these have all in their turn, great influence in effecting the state of society: but all these however great, are only secondary agents: the principal agency is the mind of man! or, as it has been expressed by another, tis the March of intellect" that determines the state in which men exist, as rational beings. In former times, when knowledge (as before observed) was confined to certain places, great and disastrous events arrested the regular advances of mind; nay threw it back sometimes, for centuries. This was lamentable! the human mind may be said to have retrograded. God only knows how often this may have happened; but there are occasionally discoveries made, enough to convince the most doubtful, that since the Mosaic account of the creation, great and evident changes have, at different times taken place, and that the intellect of mankind has often advanced, and as often retreated. Such retreat it is confidently to be hoped can never happen again; nothing less than a general deluge, or some kind of providental change of the face of the earth, can so retard the progress of information, for such long periods as it was retarded in former times. For now by the aid of the press all parts of the world are more on a level than they used to be, and the ocean of information spreads its influence round the whole globe. These tides have occasionally ebbed and flowed in Europe they are at present at low-water mark, in Spain, Portugal, and several other countries; but on the other side of the Atlantic, they rise and are still rising much higher than ever they were known to do forty or fifty years ago.

C

At one time great alarm took place in consequence of what occurred in France; - then a fear of despotism followed; and next, after the great Battle of Waterloo, an apprehension of another kind prevailed: Some good, wise, and moderate men, entertained fears that were truly alarming: they dreaded a total re-action of principles and practices. Perhaps it might have been so, had it depended solely on the aristocratical opinions and practices of the Northern nations. But, thank heaven, true English feeling stopped the effusion of more blood; and it is confidently asserted that the furious victors-1 allude only to the lower orders of some,-who with wild ideas and inflamed passions, had been inured to scenes of slaughter and desolation. I will not suppose for a moment that any of the commanders ever entertained thoughts of a revengeful nature; or ever meant to sanction the dreadful consequences that might have ensued, had not true valour, with that promptitude which, I trust, will always, and on all occasions, characterize Englishmen-Had not this honorable feeling been put into immediate exercise, the results might have been so very awful and distressing, as would have dimmed the glory-so valiantly, so magnanimously acquired. I allude here to some advanced parties of the infuriated soldiery, endeavouring to assail, burn and destroy, every object of importance that lay in the line of their march. But Wellington, it is said, and I believe most truly reported: Wellington himself stepped nobly forward to allay the progress of fury, and to prevent the unnecessary shedding of blood. Yes, this truly noble General, to the

honor of himself and the glory of his country, rushed boldly forward to the Bridge of Jennape, and there,. like the protecting Angel mentioned in Scripture, he stood "with a flaming sword" to guard the pass and passage of mortal rage, and furious enmity. This, of itself, did him as much credit as his actions at Waterloo; and to crown the whole, he has since been the prime agent of a liberal Monarch's beneficence; who has glorified his reign by giving perfect liberty of conscience to his brave, loyal, but long oppressed Irish subjects. That nation proved themselves good soldiers; they will now convince the world that they are as equally good citizens.

At the different periods of the French Revolution, I was (like all the real friends of liberty) occasionally elevated, and as often depressed: I admired the General and Consul, Buonaparte, but feared the Emperor, Napoleon. Now all is past, I am still inclined to hope and believe, that had he lived and prospered, he would : have acted as Wellington is now acting. Though then mortal enemies, had he lived till now, they might have shook hands and have cordially joined head and heart for the welfare of mankind.

The truly brave, when once the Battle's o'er,
Seeking what's right, are enemies no more.

We will now look homewards, and discourse a little on domestic matters. However we ramble in quest of adventure,-pause on subjects of amusement,- -or look forward to objects of importance of any other kind; still the head, the heart, and all the other faculties of

man, must at times turn to the circles of a domestic nature, where the joys and wishes of society are chiefly centered.,

Beauty is a Banquet!
Matrimony is the Meal!
Love is the Sauce,

And Pleasantry the Garnish!

We will only at present talk of two of them,

LOVE AND MATRIMONY.

Various opinions have been given by writers of every description. The grave-the gay-the witty and the profound, respecting the passion of love, and the institution of marriage. In early times the laws of some states were not so certainly, so lastingly binding, as at present. We read in the Bible that when a man married a woman, and after a little time "she found no favor in his eyes," (that is, I suppose, after he grew tired of her) "Let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it her, and send her out of his house." It should be observed that then there was no occasion to trouble lawyers about passing a divorce bill: you could write it yourself. By the bye, as matters now stand, you pay the parsons for marrying, and pay Parliament (or their clerks) for unmarrying. But the Jew method was much less expensive: they had only to write a few words, and send the wife back again. This is like being at a tavern, and after a good meal, you draw a cork, but don't like the wine: you then attach to it a slip of paper by way

of label, on which you write-" Bad bottle! —bring another!" But it is possible a bottle may be shook! so may a wife!-that's wrong: Shaking-spoils women as well as wine! But it is hard in both cases, and with all parties, to swallow what you don't like! But let us look at the most pleasing side of the picture; for every picture has two sides, and should be held in the light, where you may see it to the most advantage. It has been said, --I think by the witty Duke of Buckingham, or his friend (equally clever) for on this point they were both of one opinion.

"Love is the sweet that in our cup is thrown
"To make the nauseous draught of life go down!"

This is very true; and still further

Sages maintain, with weighty reasons given,
That marriages are surely made in heaven!

So I believe; for otherwise I cannot account for many things that happen on earth.

I mean (of course) 'mong men “ Of mortal calling"
Whom Pride itself, sometimes can't save from falling."

It was a good thought of Farquar's thus to rank pride among the virtues, in order to save himself and all other poor sinking souls from sinning! I am again wandering too far from my history: I must marry myself again in order to be more constant to my theme.

After a widow-hood of about seventeen years, pride on neither side being sufficiently alert, I again fell into the noose of matrimony; I use the word noose