The multitude of the wise

The desire of wisdom

CARLYLE'S ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN.

HE following admirable letter by Thomas Carlyle, Esq., was addressed to a young man who had written to him desiring his advice as to a proper choice of reading, and, it would appear also, as to his conduct in general. We earnestly recommend it to the attention of our readers, as containing advice of the most valuable and practical description, and pregnant with truths with which they cannot be too well acquainted. The young are too much inclined to be dissatisfied with their actual condition, and to neglect their immediate duties in vain aspirations after others beyond their lot; and they need the monitions of such a kind but vigorous and emphatic adviser as Mr. Carlyle, and to have it impressed upon their minds that

"To do

That which before us lies in daily life

Is the prime wisdom."

"DEAR SIR,-Some time ago your letter was delivered me; I take literally the first free half-hour I have had since to write you a word of answer.

"It would give me true satisfaction could any advice of mine contribute to forward you in your honourable course of self-improvement, but a long experience has taught me

Bringeth to a kingdom.

Is the welfare of the world.

Whoso despiseth wisdom is miserable;

Their hope is vain,

that advice can profit but little; that there is a good reason
why advice is so seldom followed-this reason namely, that
it is so seldom, and can almost never be, rightly given. No
man knows the state of another; it is always to some more
or less imaginary man that the wisest and most honest
adviser is speaking.

"As to the books which you-whom I know so little of
-should read, there is hardly anything definite that can be
said. For one thing, you may be strenuously advised to
keep reading. Any good book, any book that is wiser than
yourself, will teach you something—a great many things,
indirectly and directly, if your mind be open to learn. This
old counsel of Johnson's is also good, and universally ap-
plicable - Read the book you do honestly feel a wish and
curiosity to read.' The very wish and curiosity indicates
that you, then and there, are the person likely to get good
of it. Our wishes are presentiments of our capabilities;'
that is a noble saying, of deep encouragement to all true
men; applicable to our wishes and efforts in regard to
reading as to other things. Among all the objects that
look wonderful or beautiful to you, follow with fresh hope
the one which looks wonderfullest, beautifullest. You will
gradually find, by various trials (which trials see that you
make honest, manful ones, not silly, short, fitful ones), what
is for you the wonderfullest, beautifullest-what is your true
element and province, and be able to profit by that. True
desire, the monition of nature, is much to be attended to.
But here, also, you are to discriminate carefully between
true desire and false. The medical men tell us we should
eat what we truly have an appetite for; but what we only
falsely have an appetite for we should resolutely avoid. It
is very true; and flimsy, desultory readers, who fly from

And their works unprofitable.

Their labours unfruitful,

Study the history of your own country.

Good advice is never out of season.

foolish book to foolish book, and get good of none, and
mischief of all-are not these as foolish, unhealthy eaters,
who mistake their superficial false desire after spiceries and
confectioneries for their real appetite, of which even they
are not destitute, though it lies far deeper, far quieter, after
solid nutritive food? With these illustrations, I will recom-
mend Johnson's advice to you.

"Another thing, and only one other, I will say. All
books are properly the record of the history of past men—
what thoughts past men had in them—what actions past
men did: the summary of all books whatsoever lies there.
It is on this ground that the class of books specifically
named History can be safely recommended as the basis of
all study of books-the preliminary to all right and full
understanding of anything we can expect to find in books.
Past history, and especially the past history of one's own
native country, everybody may be advised to begin with
that. Let him study that faithfully; innumerable inquiries
will branch out from it; he has a broad-beaten highway,
from which all the country is more or less visible; there
travelling, let him choose where he will dwell.

"Neither let mistakes and wrong directions—of which every man, in his studies and elsewhere, falls into manydiscourage you. There is precious instruction to be got by finding that we are wrong. Let a man try faithfully, manfully, to be right, he will grow daily more and more right. It is, at bottom, the condition on which all men have to cultivate them elves. Our very walking is an incessant falling a falling and a catching of ourselves before we come actually to the pavement! — it is emblematic of al things a man does.

"In conclusion, I will remind you that it is not by books

Good counsel is above price.

Faithfully endeavour to do right.

Do that which is good, and then

a man.

Glorious is the fruit of good works.

alone, or by books chiefly, that a man becomes in all points
Study to do faithfully whatsoever thing in your
actual situation, there and now, you find either expressly or
tacitly laid to your charge; that is your post; stand in it
like a true soldier. Silently devour the many chagrins of it,
as all human situations have many; and see you aim not to
quit it without doing all that it, at least, required of you.
A man perfects himself by work much more than by read-
ing. They are a growing kind of men that can wisely com-
bine the two things-wisely, valiantly, can do what is laid
to their hand in their present sphere, and prepare them-
selves withal for doing other wider things, if such lie before
them.

"With many good wishes and encouragements, I re-
main, yours sincerely,

"CHELSEA, 13th March, 1843.”

"THOMAS CARLYLE.

Let us walk honestly, as in the day.

Thou shalt have praise of the same.

Let none of you suffer as an evil-doer.

Bear ye one another's burdens.

THE FOUNDATION OF MERCANTILE
CHARACTER.

AITH and trustfulness lie at the foundation of trade and commercial interccurse, and business transactions of every kind. A community of known swindlers and knaves. would try in vain to avail themselves of the advantages of traffic, or to gain access to those circles where honour and honesty are indispensable passports. Hence the value which is attached, by all right-minded men, to purity of purpose and integrity of character. A man may be unfortunate, he may be poor and penniless; but if he is known to possess unbending integrity, an unwavering purpose to do what is honest and just, he will have friends and patrons whatever may be the embarrassments and exigencies into which he is thrown. The poor man may thus possess a capital of which none of the misfortunes and calamities of life can deprive him. We have known men who have been suddenly reduced from affluence to penury by misfortunes, which they could neither foresee nor prevent. A fire has swept away the accumulations of years; misplaced confidence, a flood, or some of the thousand casualties to which commercial men are exposed, have stripped them of their possessions. To-day they have been

A safe conscience makes a sound sleep.

Abstain from all appearance of evil.