; or, when those waves have been lashed smile with bewitching loveliness, and the countries into fury, of lulling them again to peace, and spreadof Italy and the Peloponessus-once the haunts of ing calmness over the surface of the agitated bilthe classic muse-may still bloom in one perpetual lows.