338. LAWS REGARDING TRADE IN FOREIGN CORN. Fortunately (he continued, the trade with Ireland, formerly subjected to embarrassing restraints, is now entirely and permanently free. This beneficial change we owe to the progress of more correct views, and more liberal feelings, in respect to commerce; and the result has been most advantageous to both countries, as is well known and felt by every man, more especially in this part of the kingdom. But legislation, in regard to the trade in foreign corn, is attended with infinitely more of difficulty and complication. I will not say that the present law is the best that might be devised; but, under all the circumstances of the country, it was the best that could be attained-preserving a due regard, not only to the interests of the different classes of the community, but to the conflicting passions which are always excited by a discussion of the corn laws. I did not shrink from doing my duty when that discussion was pending. In doing so I have incurred the ill will of some, and the enmity of others; but I earnestly hope that the present law may be allowed a full and fair trial, by which we shall best be able to ascertain, when it has stood the test of the different vicissitudes to which the supply of corn is liable, whether it answers its purpose or in what part it requires amendment.

W. HUSKISSON

339. OF LIBERTY.

Ariosto tells a pretty story of a fairy, who by some mysterious law of her nature was condemned to appear at certain seasons in the form of a foul and poisonous snake. Those who injured her during the period of her disguise were for ever excluded from participation in the blessings which she bestowed. But to those, who in spite of her loathsome aspect, pitied and protected her, she afterwards revealed herself in the beautiful and celestial form which was natural to her, accompanied their steps, granted all their wishes, filled their houses with wealth, made them happy in love and victorious in war. Such a spirit is liberty. At times she takes the form of a hateful reptile. She grovels, she hisses, she stings. But woe to those, who in disgust shall venture to crush her! and happy are those who, having dared to receive her in her degraded and frightful shape, shall at length be rewarded by her in the time of her beauty and her glory. LORD MACAULAY

340. AMBITION. Look well, before thou leap into the chaire of honour: the higher thou climbest, the lower thou fallest: if vertue preferre thee, vertue will preserve thee; if gold or favour advance thee, thy honour is pinned upon the wheele of fortune when the wheele shall turne, thy honour falls, and thou remainst an everlasting monument of thy own ambitious folly. F. QUARLES

341. PRIMITIVE JUSTICE. Justice then was neither blind to discern, nor lame to execute. It was not subject to be imposed upon by a deluded fancy, nor yet to be bribed by a tempting appetite, for an utile or jucundum to turn the balance to a false and dishonest sentence. In all its directions of the inferior faculties it conveyed its suggestions with clearness and enjoyned them with power. It had the passions in perfect subjection; and though its command over them was but suasive, yet it had the force of coaction. It was not then as it is now, where the conscience has only power to disapprove and to protest against the exorbitancies of the passions, and rather to wish than make them otherwise. The voice of conscience now is low and weak, chastising the passions as old Eli did his lustful domineering sons-Not so, my sons, not so; but the voice of conscience then was not, This should, or this ought to be done, but, This must, this shall be done. It spoke like a legislator: the thing spoke was a law, and the manner of speaking it a new obligation. In short, there was as great a disparity between the practical dictates of the understanding then and now, as there is between empire and advice, counsel and command, between a companion and a governour.

R. SOUTH

342. COMPASSION seized the amazed inhabitants of the city mixed with the fear of like calamities; while they observed the numerous foes, without and within, who everywhere surrounded them, and reflected on the weak resources by which they were themselves supported. The more vigorous of the unhappy fugitives, to the number of three thousand, were armed and enlisted in three divisions. The rest were distributed into the houses, and all care was taken by diet and warmth to recruit their feeble and torpid bodies. Diseases of unknown name and species, derived from their multiplied distresses, seized many of them and put a speedy

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period to their lives; others having now leisure to reflect on their mighty loss of friends and fortunes, reckoned the life which they had saved a curse.

343. MODERATION IN CHANGE. In all changes in the state moderation is a virtue, not only amiable but powerful. It is a disposing, arranging, conciliating, cementing virtue. In the formation of new constitutions, it is in its province. Great powers reside in those who can make great changes. Their own moderation is their only check: and if this virtue is not paramount in their minds, their acts will taste more of their power than of their wisdom or their benevolence. Whatever they do will be in extremes: it will be crude, harsh, precipitate. It will be submitted to with grudging and with reluctance. Revenge will be smothered and hoarded, and the duration of schemes marked in that temper will be as precarious as their establishment was odious. This virtue of moderation (which times and situations will clearly distinguish from the counterfeits of pusillanimity and indecision) is the virtue only of superior minds. It requires a deep courage and full of reflection to be temperate when the voice of multitudes passes judgment against you. The impetuous desire of an unthinking public will endure no course, but what conducts to splendid and perilous extremes. Then to dare to be fearful, when all about you are full of presumption and confidence, and when those who are bold at the hazard of others would punish your caution and disaffection, is to shew a mind prepared for its trial; it discovers in the midst of general levity a self-possessing and collected character, which sooner or later bids fair to attract everything to it, as to a centre.

344. MUSTAPHA'S DEATH. Neither wanted Mustapha strange warning of his end so near at hand, for the third day before his setting forwards towards his father, falling asleep in the evening, he thought he saw his prophet Mahomet in bright apparel to take him by the hand and lead him into a most pleasant place, beautified with most glorious and stately palaces, and most delicate and pleasant gardens; and pointing to every thing with his finger, to say thus unto him, 'Here rest they for ever, who in this world have led an upright and goodly life, following virtue and detesting vice;' and after

that turning his face to the other side, to have shewed him two great and swift rivers, whereof the one boiled with water blacker than pitch, and in them appeared (as he thought) numbers of men wallowing and tumbling, some up, some down, crying horribly for mercy; 'and there (said he) are punished all such as in this frail life have been malicious workers of iniquity;' the chief of whom (as he said) were emperors, kings, princes, and other great men of the world. Mustapha awaking and troubled with this melancholy dream, called unto him his doctor, and having told him all the matter, asked him what the same might signify? who, standing a great while in a muse (for the Mahometans are exceeding superstitious, attributing much to dreams), full of sorrow and grief, at length answered, that this vision (for so it pleased him to term it) was undoubtedly to be feared, as presaging unto him the extreme peril of his life, and therefore requested him to have great care both of his life and honour.

We dote upon this

345. PROSPECT OF ETERNAL LIFE. present world and the enjoyments of it: and it is not without pain and fear and reluctancy, that we are torn from them, as if our hopes lay all within the compass of this life. Yet I know not by what good fate my thoughts have been always fixed upon things to come, more than upon things present. These, I know, by certain experience, to be but trifles; and if there be nothing more considerable to come, the whole being of man is no better than a trifle. But there is room enough before us in that we call eternity, for great and noble scenes; and the mind of man feels itself lessened and straitened in this low and narrow state; wishes and waits to see something greater. And if it could discern another world a coming on this side eternal life; a beginning glory, the best that earth can bear, it would be a kind of immortality to enjoy that prospect before-hand; to see, when this theatre is dissolved, where we shall act next, and what parts. What saints and heroes, if I may so say, will appear upon that stage; and with what lustre and excellency. How easy would it be, under a view of these futurities, to despise the little pomps and honours, and the momentary pleasures of a mortal life.

T. BURNET

346. THE EXERCISE OF A DOMINION FOUNDED UPON

VIOLENCE CANNOT BE BROUGHT TO THE STANDARD OF HU

MANITY. It may and must be true that Mr Hastings has repeatedly offended against the rights and privileges of Asiatic government, if he was the faithful deputy of a power which could not maintain itself for an hour without trampling upon both: he may and must have offended against the laws of God and nature, if he was the faithful viceroy of an empire wrested in blood from the people to whom God and nature had given it: he may and must have preserved that unjust dominion over timorous and abject nations by a terrifying, overbearing, insulting superiority, if he was the faithful administrator of your government, which having no root in consent or affection, no foundation in similarity of interests, nor support from any one principle which cements men together in society, could only be upheld by alternate stratagem and force. The unhappy people of India, feeble and effeminate as they are from the softness of their climate, and subdued and broken as they have been by the knavery and strength of civilisation, still occasionally start up in all the vigour and intelligence of insulted nature: to be governed at all, they must be governed by a rod of iron: and our empire in the East would long since have been lost to Great Britain, if civil skill and military prowess had not united their efforts to support an authority-which Heaven never gave-by means which it never can sanction.

W. ERSKINE

347. WHAT COMES LAST IN PRACTISE, STANDS IN THEORY FIRST. In general the end of theory is the beginning of practise: and so reciprocally, the end of practise the beginning of theory. Thus, for instance: an architect, being ordered to build a house, says to himself, I am ordered to build a house: that is to say, a certain defence, to protect against the rains and heats. But this cannot be without roof or covering. From this point, therefore, he begins his theory. He proceeds and says—but there can be no roof, if there be no walls; and there can be no walls without some foundations; nor can there be laid foundations, without opening the earth. At this point, the theory is at an end. Hence, therefore, commences the practise, or action. For, first, he opens the earth; then lays the foundation; then raises the walls; and lastly puts on the roof, which is the