performed a good action, ought to have been a modern member of Parliament, if only to reform those, who offer themselves as candidates for the honour of the post, not its duties.

It is wonderful with what blind devotion the poor follow the example of the great. It is wonderful- men with the same power of thinking, endowed the same, with heart, mind, and feeling, all following in the train of one who has this difference-power. Even their duty to the great Creator is in a certain degree guided by him to whom they look up; and if he hath not, like the pastor, the actual care of immortal souls, he draws them nearer by his example to the servant of God, who is ready to give them instruction. A church well filled by the poor, shows that the rich are encouraging them by the power of example.

Were we inclined to believe in the doctrine of the Pythagoreans, we should wish the transmigration of souls to be from rich to poor: that the rich might feel how galling it is to possess talent and industry, and find it unnoticed and unavailable; and that the poor might perceive the great responsibility which riches bring in their train. The Phrygian fabulist who was so fond of making animals talk, might have found this supposed metempsychosis an equally fertile subject of imagination.

What would become of talent, if the influential part of mankind shut themselves up in their pride, after attaining the degree of power they coveted?

Those who toil not for the laurels of fame, will be ready to say that talent can stand on the ground of its own merit. But no; that

is a lofty feeling of the mind

which will be

rudely rent asunder. Besides which, talent, like beautiful, but uncultivated, flowers, will as often spring in humble as in high life, and the man of power is wanted to assist the man of talent.

As far back as 1213 the celebrated Kircudbright philologist would have remained unknown, and been obliged to continue his father's lowly avocation, that of a shepherd, if he had not been patronized and brought into notice.

Poets, painters, and sages, bow in deference to men of power; but the latter must not forget that far prouder is the feeling of talent than wealth. And yet, what can the aspiring son of genius do? unassisted by power, that power which opens the paradise of his wishes, and brings him into notice and repute. The coldest philosophy of those who laugh at social height, must be daily more and more

impressed with the fact that genius continued in solitude must, in our days, die in oblivion. This grand and stately world will be courted, if its sons would win it. The most dauntless warrior that ever lived would not be considered a braver man than any other around him, were peace to reign for ever; War is his genius, and he requires the battle-field to test his valour, and thus the man of civil talent requires the hand of power to lead him forth and teach him to reach that pinnacle of his wishes the World.

This, however, is only stating one duty in a member's life, for many villages in England boast of no Coleridges, no men of talent; but no villagers, on the other hand, should be left in that total ignorance of this world's knowledge, and that hopeless darkness of a sphere above, as to realize the pictures of which Mr.. D'Israeli treats in his able novels.

Commerce, that supreme upholder of our industrious island! Commerce, that neverfailing bulwark of a nation! Commerce, wert thou discouraged and unprotected? look for no sterner lesson than fallen Greece, and extinguished Rome.

And shall the heroes of war, navy, church, or law, be the only acknowledged Champions of England? no; each industrious son of Commerce claims equal, nay, perhaps, more, protection, for rising from lowlier ranks, he needs higher patronage.

The school-house and factory should present scenes of happiness, where they show only the tokens of misery. When the tempter gloried over the fall of man, he probably invented the power of tyranny, so odious is that quality which lowers man to the most petty character.