nities, by West, when a child, fixed his growing inclination to the arts. "That kiss made me a painter," has he often said. One word of encouragement has frequently by inspiring hope, stimulated to the requisite exertions. A prognostication of future eminence has half occasioned its own fulfilment, by setting the object full in view, and rousing the delighted imagination with the foretasted enjoyment of destined honours. A small success, in itself a trifle, shall, by being noticed and approved, so seem to place the greater success within reach, that the ardent mind feels as if a little more only, and the whole will be obtained. This little more will indeed show the falsity of such hope, but it will also by nearer approximation increase the impetus, and eventually ensure the success. A sneer shall sometimes check, most unfortunately check, rising endeavour; will give the timorous mind to fear it never can excel, or rouse the proud mind to determine it will rather give up all than endure such sneer again for endeavours which must be imperfect. Emulation is nipped in the bud, and perhaps never do the powers recover the benumbing effect of one foolish sarcasm. If indeed the sarcasm were directed against some folly, some attempt at unworthily excelling, becoming eminent in criminality; then its influence is beneficial. There are those who have been saved from all the shameful preeminence of low buffoonery, by a contemptuous smile, or a serious hint of caution. Those who think a single word can be of no avail, greatly mistake: it may give light and afford a clue, the only thing needed in some cases to direct exertion, and ensure success. It may cheer under present difficulties, and stimulate the rising mind to effective labours. Not the whip, but a mere chirrup, will encourage the generous steed to perseverance: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! Those who are apt to speak words at random, without considering what may be the effect of a silly sentence, should take this hint; and be on their guard, lest they do irreparable mischief. And such 1 as have only opportunity to drop a hint, or even dart a look of intelligence, may be encouraged to their tiny endeavours: a single seed may take root, and show at least its own excellence; perhaps become a store in future years. 'By many ways, then, is the character expanded. By many ways is the mass of knowledge gained. There is scarcely any day passes without some impression, good or bad, being made. Some seed sown, which in future life shall spring up: well if it be the principal wheat. But how often do the unsightly and pestiferous weeds appear, intermingling with, perhaps overpowering the better crop! we sigh, and say an enemy hath done this. Whatever dwells on the mind, becomes a maxim, inspires dread, or raises a wish; will have a powerful influence on coming days, and will do much towards forming the man. The notion which is deeply impressed, will find its time for action; the fact which has been practically explained, will never be forgotten; that knowledge cannot be torn away from the memory, nor its influence on the heart hindered. The habit formed by indolence, by mere custom, by insidious or virtuous design, will continue; and imprint itself deeper and yet deeper on the pliant mind. The mass of knowledge or feeling of principle or conduct, will be the result of many lessons, gathered from various and often unsuspected sources. 'Yet powerful as will be the effect produced by these differing modes of instruction, one much more powerful remains to be considered:-that which is the professed purpose of this volume to recommend; even self-cultivation. Whatever of the former modes may take effect without this assistance, will be found not to be excellent, but feeble; not to be virtuous, but vicious: for this principle must be put in exercise, or nothing will be gained worth having. No power can compel the mind; it must act itself. Vice cannot be forced into it against its own will. Indolently at least it solicits, or actively it cultivates the baleful gratification. No wonder then, if virtuous principle, if useful knowledge, require active reception and diligent cultivation; and that by the mind itself. Weeds will grow apace, grow merely by negligence; but plants of value, of delicacy, of fragrance, or of clustered fruitfulness, demand all the fostering care, watchfulness, and support which the owner can give them: and the more liberal he is in his daily attention, the more abundant will be his satisfaction, or increase, in their prosperity. There is a selection to be made, which can only be done by one's self; which sentiment shall be adopted; for various and even opposite ones will offer. Habits will solicit indulgence; some of which must be resisted, and others cultivated. Paths of knowledge will open; the vista may appear delightfully inviting, which will in fact only bewilder or lead astray. The mind itself must judge in order to which it must examine, determine, and act accordingly. Such action, such careful examination, is the very process recommended. One maxim ascertained by one's self, will give more real knowledge than twenty demonstrated by others, even though done much more adroitly. Self-cultivation works to better purpose. Without her aid, nearly all that others do is lost; with her effective delightful labour, much is gained, and gained to purpose; fastened, stored up, placed ready for use, and often resorted to in the actual business of life.' The remainder of the volume, of which we have extracted only one seventh part, is much in the same strain. On the whole it may be a useful home school book, and being small and not expensive, deserves for those reasons, among others, to find favour as such. ART. IV. Epitaph on the late Dr. Samuel Stanhope Smith. Suggested by the Rev. Dr. Miller, Professor of Theology at Princeton. Hoc tumulo conditur Quod mortale fuit Viri admodum reverendi Sacrosanctæ Theologiæ et Philosophia Moralis Professoris. Ordinibus Sacris initiatus, A. D. MDCCLXX. Inde revocatus ejus Almâ Matre, ad munus Professoris, Vice-Præses creatus, A. D. MDCCLXXXVİ; Satisfecit, Quanta ipsius laude, quantoque bono publico, Sed, eheu! aliis inserviendo ipse consumitur. Animam Deo placide reddidit die 21mo. Augi. A. D. MDCCCXIX Theologia, Philosophiâ, omnique doctrinâ excultus: In memoriam operarum ejus, dotumque eximiarum, Curatores Collegii Neo-Cæsariensis ART. V.—On the Employment of Common Salt for the Purposes of Horticulture.By Samuel Parkes, F. L. S., &c. [This Essay, extracted from the Horticultural Memoirs of Edinburgh, was rewarded by the prize medal of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, for 1819.] As a science, Horticulture is comparatively but of a modern date. It was unknown both in Greece and in ancient Rome; for in all the accounts which we have of the baths, the grottos, and the aqueducts, which were considered so ornamental to their cities, there is, I believe, nothing described which conveys any idea whatever of our modern gardens. The Britons, like the Romans and the ancient Germans made use of herbs and fruits; but, according to Strabo, they were such as grew in the fields and woods, without cultivation. Indeed it has often been questioned, whether the hanging-gardens of Babylon, of which so much has been said, were not more for the display of an original kind of architecture, or for the ostentatious exhibition of ornamental and expensive sculptures, and enormous idols of gold and silver, than for any purposes of real utility. Even in the Augustan age, when the wines of Italy were in general estimation, little was known of the true method of cultivating the vine, as appears from a story which is recorded by Pliny. He relates that a celebrated grammarian, who lived in the reign of Tiberius,* bought a vineyard, which had been so much neglected by its former owner, that it had become almost barren; and that when, by care and attention, he had rendered it fruitful, his neighbours, who had no idea that trees could be so improved by cultivation, and whose * In a century or two after this period, it is probable that the Romans had acquired more knowledge of the management of vineyards; for we read that, about A. D. 278, the settlers in Britain, finding that some parts of the Island were not unfit for vineyards, obtained permission from the emperor Probus to plant vines here, and make wine from their produce. |