wild branch may be ingrafted, and become in process of time part of itself. All men acknowledge this; and it has, like other evident truths, been embodied into a proverb-use is second nature. The repetition of any dry unconnected act will in time generate a principle, to which that act will stand as a natural unconstrained effect. All-conquering Time knits up the unravelled threads of life into a vestment, like the robe of Christ, without seam, woven throughout; and it is the glory of the illimitable spirit thus to fashion all things to itself. Shackle it with habits, and surround it with conventions, what cares it? They speedily become part of it, live and grow with it, like an indigenous plant in that soil; teach it prayers and formularies,-bind it by oath and stern resolve, it will obey all these outward forms, and will naturalize them. It patters the Aves, counts the beads, and still lives in its own deep existence. Only give it time, and it neutralizes everything.

This law involves many a subtle truth-the great object of our lives, our fears and aspirations, and our happiness; all for which the heart beats, all upon which our hopes hang, or our imaginations linger fondly, have a provision in this comprehensive statute.

As the feathers of the bird, the bodies of the animal, and the scales of the fish, are only different formations of one and the same kind of substance-as the leaf and the flower are but different developements of one primitive formso are all the blessings and curses of life but different modes of one principle-CHANGE. Pain is always new-it is novelty, and so is pleasure. Pain is either a dismemberment or an unwelcome accretion—both implying a change. You may

resolve every care or hope you have in the world into that word change, which takes a long or short time to complete itself, as the case may be ; for like a broken bone, which aches and throbs for a season, until the union be totally perfected, so do our sorrows or joys tremble with anguish, or vibrate with delight, only until they are thoroughly incorporated with our nature. Then, so soon as your soul absorbs these new elements, all emotion ceases, and it is only a matter of time -you become "used up"-a fit subject to live for ever, for nothing is more congenial to longevity than excessive torpor, for which reason tortoises and aldermen always live to be old.

It is as well to be ignorant of these things in youth. Why should you dash the "eagerhearted boy," who believes that his love will be

enduring, and his delight ever new? Tell him this cold philosophy, and he enters life as Caliph, Vathek, and Nouronihar entered the Infernal Halls.

"What!" said Nouronihar, "will the time come when I shall snatch my hand from thee?"

"Ah!" said Vathek, "and shall my eyes ever cease to drink from thine long draughts of enjoyment?"

Yes, thou buoyant youth, that time will come ; but look not forward to it. Trust thy instinct, and throw this physic of reason to the dogs.

Let but a man live long enough, and he cannot be very unhappy, consequently, any future state through which the soul may exist for ever and ever, would be characterized by callousness and tranquillity; unless, indeed, such an eternity be an eternity of change.

This doctrine has been much debated, especially among divines, and men conversant with what is called Theology, who, in fact, never really agree about anything, and never will. As a general rule, you find that all the timorous and stupid of this class hold together with surprising unanimity upon the point of everlasting damnation. Origen believed that the Devil himself would eventually. come within the pale of salvation; and be saved; but if that respectable father were now alive, he

would need all his pluck and martyr-spirit to support his opinion; for in the present day it is held as a sign of revolutionary tendency to tamper with the old cheerful notion of a very deep pit, filled with fire, phosphorus, and brimstone. Only disturb this article of the people's faith, and behold the result!-the whole of the rural districts in rebellion; ploughmen ravishing, plundering, and burning; weavers striking for wages; servants robbing their masters; and ruffianism in general the order of the day. And all this is now happily prevented by a strict belief in hell fire, much to the satisfaction of every respectable father of a family in the kingdom. By no means disturb this present state of things; nay, rather maintain the Devil's authority, and live in peace.

Such were my reflections on commencing the ascent of Olympus. Perhaps the genius of the place was busy, and, through the influence of the air, affected this subtle relevancy between the place and the complexion of the ideas therein stimulated. I was quite alone, and pushed onward with redoubled speed. After awhile I overtook some one evidently pursuing the same journey, and what seemed a little remarkable was, that I had not perceived this man until within a very small distance of him. This in itself ap

peared rather strange; but judge of my amazement and horror, when I recognized in this person a very dear friend of mine, who had been dead, to my certain knowledge, six months at least.

As I continued to climb up the mountain, I was struck more and more with the resemblance of the figure before me to that of my departed friend. I gained upon him, and felt every moment more nervous and agitated; and as he still went on at a slow and steady pace, with his face intently bent towards the ground, after his usual manner, I began to entertain horrible suspicions of ghosts and disembodied spirits, of the existence of which I always had and still have a firm belief, which conviction appears conformable to the universal experience of mankind. I began to doubt whether, in fact, this man really had died or not, and to recall some proof and particular circumstance as to his decease. Yes, thought I, the poor fellow is most certainly dead, and he left me two books: one was an old copy of "Ovid's Metamorphoses, embellished with sculptures," which I always had a fancy for; and the other, "Milton's Paradise Lost," which I never shall have a fancy for, holding, as I do, that "immortal work" to contain more serious tom-foolery and solemn nonsense, than hath entered into the heart