BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 243 divine element among the grosser labours and pleasures of our earthly being. The present life is not wholly prosaic, precise, tame, and finite. To the gifted eye it abounds in the poetic. The affections which spread beyond ourselves and stretch far into futurity, the workings of mighty passions, which seem to arm the soul with an almost superhuman energy, the innocent and irrepressible joy of infancy, the bloom, and buoyancy, and dazzling hopes of youth, the grace and gentleness of woman, her depth of affection, her blush of purity, and the tones and looks which only a mother's heart can inspire; - these are all poetical. It is not true that the poet paints a life which does not exist. He only extracts and concentrates, as it were, life's ethereal essence, arrests and condenses its volatile fragrance, brings together its scattered beauties, and prolongs its more refined but evanescent joys; and in this he does well; for it is good to feel that life is not wholly usurped by cares for subsistence and physical gratifications, but admits, in measure which may be indefinitely enlarged, sentiments and delights worthy of a higher being. 1. What is the great tendency and purpose of poetry? 2. What is it that has been objected to poetry? 3. Of what are the fictions of genius often the vehicles? 4. The common assertion that the poet paints a life which does not exist, is denied: what does he, then? On this day, in 1815, was fought the ever-memorable battle of Waterloo, in which the British and Prussian armies, under the Duke of Wellington and Marshal Blucher, totally defeated the French, and effectually put an end to all the hopes and prospects of Buonaparte. This mighty conflict will be recorded in English history, as one of the noblest proofs of British valour, and a testimony to the great military talents of the Duke of Wellington, as well as being decisive of a most momentous contest, in which the peace of all Europe was at stake. "Before the sun had drunk the dew, The marching columns glanced in view, And on the plains of Waterloo The cry was 'Death or Victory!' "The bugle rang its war-note high, "Their country's tears shall dew the grave 1. What ever-memorable battle was fought on this day; and in what year? 2. How will this mighty conflict be recorded in history? LESSON CLXX. JUNE THE NINETEENTH, Sir Joseph Banks. On this day, in 1820, died Sir Joseph Banks, an eminent naturalist. Sir Joseph, together with Dr. Solander, a pupil of Linnæus, accompanied the celebrated Captain Cook in his voyage round the world. After his return he went with Dr. Solander to visit Iceland: a rich harvest of new knowledge and of specimens compensated for the toils and expense of this scientific adventure. Among other things worthy of notice, they discovered the columnar stratification of the rocks surrounding the caves of Staffa, a phenomenon till then unobserved by naturalists, but which was no sooner made known in a THE PHILOSOPHERS OF GREECE. 245 description by Sir Joseph Banks, than it became famous. among men of science throughout Europe. Neither should it be forgotten that he reached the summit of Mount Hecla, being the first traveller that had done so. In the year 1777, when Sir John Pringle retired from the presidency of the Royal Society, Sir Joseph Banks was elected to fill the vacant chair; and never, perhaps, has it been filled with more honour to the individual or more advantage to the interests of science. His time, his wealth, his influence, his talents, an incomparable library of science and art, knowledge and judgment to advise, affability to conciliate and encourage, and generosity to assist, he made the patrimony of the studious and learned, not of his own country alone, but of the whole world. 1. In what year did Sir Joseph Banks die; - and what was he? 2. What did Sir Joseph Banks, together with Dr. Solander? 3. What did they discover in Iceland? 4. To what office was Sir Joseph elected in 1777 ? LESSON CLXXI.-JUNE THE TWENTIETH. As soon The Philosophers of Greece. as curiosity, emulation, and other motives, prompted the Grecians to seek information by study, philosophy introduced itself amongst them. The first philosophers were men of abilities, who occupied themselves by practising and enforcing the true principles of policy and duties of society: they argued not on words, but causes; thought not of different sects, and neither bewildered themselves nor misled others by a specious sophistry. Their first reasonings were on the origin of the world, the first great cause of universal good, and those things least known which most tend to the elevation and improvement of the human mind. Thales of Miletus, the cotemporary of Solon, was the chief of a sect of philosophers called Ionic. On one occasion, while contemplating the stars, he fell down, when a woman who was standing by said to him, "How can you possibly discern the heavens, since you cannot see as far as your feet." Simple or impertinent as this woman's remark may appear, it was not devoid of meaning: many, in seeking to know what exceeds the limits of their capacities, remain in ignorance of what they might have acquired, and been of real use to them. Pythagoras, the head of the sect called Italic, at least taught a doctrine that greatly improved the moral conduct. He had sought and acquired knowledge in Egypt, Phoenicia, Chaldea, and even India. He lived in common with his disciples, who went through a species of noviciate of two or five years, during which time they were to learn in silence, and not ask reasons for any thing they were taught. His doctrine on the divinity were admirable, wishing that the end of all actions and studies should be to render men like the Supreme Being, by the acquisition of truth and virtue, to be found only by the pure of heart. Anaxagoras, the master of Pericles, taught that the arrangement of the world was the work of an Infinite Being. This great man was disgraced by the Athenians, on the charge of impiety, for having asserted that the sun was a mass of fire or inflamed matter - such are the judgments of superstitious ignorance. The pious Socrates, his disciple, who consecrated his life to the benefit of the public mind and morals, was rewarded with hemlock. Plato and Aristotle shone after Socrates, and had both innumerable followers. Antisthenes at the same time founded the sect of Cynics: a robe, wallet, and stick were all that they possessed; but in that state of proud poverty they thought themselves entitled to insult the world. The celebrated Diogenes, being banished for passing bad money, became one of them. Zeno, the head of the Stoics, affirmed that the virtuous were happy under every kind of affliction, and that pain and misfortune were not evils: with him, a man to be wise, must be without passions, insensible even to pity, though attentive to all the duties of humanity. His doctrine was undoubtedly an exaggeration, but the sublimity of its sentiments contributed to the advantages of society, by forming many great men. Epicurus, on the contrary, placed happiness wholly in pleasure: but we have every reason to suppose that by it he understood the pleasures which attend the exercise of virtue, and that temperance was one of the number; though, like many other plans, it was greatly abused, and soon sunk into degeneracy. Other philosophers pretended to disbelieve the existence of a God: happily such tenets are too gross and impious to escape the contempt they deserve, or to inspire any other sentiment than horror. Philosophy became a perpetual source of false systems and dangerous disputes, as soon as it gave up moral principles, and left the clear path of nature. 1. What was the sect of philosophers called of whom Thales was the chief? 2. Of what sect was Pythagoras the head? 3. What did Anaxagoras teach? 4. For what was he disgraced? 5. Who founded the sect of the Cynics? 6 What did the Stoics teach? - and who was their head? LESSON CLXXII. JUNE THE TWENTY-FIRST. Aunt Martha. ONE of the pleasantest habitations I have ever known is an old white house, built at right angles, with the pointed roofs and clustered chimneys of Elizabeth's day, covered with roses, vines, and passion-flowers, and parted by a green sloping meadow from a straggling picturesque village street. In this charming abode resides a more charming family: a gentleman, "Polite as all his life in courts had been, And good as he the world had never seen;" two daughters full of sweetness and talent, and Aunt Martha - the most delightful of old maids! - delightful in word and deed, and handsome into the bargain. Her station in the family is rather doubtful. She is not the mistress, for her charming nieces are old enough to take and adorn the head of the table; nor the housekeeper, though, as she is the only lady of the establishment who wears pockets, those ensigns of authority the keys will sometimes be found, with other strays, in that goodly receptacle; nor a guest, her spirit is too active for that lazy post; her real vocation there, and everywhere, seems to be comforting, cheering, welcoming, and spoiling every thing that comes in her way; and, above all, nursing and taking care. Of all kind employments these are her favourites. Oh, the shawlings, the cloakings, the cloggings! the cautions against cold, or heat, or rain, or sun! the remedies for diseases not arrived! colds uncaught! incipient toothaches, rheumatisms to come! She loves nursing so well, that we used to accuse her of inventing maladies for other people, that she might have the pleasure of curing them; and when they really come as come they will some |