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LESSON CXLI.-LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS.-HARRISON GRAY OTIS.

Among all the objects of mental association, ancient buildings and ruins affect us with the deepest and most vivid emotions. They were the works of beings like ourselves. While a mist, impervious to mortal view, 5 hangs over the future, all our fond imaginings of the things, which "eye hath not seen nor ear heard," in the eternity to come, are inevitably associated with the men, the events and things, which have gone to join the eternity that is past.

When imagination has in vain essayed to rise beyond the stars, which "proclaim the story of their birth," inquisitive to know the occupations and condition of the sages and heroes, whom we hope to join in a higher empyrean, she drops her weary wing, and is compelled to alight 15 among the fragments of "gorgeous palaces and cloudcapped towers," which cover their human ruins, and, by aid of these localities, to ruminate upon their virtues, and their faults, on their deeds in the cabinet, and in the field, and upon the revolutions of the successive ages in which 20 they lived. To this propensity may be traced the sublimated feelings of the man, who, familiar with the stories of Sesostris, the Pharaohs, and the Ptolemies, surveys the pyramids, not merely as stupendous fabrics of mechanical skill, but as monuments of the pride and ambitious folly 25 of kings, and of the debasement and oppression of the wretched myriads, by whose labors they were raised to the skies. To this must be referred the awe and contrition, which solemnize and melt the heart of the Christian, who looks into the holy sepulchre, and believes he sees 30 the place where the Lord was laid.

From this originate the musings of the scholar, who, amid the ruins of the Parthenon and the Acropolis, transports his imagination to the age of Pericles and Phidias ; -the reflections of all, not dead to sentiment, who 35 descend to the subterranean habitations of Pompeii,handle the utensils that once ministered to the wants, and the ornaments subservient to the luxury, of a polished city, behold the rut of wheels upon the pavement hidden for ages from human sight,—and realize the awful hour, 40 when the hum of industry, and the song of joy, the wailing of the infant, and the garrulity of age, were suddenly

and forever silenced by the fiery deluge, which buried the city, until accident and industry, after the lapse of nearly eighteen centuries, revealed its ruins to the curiosity and cupidity of the passing age.

LESSON CXLII.-CHARACTER OF JULIUS CESAR.-Knowles. [Extract from a Debate for Young Speakers.]

FIRST SPEAKER.-"Was Cæsar a great man?"-What revolution has taken place in the first appointed government of the universe-what new and opposite principle has begun to direct the operations of nature-what refu5 tation of their long established precepts has deprived reason of her sceptre, and virtue of her throne, that a character which forms the noblest theme that ever merit gave to fame, should now become a question for debate?

No painter of human excellence, if he would draw the 10 features of that hero's character, needs study a favorable light, or striking attitude. In every posture it has majesty; and the lineaments of its beauty are prominent in every point of view.

It is a generally received opinion, that uncommon cir15 cumstances make uncommon men,-Cæsar was an uncommon man, in common circumstances. The colossal mind commands your admiration, no less in the pirate's captive, than in the victor of Pharsalia. Who, but the first of his race, could have made vassals of his savage masters, 20 mocked them into reverence of his superior nature, and threatened, with security, the power that held him at its mercy? Of all the striking incidents of Cæsar's life, had history preserved for us but this single one, it would have been sufficient to make us fancy all the rest-at least we 25 should have said, "Such a man was born to conquest, and to empire!"

To expatiate on Cæsar's powers of oratory, would only be to add one poor eulogium to the testimony of the first historians. Cicero, himself, grants him the palm of almost 30 preeminent merit; and seems at a loss for words to express his admiration of him. His voice was musical, his delivery energetic, his language chaste and rich, appropriate and peculiar. And it is well presumed, that, had he studied the art of public speaking, with as much industry

as he studied the art of war, he would have been the first of orators. Quintilian says, he would have been the only man capable of combating Cicero; but granting them to have been equal in ability, what equal contest could the 5 timid Cicero-whose nerves fail him, and whose tongue falters, when the forum glitters with arms-what equal contest could he have held with the man, whose vigor chastised the Belgæ, and annihilated the Nervii, that maintained their ground till they were hewn to pieces on the 10 spot!

His abilities as a master of composition were undoubtedly of the first order. How admirable is the structure of his Commentaries! What perspicuity and animation are there in the details! You fancy yourself upon the field of 15 action! You follow the development of his plans, with the liveliest curiosity! You look on with unwearied attention, as he fortifies his camp, or invests his enemy, or crosses the impetuous torrent!-You behold his legions, as they move forward, from different points, to the line of 20 battle-you hear the shout of the onset, and the crash of the encounter; and, breathless with suspense, mark every fluctuation of the awful tide of war!

As a politician, how consummate was his address !— How grand his projections !-How happy the execution of 25 his measures! He governs his province with such equity, and wisdom, as add a milder, but a fairer lustre to his glory; and, by their fame, prepare the Roman people for his happy yoke. Upon the very eve of his rupture with Pompey, he sends back, on demand, the borrowed legions, 30 covering with rewards the soldiers that may no longer serve him, and whose weapons on the morrow, may be turned against his breast-presenting here a noble example of his respect of right, and of that magnanimity which maintains that gratitude should not cease, though benefits are 35 discontinued. When he reigns sole master of the Roman world, how temperate is his triumph!-how scrupulous his respect for the very forms of the laws! He discountenances the profligacy of the patricians, and endeavors to preserve the virtue of the state, by laying wholesome restraints upon 40 luxury. He encourages the arts and sciences, patronizes genius and talent, respects religion and justice, and puts in practice every means that can contribute to the welfare, the happiness, and the stability of the empire.

It is unnecessary to recount the military exploits of

Cæsar. Why should I compel your attention to follow him, for the hundredth time, through hostile myriads, ⚫ yielding, at every encounter, to the force of his invincible arms? As a captain, he was the first of warriors; nor 5 were his valor and skill more admirable than his abstinence and watchfulness, his disregard of ease and his endurance of labor, his moderation and his mercy. Perhaps, indeed, this last quality forms the most prominent feature in his character; and proves, by the consequences 10 of its excess, that virtue itself requires restraint, and has its proper bounds, which it ought not to exceed-for Cæsar's moderation was his ruin!

That Cæsar had a heart susceptible of friendship, and alive to the finest touches of humanity, is unquestionable. 15 Why does he attempt so often to avert the storm of civil war? Why does he pause so long upon the brink of the Rubicon? Why does he weep when he beholds the head of his unfortunate rival? Why does he delight in pardoning his enemies-even those very men that had deserted him? It seems as if he lived the lover of mankind, and fellas the bard expresses it-vanquished, not so much by the weapons, as by the ingratitude of his murderers.

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If a combination of the most splendid talents for war with the most sacred love of peace-of the most illustrious 25 public virtue with the most endearing private worth-of the most unyielding courage with the most accessible moderation, may constitute a great man, that title must be Cæsar's!

SECOND SPEAKER.-No change has taken place in the 30 first appointed government of the universe-the operations of nature acknowledge, now, the same principle that they did in the beginning-reason still holds her sceptre, virtue still fills her throne; and the epithet of great does not belong to Cæsar!

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I would lay it down, as an unquestionable position, that the worth of talents is to be estimated only by the use we make of them. If we employ them in the cause of virtue, their value is great; if we employ them in the cause of vice, they are less than worthless-they are pernicious and 40 vile. Now, let us examine Cæsar's talents by this principle, and we shall find, that, neither as an orator, nor as a politician-neither as a warrior, nor as a friend-was Cæsar a great man!

If I were asked, "What was the first, the second, and the last principle of the virtuous mind?" I should reply, "It was the love of country." It is the love of parent, brother, friend!-the love of MAN!-the love of honor, 5 virtue, and religion!—the love of every good and virtuous deed!—I say, then, if I were asked, "What was the first, the second, and the last principle of the virtuous mind?" I should reply, "It was the love of country!" Without it, man is the basest of his kind!—a selfish, cunning, narrow 10 speculator!—a trader in the dearest interests of his species! -reckless of every tie of nature-sentiment-affection! What was Cæsar's oratory ?-How far did it prove him to be actuated by the love of country? It justified, for political interest, the invader of his honor;-sheltered the 15 incendiary!-abetted treason!-flattered the people into their own undoing!—assailed the liberties of his country, and bawled into silence every virtuous patriot that struggled to uphold them! He would have been a greater orator than Cicero! I question the assertion-I deny that 20 it is correct!-He would have been a greater orator than Cicero! Well!-let it pass-he might have been a greater orator, but he never could have been so great a man. Which way soever he had directed his talents, the same inordinate ambition would have led to the same results; 25 and, had he devoted himself to the study of oratory, his tongue had produced the same effects as his sword; and equally desolated the human kingdom.

But Cæsar is to be admired as a politician! I do not pretend to define the speaker's idea of a politician; but I 30 shall attempt to put you in possession of mine. By a politician, I understand a man who studies the laws of prudence and of justice, as they are applicable to the wise and happy government of a people, and the reciprocal obligations of states. Now, how far was Cæsar to be admired 35 as a politician? He makes war upon the innocent Span iards, that his military talents may not suffer from inaction. This was a ready way to preserve the peace of his province, and to secure its loyalty and affection! That he may be recorded as the first Roman that had ever crossed the 40 Rhine in a hostile manner, he invades the unoffending Germans, lays waste their territories with fire, and plunders and sacks their country. Here was a noble policy!that planted in the minds of a brave and formidable people the fatal seeds of that revenge and hatred, which finally