the aged poor in our workhouses are there on account of old age and sickness. A goodly number of the male paupers are in the house because they have not been able in the past to earn sufficient money to lay a portion of it by for their support in old age. The poor working men in these islands have the largest families and the lowest wages, reminding one of Addison's words:-"Poor people! I pity them." Every well-regulated mind must entertain towards the unfortunate more pity than anger. "Poverty palls the generous spirits; it cows industry, and casts resolution itself into despair."

"OUR LAWS IN RELATION TO TRAMPS

is the sixth lecture of the series. The tramp is an extraordinary individual, looking at him from whatever standpoint you may. He has been the mystery of mysteries for not one but many thousands of years. He is the great enemy of law in general, but is seldom disobedient to the laws of the country in which he resides. Even in the days of the greatest of lawgivers, there were tramps, and not a few, that is to say, in the days of Moses, and also in the days of Rameses the Great, of Egypt; and later, in the age of Pompey, and in the time of King John of England, and in the days of the Edwards. Doubtless there are many tramps on the road who find it difficult to get employment. Others are on the road because they have no liking for work. Some are married, and take with them from town to town their wives and children. A tramp has been defined as one who tramps as a stroller, a scamp, vagrant, or vagabond.

EXPERIENCE AS A MEMBER OF THE SALFORD BOARD OF GUARDIANS."

The experience of a Guardian of the Poor for twelve months cannot but be interesting to the general public, if the story is told without varnish. Byron remarks, "It's strange, but true, for truth is ways stranger than fiction; if it could be told, what would the world gain, and how differently would we men behold." There are no public duties more honourable than those of a Poor-law Guardian, who has very often to submit to the servant's hate and the hireling's frown, and often to the censures of the very people who have elected him to act in their behalf.

"THE FIRST CHAPTER OF BRITISH ELOQUENCE

AND LITERATURE, FROM THE BIRTH OF
CHRIST ΤΟ THE DEATH OF KING
ALFRED, 901."

My eighth lecture of the series is entitled "The First Chapter of British Eloquence and Literature, from the Birth of Christ to the Death of King Alfred, 901." It is a long period of time, and not without many interesting events to the student of history. In fact, I don't think there is any other nation that can point to a period in which the science of language, the structure of language, and its relation to literature, is so complete. Men sung and spoke eloquently in a language but partially formed, which is a marvel to the scholar of to-day, and, I am persuaded, will be for all ages. I believe more AngloSaxon literature has been lost than what has been

preserved. Among these writers are Gildas, mentioned by Bede, and said to be the author of "Tract de Excidio Brittaniæ," and the Welsh or British authors, Taliesin, Merlin, Aneurin, Tysilio, and others. I have touched very gently the writings of these ancient authors in this lecture. Marsh, in his lectures on the English language, speaks of those periods in terms evidently inspired by his enthusiam for the subject. "The study," he says, "of our ancient mother tongue is an important, and, I may say, essential, part of a complete English education; and although it is neither possible, nor in any way desirable, to reject alien constituents of the language, yet there is reason to hope that we may recover and re-incorporate into the English language many a gem of rich poetic wealth that now lies buried in more forgotten depths than even those of Chaucer's 'well of English undefiled.'" It has been said that literature, well or ill-conducted, is the great engine by which all civilised states must ultimately be supported or overthrown. The better class, of Anglo-Saxon poets sung of themes worthy of the poet, though in a peculiar rhythm, and often without rhyme or alliteration, though in emphatic syllables. They sang of heroes, of death struggles, and moral truth; or, in their cloisters, turned scripture itself, or scripture story, into fitting rhymes and song. I quote the following, translated by Mr. J. Conybeare, a gentleman of vast research in the field of AngloSaxon literature.

"The strong dart flitteth,

The spear-man whetteth,

The town sorrow biteth,

The bold age quelleth,

Wreck suspicion worketh,

Wrath the city smiteth."

THE LATE DR. WILSON; WITH SOME REMARKS ABOUT EMINENT MEDICAL MEN."

"He wha eats but ane dish seldom needs a doctor."-SCOTCH PROVERB.

'Whoever has lived twenty years ought to know how to order himself without physic."-Tiberius quoted by MONTAIGNE.

"Time is generally the best doctor."-OVID.

"Keep the bowels open, the head cool, the feet warm, and a fig for the doctors."-PROVERB.

"Ministers cobble away at the State, judges at the law, parsons at the conscience, doctors at our hands and feet. What cobblest thou, friend Jobson?" "Far better shoes that have ever been worn."-WEISSE.

and

The medical profession is a noble calling,. there are medical prescriptions which have been handed down to us from the very earliest ages. The present mode of treatment of diseases is probably not very different from that prevailing a couple of hundred years ago. In the beginning of the present century herbs formed a large element in nearly every medical prescription. In this lecture I have referred to many doctors who have distinguished themselves in other walks of life than that of medicine; but if time had permitted I should have been able to have

spoken of many more. I have known a large number

of medical men in my time, and a few I have been intimately acquainted with; and this enables me to say that a more diligent, a more worthy, or a more hardworking body of professional men is not to be found in the community. It has been said that "the doctor sees all the weakness of mankind, the lawyer all the wickedness, and the theologian all the stupidity." Thomas Fuller, M.D., not referred to in my lecture, was a very clever man, and wrote some excellent things, witness his remarks on "Books." "Tell me not," he says, "what thou hast heard and read, and only so; but what thou hast taken into thy meditation, found to be truth, settled with judgment, fixed in thy memory, embraced in thy affections, and then a long time practised, and so made up to be truly thine own. This, and only this, is rightly called learning." He was born in 1654, and nobly distinguished himself by the kindness he showed towards the poor. John Ferrar, a native of Chester, another not referred to in my lecture, wrote many works on different subjects. One of them was entitled, "Medical Histories and Reflections." It is a great work in that department of knowledge. His work on "Apparitions" has been very highly commended. Here are a few more eminent doctors:Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, author of "The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table." son of Abigail Holmes, born at Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A., August 29th, 1809. Valentine Mott, M.D., LL.D., born at Glencove, New York, 1785. John Moore, a native of Stirling, Scotland, wrote several very interesting works. It was at Dr. Moore's request that Robert Burns