criminating censure of our species is unamiable; but in youth, the heart generally decides before the understanding, and imagination often leads both astray."

CONVERSATION.

In free and friendly conversation, our intellectual powers are more animated, and our spirits act with a superior vigour in the quest and pursuit of unknown truths. There is a sharpness and sagacity of thought that attends conversation, beyond what we find whilst we are shut up reading and musing in our retirements. Our souls may be serene in solitude, but not sparkling, though perhaps we are employed in reading the works of the brightest writers. Often has it happened in free discourse, that new thoughts are strangely struck out, and the seeds of truth sparkle and blaze through the company, which in calm and silent reading would never have been excited.

Watts, on the Improvement of the Mind.

"When you cannot say what is to the purpose, never say what is not to the purpose.'

"What we know thoroughly, we can usually express clearly."

Before you speak, consider what construction your words may bear; and whether you are like to do, or suffer hurt by what you are about to say for as the ingenious Mr. Quarles says-A

word unspoken is a sword in the scabbard; but when spoken it is drawn, and put into the hearer's hand to make what advantage he pleases against you.

Shelley.

Freedom of thought gives language, force and energy; vigorous sentiments of the heart pass insensibly into our expressions; and he who thinks nobly will always speak so.

Voltaire.

Take heed of affecting to shine in company above the rest, and to display the riches of your own understanding or your oratory, as though you would render yourself admirable to all that are present. This is seldom well taken in polite company; much less should you use such forms of speech as should insinuate the ignorance or dullness of those with whom you converse.

Watts, on the Mind.

He that cannot refrain from much speaking, is like a city without walls; and less pains in the world a man cannot take, than to hold his tongue therefore, if thou observest this rule in all assemblies, thou shalt seldom err: restrain thy choler, hearken much, and speak little; for the tongue is the instrument of the greatest good and greatest evil that is done in the world.

Raleigh.

It is a great misfortune not to have mind

enough to talk well, nor judgment enough to be silent.

Bruyère.

The reason why few persons are agreeable in conversation is, because each thinks more of what he intends to say than of what others are saying, and seldom listens but when he desires to speak.

Rochefoucauld.

Your reasons at dinner have been sharp and sententious; pleasant without scurrilty, witty without affectation, audacious without impudency, learned without opinion, and strange without heresy.

Shakespeare.

Guests should be neither loquacious nor silent; because eloquence is the former, and silence for the bedchamber.

Varro.

If men would permit their minds, like their children, to associate freely together-if they could agree to meet one another with smiles and frankness, instead of suspicion and defiance -the common stock of wisdom and happiness would be centupled.

COMPLAINTS.

Landor.

When you have reason to make complaints, let them not be bitter, lest you prevent recon

ciliation; but sweeten them with pleasant compellations. He that blows out a candle with too strong a breath, does but raise a noisome smell, and oftentimes rekindles the flame.

Shelley.

CHANCE.

Whatever is left in the hands of chance must be subject to vicissitude; and when any establishment is found to be useful, it ought to be the next care to make it permanent.

CURIOSITY.

66 The Idler."

"People are too curious to know what others do, and not curious enough about what they do themselves."

CONJECTURE.

66

When an evil, of whatever nature, is certain, the mind by degrees acquires firmness to endure it; but the pain of uncertainty and conjecture is, of all others, the most intolerable."

COURTSHIP.

The great enemy to the permanent success of courtship is that assumption with which a great portion of mankind attempts to shade besetting faults from observation, and to deck with un

natural and aggravated hues such recommendatory traits as heaven's munificence may have bestowed. Let us instance a case. Bent upon matrimony and upon the conquest of some invaluable female rarity, behold that young adventurer sallying forth! Trace him to the presence of his fair Felicitas, and mark with what a multitude of smirks and smiles the young solicitant approaches! Hark how he speaks of fondness for his own fireside, and yet can barely pass a day without expending portions of his breath, and brains, and patrimony, on the hearth of some contigious hotel or tavern! Hear how he lauds that suavity of disposition, which takes stern anger by the nose, and blunts the blade of wrath; and yet a single speck upon his linen would earn the luckless laundress an interminable curse! List how he deprecates the very foibles which himself inherits, and eulogises virtues which he knows not of!

Walter Walker.

CUSTOM.

Custom is a violent and treacherous schoolmistress. She, by little and little, slyly and unperceived, slips in the foot of her authority; but having by this gentle and humble beginning, with the benefit of time, fixed and established it, she then unmasks a furious and tyrannic countenance, against which we have no more the courage or the power so much as to lift up our eyes.

Montaigne.