given a sufficient sample of his priggish pedantry. In a fluent discourse of great length, much involved, and interlarded with odds and ends of quotations in various languages, he arrived at the proposition "that, in consequence of the rapid march of mind, there was now an effectual demand for a grand national encyclopaedic institute or university; in which, under the immediate patronage of the federal government, the native talent of the country might be developed according to his system. Of talent," he said, "there was an average quantity in all ages; every thing depended on the manner of its development. The analytic and synthetic methods of education had both proved abortive. A little more might be said in favour of the dialectic. He was himself, decidedly, and beyond peradventure, for the gladiatorial, and not the monitorial system. The spontaneous evolution of talent, during the period of mental juvenescence, could only be effected by its antagonistical exercise; or, as Johnson had felicitously expressed it, its intellectual digladiation.' It was this which made the nous effervesce, and become esprit. The public lands should be assigned for the support of a university, which should have twenty-four professors, one from each state, to be severally appointed by the executive of each; the President to be appointed by a Committee of Literature, of

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which the President of the United States should be ex-officio a member.

"This happy union of state and national patronage, he claimed as a bright invention of his own, which would instantly put at rest those state jealousies, which had hitherto prevented the erection of a National University, and thus give him peculiar claim to be employed in the institution himself. Of course, in the mean time, till the University got hopefully under way, Doctor Firkins was willing to officiate as President; but as it would be a sinecure, until some students were procured for indoctrination, he was willing collaterally to occupy his time with several small jobs. He would give instruction in ancient and modern tongues to the Secretary of the Treasury; and private lectures on marine architecture, to the Commissioners of the Navy Board. As a matter of course also, he would be chaplain to both houses of Congress, which would be all in his way. He hoped, he said, to preach in the House, on the next Sunday, when he would deliver his great sermon on the balance of power; in which all the topics to which he had adverted, would naturally be introduced."

Here a waiter brought a card to Mr. Moreton, on reading which, he observed to Doctor Firkins, that he was compelled to wait on a gentleman

below, whose introductory letter claimed his immediate attention; that he should be happy to serve Doctor Firkins as far as was in his power, but that his time was very much occupied.

"Oh! don't make a stranger or novus hospes of me, sir," said the Doctor; "I'll meet you again at Philippi, that is, in the house. I can entertain myself very well in the society of these gentlemen."

66

"Good morning then, sir," said Mr. Moreton with a cold feeling of apprehension, at the threatened revisitation. One of the remaining members, the Honourable Mr. Latimer, a gentleman, who, as Falstaff described himself, (I dare say, more justly than the painters or actors represent him to us,) was a portly man and a corpulent, of a cheerful look, a pleasing eye, and a noble carriage;” and moreover, like the knight, was a wag. He, I believe, had undergone all the Doctor's prolixity, for the sake of having some jokes with and through him. He complimented him highly on his new and philosophical views of education; and recommended him strenuously, as the best man to further his projects, to go to Mr. Spratt, a staid, blunt member of Congress, whom the Doctor was likely to astonish not a little. He also told him, that Mr. Moreton was particularly pleased with having his "bowl of intellect" admired and handled.

On again entering the parlour below, Mr. Moreton saw a young man of a delicate complexion, and an air, which seemed to be affectedly half-rakish, looking as if he had bought his clothes at a slopshop. He wore a blue cloth cloak, faced with green velvet, and lined with blue satin, with long black silk cords, and gold tassels depending at the ends of them. It hung backward from off his right shoulder. He held before his eyes, without their coming in contact with his face, a pair of gold spectacles, and a white cambric pocket handkerchief. With his right hand he also contrived to hold a fur cap, with a gold binding, and to support his exterior robe.

He advanced with a finical pace, and contrived, without losing any of his furniture, to present a letter. It was from Mr. Moreton's aunt, Mrs. Beverly Grayson, was neatly written on gilt-edged paper, sealed with the family arms fully emblazoned, and ran as follows:

"Sweet Springs, Dec.

"MY DEAR NEPHEW,

18-.

"The amiable and interesting young gentleman who will deliver this letter into your hands, is Mr. Hyppolite de Grey, whom I wish to commend to your particular attentions. He is the grandson of the younger brother of Chief Justice de Grey, who

took so much notice of your grandfather, when he was making the tour of Europe in 1774. His grandfather emigrated to Nova Scotia in 1750, where this young gentleman's father has several large plantations. There can be no doubt that he is nearly allied to our family; because all the Greys are collaterals of the Graysons. I have found him intelligent and well-bred, according to the modern school. He has been particularly attentive to your cousin Arabella and myself, during our sojourn here. I remain, remembering you always,

"With the greatest affection and esteem,

"REBECCA BEVERLY GRAYSON."

"I hope this will turn out better than the last introduction of my kind aunt, though it looks unpromising"-thought Mr. Moreton, as gravely and gracefully rising, he presented his hand to his new protegé, who daintily presented a couple of fingers, saying, "Enchanté de vous faire connaissance— but, I beg pardon-you probably don't understand French. How does the world wag with you ?"

"I thank you, sir, I am in good health," said Mr. Moreton, slowly and seriously. "If you speak French with more freedom than English, I believe I can understand you sufficiently well for the ordinary purposes of conversation."