whose venom is deadly; often proving more destructive to those who inflict, than to those who receive the infliction. For the law condemns, morality abhors, and every noble and generous emotion unites in despising deeds of cruelty and

revenge.

Let all those, therefore, whose organization prompts them to cherish those feelings, remember that their gratification is opposed to human well-being; and in direct opposition to the great principle of benevolence, which, in seeking the forgiveness of injuries and the brotherhood of nations, is gradually banishing oppression, war, and cruelty from among mankind.

INDIVIDUAL DUTIES.

AGAINST EXTRAVAGANCE AND PROFUSION.

EXTRAVAGANCE and wasteful profusion may justly be said to be two of the principal causes that retard the prosperity of nations, and mar the happiness of individuals.

For a nation cannot he called prosperous and happy, unless her industrious citizens be in possession of wages and incomes sufficient to afford them comfortable subsistence; provision against sickness and old age; and the means of properly educating their children.

To realize these blessings in any country, an abundance of capital is necessary; as without it wages and incomes must inevitably be low.

And, inasmuch, as there is no other possible way of obtaining capital than by industry and economy combined, all waste and prodigality must consequently prevent its accumulation, to the extent it is required in every highly populated country.

In consequence of such extravagence and waste, all those who subsist by labour have but comparatively a small amount of capital to divide among them, in the form of wages and profits; instead of what they might enjoy if saving habits more generally prevailed in society.

Economy and frugality, then, are the great moving powers that set the wheels of industry in motion; that give invention, skill and knowledge the instruments of their greatness; and that gradually build up those productive powers, which render nations prosperous and free.

Let us look around us at the manufacturing grandeur,

the agricultural wealth, and the thousand means of happiness we may justly point to as the proudest of all our achievements, and ask from whence sprung this mass of gathered wealth? these means of comfort and happiness? Industry, skill and knowledge, have undoubtedly each contributed its part towards the accumulation; but before either of them could obtain an instrument with which to labour, economy must have saved it for their use.

It is to this frugal, self-denying virtue that exists in society, to which we must justly attribute all our accumulated means of prosperity; and it is to the increase and extension of this virtue to which we must look as the chief means of bettering the condition of our people.

It is to the economy of small means for future benefit, and the wise application of them, in conjunction with industry, skill and increasing knowledge among the millions, to which we must look for increased national prosperity; and not to the wasteful extravagance of idlers, who foolishly imagine that they make it "good for trade" by their ex

cesses.

Nothing can make good for trade, but that which makes trade possible: namely capital necessary for producing wealth, and for promoting its interchange throughout society.

Those, therefore, who live in idleness, and, at the same time, in wasteful extravagance, must necessarily dissipate day by day a portion of national wealth; which, if applied as capital, might be constantly producing means of comfort to thousands of their fellow men.

The man who can manage a small income, with frugality and economy, is not only on the high-road to prosperity and independence; but, at the same time, is proving himself one of his country's best benefactors.

If his savings will only enable him to maintain his in

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dependence in sickness and old age, and to rear up a family of intelligent, moral and useful citizens, his moral position will be such as to claim his country's commendation.

But if with slender income, he resolutely resolves to increase his means of usefulness, by adding to the capital of his country; if his moral courage enables him to withstand the daily gibes of the dissipated, the taunts of the fashionable, and the ridicule of the extravagant; and to pursue a patient self-denying career, until he too can set the wheels of industry in motion, he will have built up a title for himself, more honourable than kings or princes could possibly confer upon him.

Nor in the pursuit of future competence, need present happiness be in any way neglected. A tasteful comfortable home, a sufficiency of wholesome food, neat and substantial clothing, warm bedding, and a good supply of clean linen, are essentials necessary for every family; which frugality and prudent management will, in most cases, be able to secure.

And it is wasteful extravagance, intemperance, carelessness and want of forethought, that prevent these domestic means of happiness from being realized in so many families. For how many comfortable homes, how many well-clothed and well-educated children, would the money wasted in drink alone provide for? How many stinted meals and hungry appetites might be prevented, if the wasteful expenditure of Saturday and Sunday were economised, and the pawnshop eschewed as the greatest of domestic spoilers? And how many shoeless feet and ragged forms might be supplied, if daily mouthfuls on weekly credit, and the ruinous exactions of the tallyman, were at once dispensed with ?

How much wasteful extravagance do we also witness

among the unreflecting devotees of fashion? Those, who, intent on superficial decoration and glittering finery, are ever changing one expensive article for another; dressing in vain ostentation to catch admirers among those who have as little true taste, or correct notions of elegance or propriety, as themselves.

Let us regard also the follies and extravagances of fashion in her various forms; in her grand and pompous equipages; her retinue of useless servants; her costly pleasures of the table; her expensive amusements; and too often in her low and vicious indulgences; and then ask at whose cost are they all sustained; and to what extent do they corrupt, by their example, the morals of the community?

The devotees of fashion have, doubtless, all their apologists or defenders; those who insist that they form the grand pivot on which the whole social machinery revolves; who devoutly look up to them, as the principal promoters of trade; as persons whose eating, wearing and enjoyments are necessary to the public weal; and the best means by which they can show their kindness and charity to all who, in any way, administer to their desires.

That they make work for hundreds, is readily granted ; but that they deprive thousands from obtaining work, needs little proof. They waste, by their follies and excesses, that wealth, which would support thousands while producing future wealth; which being exchanged and distributed throughout society, would go on increasing means of comfort and happiness for the whole people.

The idlers they employ, consume without producing; the luxuries they revel in, are dissipated without any return of wealth; and the grandeur that surrounds them, is, for the most part, irretrievably lost to society.

But great as is the national loss, sustained by the waste and extravagance found within the circle of rank and fashion,