more likely to be perverted, in order to support favourite theories, before the empiric assumed the name, and usurped the functions, of the philosopher."-New Analysis of Aristotle's Works, by John Gillies, LL. D., 1804.

A Spirited Answer to an Uncivil Question.

When the late Earl of Cadogan was sent on an embassy to Vienna, he was one day invited by Prince Eugene to be present at a review of the Austrian Cuirassiers, a fine body of troops of ten thousand men. Prince Eugene, addressing an officer who attended Lord Cadogan, asked him if he thought that any ten thousand English horse could beat those Austrians. "I do not know, Sir," replied the English officer, "whether they could or not; but I know that five thousand would try.”—Dr. King's Anecdotes of his own Life, p. 130. London, 1818.

On a Retired Life.

Montaigne has shrewdly objected to the advice of Cicero and the younger Pliny, with respect to employing many of the hours of retirement in laborious study. "For," says the gay Frenchman, "such toil would be equally hostile to the repose of the mind, and the health of the body, as the

pursuits of riches or ambition. «Books are pleasant; but if by too much conversing with them we impair our health, and spoil our good humour, two of the best enjoyments we have, let us give it over, and quit them. I, for my part, am one of those who think that no fruit derived from them can recompense so great a loss. We are to receive (in solitude) so much occupation and employment as is necessary to keep us in breath, and to defend us from the inconveniences which the other extreme of a dull and stupid laziness brings along with it."-Montaigne's Essays, vol. i. c. 38.

Vanity.

This active principle of the mind, without which little good could be produced under stoical inactivity and pride, has yet many disadvantages. Great minds are often disgraced by being led through its influence into a love of praise and eminence, incompatible with integrity and honour. The following instance in Cicero, of indulging this passion, is very remarkable. In a letter of this orator to Lucceius, (Epist. 12, book 5,) he makes this most degrading request to him, that the historian should mention his actions with the highest honour, and beyond what he himself thought of their merits, and what exceeded the bounds of veracity, which true history prescribes

to itself. Pliny junior, indeed, made a request to Tacitus that his name should be recorded in his history, but tells him also that he should not exceed matter of fact; adding, very justly, that history must not step beyond the boundaries of truth, and that truth was the best recorder of actions really meritorious in themselves.-Pliny's Epist. book 7, lett. 33.

Bon Mot of a Lord Chancellor.*

When disputes about precedency were very high between the practisers of medicine and surgery in France, M. de Peyronie, the first surgeon, pressed the Chancellor to take the side of the surgeon, and to build (as he expressed himself) "a wall of brass between the surgeons and physicians." If we build such a wall,' replied the Chancellor, Mr. Surgeon, on which side of it shall we place the patients?'

Lucian and Cebes.

Though few English readers are conversant with these Grecian wits in their own works, yet are they much indebted to them for the pleasing instructions of their modern imitators. The "Devil

* Henri François D'Aguessean, Lord Chancellor of France, died 1751.

upon two Sticks," of Le Sage, is an admirable copy of the Greek Dialogue, called Charon;' and the Tablet, of Cebes, is with great beauty and sublimity imitated and improved by Addison, in his Vision of Mirza,' in the Spectator.

Rochefoucault and Mandeville.

If these satirists intended to correct the morals of mankind, by telling them that their actions, even the best in appearance, originated in selfishness, they took a very unwise method: men must be coaxed into virtue, as children are, by good words. When a child is directed to a right action, we encourage him by saying, there is a good little man;' we do not call him a puppy, &c. that would anger him, and make him obstinate.

The Author of Hudibras.

In the early part of his youth, the celebrated Samuel Butler was a clerk under Sir Samuel Luke, an attorney, whom he afterwards made the hero of his politico-theological poem. This circumstance naturally accounts for the author borrowing so many witty allusions from his former law studies. His hero is of course fertile in parchment wit and allegory; but as was said of Congreve, all his characters, men and women, gentle and

simple, are facetious; so fares it with the two great characters in Butler's Epic, Hudibras and the widow. When the hero and his fair mistress plead for and against love and matrimony, the 'alternate coruscation' of their jokes emanates from terms which the law had provided for these intellectual gladiators; and so ingeniously and comically are they applied, that the gravest judge could not but choose, whilst reading them, to exhibit Milton's ludicrous image of "Laughter holding both his sides."

W. Gilpin, A. M.

This elegant writer on " picturesque beauty" has opened the eyes of many careless observers of the scenes of nature, and instructed those who before were delighted with fine prospects, to select their objects, and to found the pleasures of sight on the foundations of good sense and taste. We may say of the reader of Gilpin, that he will soon catch the love of nature from this elegant instructor; and in the words of Catullus,*

Cras amet qui nunquam amavit, quique amavit cras amet.

No beautiful tree will escape his observation; no vista in a pleasure-ground that will not attract his notice, and become an object of praise or censure;

* Pervigilium Amoris,