ciples, we may be by our constitutions; we may be less profligate than they, by being more cowardly; but what I advance as certain is, that we cannot be safe among them, and that they will in some degree, and may in a very great one, hurt our morals. Pythagoras, before he admitted any one into his school inquired who were his intimates; justly concluding, that they who could choose immoral companions would not be much profited by his instructions."--Dean Bolton.

ANCIENT ROME

WAS a grand spectacle, but its beginning was small, its progress gradual, and its meridian glory excited the wonder of the world! Even its ruins are now the admiration of mankind.

"THE city of Rome, as well as its inhabitants, was in the beginning rude and unadorned. Those old rough soldiers looked on the effects of the politer arts as things fit only for an effeminate people; as too apt to soften and unnerve men; and to take from that martial temper and ferocity, which they encouraged so much and so universally in the infancy of their state.

"Their houses were, what the name they gave them signified, only a covering for them, and a defence against bad weather. These sheds of theirs were more like the retreats of wild beasts, than the habitations of men; and were rather flung together as chance led them, than formed into regular streets and openings. Their walls were half mud, and their roofs pieces of wood stuck together: nay, even this was an after-improvement; for in the time

of Romulus their houses were covered only with

straw.

"If they had any thing that was finer than ordinary, it was generally employed in setting off the temples of their gods; and when these hegan to be furnished with statues, of which they had none till long after Numa's time, they were probably more fit to inspire terror than delight; and seemed rather formed so as to be horrible enough to strike an awe into those who worshipped them, than handsome enough to invite any one to look upon them for pleasure. Their design, I suppose, was answerable to their materials; and if their gods were of earthen ware, they were reckoned better than ordinary; for many of them were chopped out of wood.

"One of the chief ornaments in those times, both of the temples and private houses, con. sisted in their ancient trophies; which were trunks of trees cleared of their branches, and so formed into a rough kind of posts. These were loaded with the weapons they had taken in war; and you may easily conceive what sort of ornaments these posts must make when half decayed by time, and hung about with old rusty arms besmeared with the blood of their enemies.

"Rome was not then that beautiful Rome, the very ruins of which at this day are sought after with so much pleasure; it was a town which carried an air of terror in its appearance; and which made people shudder, whenever they first entered within its gates."

Spence.

THE DISCHARGE OF DUTY

Is powerfully urged by the brevity of life, a motive which seems most obvious and yet, alas is most shamefully overlooked.

"HOW great a part of our time is necessarily consumed by that shorter death our sleep! what large demands are made on the rest of it by our meals-by our justifiable recreations; by the forms and civilities to which a proper correspondence with our fellow creatures oblige us! Add to these necessary deductions, the many casual ones with which we all unavoidably meet, and it will soon appear what an exceedingly small part of our continuance upon earth we have to bestow on such purposes of living, as alone can be of credit to us.

"We are further to reflect, that in the small part of our life in which we can be employed like reasonable creatures, opportunities for doing what may be of the greatest moment do not always occur; and sometimes, if lost, are never again to be found.

"We depend very much on circumstances and things without us, and over which we have no command. Nor is it only this dependence which requires us so carefully to watch our op. portunities of improvement; we have a still more awakening call, if possible, within ourselves, from restraints to which our powers are subjected. We cannot use these when and as we please, or chuse the time of life wherein. to avail ourselves of our natural endowments, and to reap all the advantage designed us in them.

"When we are in youth, our pliant bodies

easily receive whatever mien or motion can recommend us: where is the sound so difficult our tongue cannot then be taught to express ? To what speed may our feet then be brought, and our hands to what amazing dexterity? But if we be advanced to manhood before the forming us in any of these ways is attempted, our endeavours will then either be quite fruitless, or far less successful than the same endeavours would have been in our earlier years.

"The very same it is with our understanding, with our will, with our passions. The season for acquiring useful truths, for subduing the evil tendency of our passions, and for fixing in us right principles, that will influence every ac. tion of our future lives, is limited to a few years of our continuance upon earth; and if throughout these we neglect it, error or igno. rance are entailed upon us; our passions be come our masters, and wrong inclinations are so rooted and confirmed in us, that they de feat all our endeavours to correct them." Dean Bolton.

THE WASTE OF LIFE.

THIS fable is ingenious and impressive; the subject is interesting, and therefore deserving attention in all the progressive stages of mor. tality.

"ONCE upon a time the seven wise men of Greece were met together at Athens; and it was proposed that every one of them should mention what he thought the greatest wonder in the creation. One of them proposed the opinions of some of the astronomers about the fixed stars, which he believed to be so many

euns, that had each its planets rolling about it, stored with plants and animals like this earth.

"Fired with this thought, they agreed to supplicate Jupiter, that he would at least permit them to take a journey to the moon, and stay there three days in order to see the wonders of that place, and give an account of them at their return. Jupiter consented; and ordered them to assemble on a high mountain, where there should be a cloud ready to convey them to the place that they desired to see. They picked out some chosen companions, who might assist them in describing and painting the objects which they should meet with.

"At length they arrived at the moon, and found a palace there well fitted up for their reception. Being very much fatigued with their journey, they kept at home till noon; and being still faint, they refreshed themselves with a delicious entertainment, which they relished. so well, that it overcame their curiosity. This day they only saw through the window that delightful spot, adorned with the most beautiful flowers, to which the beams of the sun gave an uncommon lustre, and heard the singing of most melodious birds till evening came on.

"The next day they rose very early in order to begin their observations; but some very beautiful young ladies of that country, coming to make them a visit, advised them first to recruit their strength, before they exposed themselves to the laborious task they were about to undertake.

"The delicate meats, the rich wines, the beauty of these damsels, prevailed over the re solution of the strangers. A fine concert of music is introduced, the young ones begin to dance,