the conversation, or break it off. She could hardly understand the dry turn he had given to the conversation, leading it so entirely from the main points of her speech, in any other way than as an artful excuse; and from what the father said of the son, she could not but infer that he disapproved of his conduct. However, possibly Mr. Stark had not heard her correctly; she therefore rallied her powers to take up the conversation in another way. "The Doctor's lady had spoken of the friendship which formerly existed between Mr. Stark and her late father-in-law, the elder Mr. Lilias, and she cherished the hope

To these words, which Mr. Stark perfectly understood, he gave the reply, that he knew the elder Lilias from his childhood, and that in their first school years he had been his friend; that afterward, through the whole course of their lives, their intimacy was very close, and in any case that might have arisen, they would have displayed their mutual hearty friendship in the most active manner. But," continued he, "such a case, God be praised, did not arise. We both kept our affairs in good order, and wasted and dissipated nothing; and when this is the case, circumstances do not often arise, in which a friend can do any important service for his friend, or where he can make any sacrifice for him."

If these observations were not exactly flattery, they were not by any means meant to be in the spirit in which they appeared to the widow, and which, after the late misunderstanding, or rather no misunderstanding at all, she felt obliged to interpret them. She imagined herself hearing a bitter reproach for the disorder which her late husband had suffered his affairs to fall into, and supposing herself again repulsed, she grew alternately red and pale under her painful situation. Mr. Stark, who did not see clearly without his spectacles, was not aware of her embarrassment.

"You did not know your worthy old father-in-law," said he, after a few moments pause.

"No," replied a silent, feeble shake of the head, from the widow. "And his wife, the old honest mother Lilias, as little?"

"As little," replied another shake of the head; for the widow, whose heart became still more full and heavy, was in no state to speak.

If Mr. Stark had had the least idea of the present depressed state of the widow, and especially of the design of her visit to him, his generous feelings, and his consideration for the unfortunate would have led him to guard himself carefully, and watch every word; but, in his ignorance of both these circumstances, he thought it not amiss to make a little explanation of his ideas of female duty.

"You lost a great deal, Madam; you had a most excellent motherin-law. Truly she was, in principle, only a housewife; but to be any thing more never entered into her mind. The man, she thought, belonged to the world; the woman, to her husband a:.d children. This was the old-fashioned faith, in which daughters were brought up, and by which girls were not made, to be sure, so delicate and exquisite as

they are now, but so much the more stout and domestic, and were so much the more dear and useful to the man who regarded his interest. Old Mr. Lilias often told me, that he considered his excellent wife as God's best blessing, and that without her he never should have been in such easy circumstances. He loved and respected her greatly, and this was because she did him great honor, for she was considered as the first and most experienced housewife in the whole city, and was the universal oracle for our ladies in every domestic emergency. But still she was far from being gloomy or fretful. wish you could have seen, Madam, with what engaging affability she received the guests, whom Lilias almost every day brought home with him from the Exchange; how happy she was, at her table, which never exceeded the proper style for a citizen, but was always amply and substantially filled, her dishes were always of the best; and if the little company grew merry and talkative, she would ask her husband, who understood her every glance, with her eye, and as soon as he had winked his answer, with two or three steps she had reached the cellar, and drawn thence some of the best old Rhine wine, which made us still more eloquent and gay. You see, Madam, that with such amiable, gay, hospitable housewives, we husbands of that day were exceedingly content; and we called them, as they were, our treasures and our hearts. But now, when the tone of citizens is an imitation of nobility, and here and there even of royalty, they call, I believe, the wife my child; but I do not know which I should consider most happy, the man of the olden time with his treasure, or the present one with his child. You will excuse me, Madam, I am gossipping far and wide, for old times had old customs, it is natural."

In this sort of conversation respecting her late mother-in-law, there were so many painful things, that the widow now entirely gave up the object of her visit, and would have taken her leave of Mr. Stark immediately, if a sudden faintness, in which every thing before her eyes was crowded and in motion, had not prevented her rising. She was, however, about to attempt to get up, when she heard herself saluted by two female voices, one of which she perceived to be that of Madam Harvest. Curiosity had brought there that lady and her mother, the one to learn how things were going on, and to support the widow, if necessary; the other, that she might have an opportunity to become acquainted with a person, to whom her son was so much attached, and, as they had not concealed from her, was so worthy of him.

"What is the matter?" cried Madam Harvest, who saw at a glance the situation of the widow, and immediately sprung forward to support

her.

"Is she fainting ?" asked Madam Stark, in alarm.

"Not at all," replied the old gentleman, in astonishment, while the patient suddenly slipped from the arms of Madam Harvest on to the sofa, and lay there without breath or color, like a corpse.

The Doctor's wife called aloud for hartshorn, the mother hastened into the kitchen for cold water, Mr. Stark ran after cologne, and in

a short time Monsieur Schlicht and the whole household were in motion. At last, Madam Lilias was so far recovered, that she thought herself able to return home on foot, without an attendant. But to this no one would consent, and least of all old Mr. Stark, who was so kind and attentive, that the widow was again entirely at a loss what she should think of him. He ordered a carriage to be sent for, in which, according to his directions, Madam Harvest should first get, that she might reach her hand to the widow, while the others assisted her in. And Monsieur Schlicht, who, in spite of his years, was still active and vigorous, also was directed to get in, with orders, as soon as the carriage stopped, to get out and offer his arm to Madam Lilias; but if she was more feeble, first to call help from the house, and not to leave her too much to her own strength.

"Now," said the old man, as soon as he found himself alone with the mother, 66 can you tell me, what this means? what this is all for? I, for my part, do not understand a word of it. The woman comes to me early in the morning, and takes me away from my business. I think of nothing, but that she wants to buy exchange on England or Holland; and at the last, what does she want of me? Nothing in God's creation but to faint away. Is this the latest fashion? Do they make such morning visits in London and Paris? "How you talk," said the old lady. such turns.'

"Some women are subject to

"Some women; but you and the Doctor's wife are not?" "No; to be sure everybody is not alike

"Mother, if women, who spend the whole day lying on the sofa reading romances and plays, or pass the morning in dressing and waste the evenings at the card-table, if they were on their feet from early till late, like you and our daughter, bustling about their household affairs, I will wager we should hear less of cramps, or faintings, or swoonings, or whatever else they are called."

EUROPEAN POLITICS.

THE following speech, made by Mr. Guizot, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, at a dinner given to him by his constituents at Liseux, having attracted a good deal of attention, as an exposition of the present European policy of the French Government, it has become an important historical document:

"In truth, gentlemen, I cannot reply to the honorable and flattering expressions which you have just heard expressions, the value of which are increased in my eyes by the high merits of him who pronounced them. Allow me to see therein the frank expression of that sympathy which has subsisted between us during the last twelve years,

and that has remained unchanged through all the varying circumstances which have naturally occurred to divide men's minds before and after a great revolution. Gentlemen, far from estranging us from each other, it has united us even more closely. Many of you may still recollect, that ten years back, in this same place, I addressed you, and stated my political views. Such a meeting as then took place, such a public discussion-all these forms of free government were at that time a novelty and cause of astonishment. Yet already how natural do they seem? What a proof exists in this of the progress of our institutions. I congratulate you and myself, gentlemen, upon the result. I consider it as a great honor to have from the first accepted and welcomed openly and completely these powerful institutions. I have confidence in them and faith in them. I respect and love them. The events which have passed before our eyes, and which do not permit us to doubt of their worth, have twice saved the country. Previous to 1830, these institutions sufficed for the defence of our liberties. Since 1830, they have effectually preserved us from anarchy. Without them, gentlemen, do you think that we could have maintained peace, reëstablished order, and, on the very day after a revolution, commenced the formation of a government! We owe our success to the continued action, not of any one of our institutions in particular, but to the united operation and combined influence of all. We may boldly say, that our constitutional monarchy has gone triumphantly through the trial. It has the right to govern us; for in a few years it has met and satisfied the most diverse, the most contrary wants and necessities of society. It meets these necessities every day. And what has recently passed, and what is now passing, victoriously demonstrate the worth of our institutions, and all the gratitude we owe to them. A year ago, France was very anxious and very excited. Great mistrust and great irritation existed on both sides. A revolution was almost in prospect, and yet no legitimate motive for such a war; no great national interest to prescribe or counsel it. We had a foreign policy more or less able, more or less fortunate, blunders here, checks there, but nothing from which war ought to have resulted. Neither was war the wish nor the interest of the country. Frauce did not desire it, nor did Europe. And yet war seemed imminent, so difficult was it to render apparent what were the genuine wishes and interests of the country, and to raise it above the superficial passions and prejudices which agitated How have we been extricated from so critical a situation? King, making a firm use of his prerogative, changed his cabinet; and at the same time, acting up to the spirit of the charter, he carried before the Chambers that great question of peace and war, which, for his own part, he had already resolved in his mind, and within the limits of his power. The new cabinet appealed in the Chambers to the fullest discussion and publicity, a publicity which appeared excessive to many sensible minds, and contrary to good government habits. But in the then state of things, the fullest publicity was indispensable, in order to enlighten the country, and enable it to decide of itself, in

us.

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ample knowledge of the circumstances, the redoubtable question before it. From all this, gentlemen, has there resulted one of those sudden and violent reactions, which carry from one extreme to another, the policy and conduct of governments and countries? Has any great interest of the country been sacrificed to a lesser one? In rejecting war at all price, (a tout prix,) have we flung ourselves into the system of peace at all price, (a tout prix,) as the antagonists of the cabinet have so often tried to prove? Not in the least. All the interests of the country have been amply provided for; its dignity as well as its prosperity; its force as well as its repose; and the result has been that policy of armed peace and temporary isolation, which has prevailed in the government as in the deliberations of the Chambers. This is the true policy of the juste milieu, of which at length the wisdom is acknowledged, but of which, it has been predicted, that it could neither endure nor succeed. But it has both lasted and succeeded. Peace has been maintained without any sacrifice of dignity. The isolation of France exists no more, but not without having lasted long enough for all the purposes desired, and upon conditions perfectly compatible with the honor of the country. Here you will, I trust, approve my reserve. There are controversies which ought not to be provoked, facts which ought not to be discussed save by the Chambers, constitutionally charged with debating them. I shall not be wanting to my duty in this respect, and shall also abstain from every expression likely to wound the susceptibilities of any foreign_government or nation. I should not forgive myself, were I to let drop one word, which might foment or keep up, between France and England, or between France and Europe, worn-out prejudices or bitter feelings. To every sensible man, to every sincere friend of European peace, such language must appear a grievous wrong. Situated as I am, it would be to sin against justice, prudence, and tact. I will not incur the reproach. I will limit myself to resuming the simple result of the spolicy which has prevailed, and the lesson which it teaches us. France has been enlightened and tranquillized. She comprehends that neither her honor or interest required more than precautionary armaments, and a temporary isolation. Europe has been warned and reassuredreassured by the evidence of our pacific intentions, and the loyalty with which our acts have accorded with our intentions; warned that France will never allow herself to be towed along by a policy not her own, but will separate herself decidedly from what she does not approve, without, nevertheless, rushing to the extremity of war. Aware of the inconveniences resulting to all the world from the isolation of France from the policy of Europe, it must be admitted, that a general good understanding is for the interests of all. It is thus that a very critical and a very serious situation, as far as our foreign affairs are concerned, has been put an end to. And this result has been attained by a scrupulous respect for our institutions, and by their regular developement. At home, and as far as domestic policy is concerned, the merit of these institutions has been rendered more manifest and con