to us in abilities, fortune, or rank. If at any time we invite an inferior into our company, we should put him, during the time he is there, upon an equality with ourselves, as it would be an act of the highest rudeness to treat him in any respect slightingly. We should rather double our attention to such a person, and treat him with additional respect, lest he might even suppose himself neglected. It is, indeed, little less than cruelty to take liberties with him whose modesty, humility, respect, or situation will not suffer him to retaliate. True politeness consists in making everybody comfortable about us; but to mortify them is to render them unhappy and such conduct shows not only a want of good breeding, but also a want of sense and right feeling.

To point out all the rules which should guide our conduct in the discharge of our duty to superiors, equals, and inferiors would be tedious to the last degree. They are best learned by observing the manners of well-bred people. Their example may be imitated with safety. It will, however, be found that there is one quality which is always appreciated by all classes, and that is complaisance or civility. This renders a superior amiable, an equal agreeable, and an inferior acceptable. It smooths distinctions, sweetens conversation, and makes every one pleased with himself.

EXAMPLES OF RESPECT SHOWN TO GREAT MEN, AND HOW KING ALPHONSO TREATED HIS SUBJECTS.

A graceful behaviour to all classes of persons is, as we have said, a constant source of pleasure. It is, we may add, also a means of improving the mind. Many instances are on record which bear out the truth of this remark. Francis Horner, speaking of the advantages of direct personal intercourse with superior highminded intelligent men, said, 'I cannot hesitate to decide that I have derived more improvement from them than all the books I have read.'

Mr. Trench, in speaking of the Rev. John Stirling, says, 'It was impossible to come in contact with his noble nature without feeling oneself in some measure ennobled and lifted up into a higher region of objects and aims than that in which one is usually tempted to dwell.' Such is the magical action of superior minds.

It is said that Haydn's genius was first fired by Handel, and he himself believed that had he not heard Handel play he would never have written the Creation.' When Northcote was a mere youth he had such an admiration for Reynolds, that when the great painter was once attending a public meeting in Devonshire, the boy pushed through the crowd, and got

so near to Reynolds as to touch the skirt of his coat; which I did,' says Northcote, 'with great satisfaction to my mind'-a true touch of youthful enthusiasm in its admiration of genius.

It is not merely from contact with our superiors that we receive pleasure and improvement. These are also found to arise from judicious intercourse with our equals, and even our inferiors.

Alphonso, King of Sicily and Naples, was remarkable for kindness and condescension to his subjects. On one occasion, when travelling privately through Campania, he came up to a muleteer whose beast had stuck in the mud, and who was unable, with all his strength, to draw it out. The poor man had sought assistance from every one that passed, but in vain. He now sought assistance from the king, not knowing who he was. Alphonso instantly dismounted from his horse, and setting himself to help the man, soon freed the mule and brought it upon safe ground. The muleteer learning that it was the king who had assisted him, fell on his knees and asked his pardon; but Alphonso assured him that he had committed no offence. The goodness of the king was the means of reconciling many who had formerly opposed him.

ON OUR DUTY TO YOUNG MEN, YOUNG WOMEN, AND CHILDREN.

As I am pleased with an old man who has something of the youth about him, so I approve of the youth who has something of the old man in him.

Oh woman! whose form and whose soul

Are the spell and the light of each path we pursue;
Whether sunn'd in the tropics or chill'd at the pole,
If woman be there, there is happiness too.

Blest hour of childhood! then, and then alone,
Dance we the revels close round pleasure's throne,
Quaff the bright nectar from her fountain-springs,
And laugh beneath the rainbow of her wings.
Oh! time of promise, hope, and innocence,
Of trust, and love, and happy ignorance!

YOUNG MEN Constitute a large and essential, and a capital branch of the human species. They are destined to be united with society by a thousand strong and tender ties. In their lot is involved the lot of multitudes. They have the power of communicating blessings or woes innumerable, inexpressible, inconceivable. The effect which their behaviour in particular will produce on the conduct, dispositions, reputation, and peace or wretchedness of the other sex, are not to be told. To them their country turns her impatient eye, eager to find in them. her hope, her protection, and her boast, well

knowing that she must rise or sink as they shall support and adorn, or disgrace and betray her. While we thus speak, we fancy that we see them shooting up into fathers, masters, men of business, teachers, tutors, guardians of youth, physicians, lawyers, divines, magistrates, judges, senators, or, to say the whole at once, into useful members of a mighty State, through all its variety of departments, which they in the progress of life may be called to fill.

Of what immense importance, then, is it to advance the happiness by advancing the improvement of young men, who do or will sustain such a great diversity of relations in life.

Has the Almighty bestowed upon them such marks of importance, and is it possible for us not to be struck with them? Whilst earth and heaven, whilst mortal and immortal powers are beholding them with earnest expectation and awful suspense, can we remain unconcerned. spectators? Sensibility, benevolence, religion forbid!

Have not the best minds and most virtuous nations ever taken a deep interest in the sentiments, tempers and manners of young men?

Where is the subject that has employed more able and eloquent pens than their education? And if we speak of the Scriptures, we find that particular attention has been paid to them by the inspired writers. Young men exhort to