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DR. FRANKLIN

THUS describes, in a very pleasant manner, his return to America, his native land, after having been honored with uncommon marks of affection and esteem in this country.

"YOU require my history from the time I set sail to America. I left England about the end of August, 1762, in company with ten sail of merchant ships, under convoy of a man of war. We had a pleasant passage to Madeira, where we were kindly received and entertained. It is a fertile island, and the different heights and mountains afford such different temperaments of air, that all the fruits of northern and southern countries are produced there, corn, grapes, apples, peaches, oranges, lemons, plantains, bananas, &c. Here we fur. nished ourselves with fresh provisions and refreshments of all kinds, and after a few days proceeded on our voyage, running southward till we got into the trade-winds, and then with them westward, till we drew near the coast of America! The weather was so favourable, that there were few days in which we could not visit from ship to ship, dining with each other, and on board the man of war, which made the time pass agreeably, much more so than when one goes in a single ship, for this was like travelling in a moving village, with all one's neighbours about one! On the first of November I arrived safe and well at my own house, after an ab. sence of near six years; found my wife and daughter well, the latter grown quite a woman, with many amiable accomplishments acquired in my absence, and my friends as hearty and

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affectionate as ever, with whom my house was filled for many days, to congratulate me

my return. In my passage to America I read your excellent work, the Elements of Criticism, in which I found great entertainment--much to admire, and nothing to reprove."

Dr. Franklin.

SELF COMMAND

Is of importance in every station of life; the subsequent instance of it is singular, and will excite a smile; it relates to an extraordinary character, who died at Oxford, in 1788, in the thirty-second year of his age: he had for some years been the pride and ornament of the university.

"A STUDENT of a neighbouring college at Oxford, proud of his logical acquirements, was solicitous of a private disputation with the re nowned Henderson; some mutual friend intro duced him, and having chosen his subject, they conversed for some time with equal candour and moderation. Henderson's antagonist per ceiving his confutation inevitable (forgetting the character of a gentleman, and with a resentment engendered by his former arrogance) threw a full glass of wine in his face! Henderson without altering his features, or changing his position, gently wiped his face, and then coolly replied..." This, Sir, is a digression, now for the argument." It is hardly necessary to add, that the insult was resented by the company's turning the aggressor out of the room."

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THE BEST ADVICE

THAT can be given will relate to our conduct through life, with a special reference to a future state of existence; such is the following, and it is entitled to the greater attention.

"SEE that you govern your passions. What should grieve us but our infirmities? What make us angry but our own faults? A man who knows he is mortal, and that all the world will pass away, and by-and-by seem only like a tale; a sinner who knows his sufferings are all less than his sins, and designed to break him from them; one that knows that every thing in this world is a seed that will have its fruit in eternity; that God is the best, the only good friend; that in him is all we want; that every thing is ordered for the best, so that it could not be better, however we take it; he who believes this in his heart is happy. Such be you; may you always-farewel be the friend of God; again farewel!"

John Henderson.

IMAGINATION,

OPERATING in a certain direction, and under the controul of judgment, imparts that pe culiarity to the varfety of characters which we meet with in society.

"IT is imagination alone that exalts one man above another, and makes the man of genius tower over the rest of his species by the purity of his morals, and the grandeur of his

thoughts. Filled with ideas of virtue, beauty, and happiness, he scorns the petty contentions of the world for wealth and power, and looks down with pity or contempt on the mean disguises of dissimulation and flattery. He keeps his mind for ever intent on that purity and refinement which though ideal can alone preserve him from the filth and folly of the world. He knows no superior but in virtue and talents, and treats the trifling forms and distinctions of society as the sports and amusements of children. Such a man is born to reform and improve his species, and though he may be sneered at by the vulgar great, or laughed at by the thoughtless mob, it is impossible if he takes the trouble to instruct his fellow creatures, that he should not amend and purify the degraded state of society.". Burdon.

DRUNKENNESS

Is a shocking and beastly vice; it is so happily reproved in the following ingenious illustration of the effects produced by the juice of the vine, that we cannot refuse the insertion of it:--

"WHEN Noah planted the first vine, and retired, Satan approached and said." I will nou. rish you, charming plant!" He quickly fetched three animals, a sheep, a lion, and a hog, and killed them one after another near the vine. The virtue of the blood of these animals penetrated it, and is still manifest in its growth. When a man drinks one goblet of wine, he is then agreeable, gentle, and friendly--that is the nature of the lamb! When he drinks two, he is a lion, and says, "Who is like me?" he

then talks of stupendous things. When he drinks more his senses forsake him, and at length he wallows in the mire. Need it be said that he then resembles the hog!"

Richardson.

CHRISTIANITY AND PEACE

ARE two of the greatest blessings that ever were conferred on mankind; they promote each other, and in proportion to their diffu sion will be the improvement and happiness of the world.

"IN proportion only to the spread of christianity will be the permanency of peace, as it presents the only principle which can effectually counteract the influence of pride and am. bition, those prominent features in the human character. A concurrence of fortunate circumstances may transiently suppress that love of power which intoxicates the rulers of the world, though the subtle spirit will be ever ready to escape, and scatter over the earth its baneful influence. But whilst we ascribe these soothing or subduing properties to christianity, we are not enjoined to suppress our indignation of tyrants, or abhorrence of tyranny, yet in declaiming on the poison, we should remember the antidote. It is christianity alone which directs man to resign vengeance to his Maker which instructs him to return good for evil, to love his enemies, and to administer unto his wants. The prevalence of this spirit would reconcile the contentions of men, exterminate that selfish principle which is the bane of public and private virtue, and transform the inhabitants of the world into beings of a nobler order: Christianity alone is

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