tudes. The new problem is to discover whether, by shortening those processes by which the raw material passes through so many hands to the consumer, by producing all things at the least possible expense of time, capital, and labour, and by equalizing, as it were, the value of the labour of all in exchange-whether by such a medium, the whole community (of workers especially) cannot be enabled to enjoy much more of the produce of their common industry, than falls to their lot under the existing arrangements of society. There can be no doubt as to the principle, because it is ascertained that the few can, and they do provide, all the enjoyments of life for the many, even under the present circuitous methods, and the depressing claims of idle and pauperised millions. All, then, that is wanted is, to invent and establish more efficient processes in the detail. We have thus brought our argument to a close. The disorder, though its proximate causes are poverty and idleness, nevertheless displays itself in so many complicated and distressful symptoms, that were even these causes removed, it must be long ere society can settle into a tranquil, virtuous, and happy state. The worst part of the case is the fearful moral differences and indifferences that separate the several classes. The relief which the Poor Laws contemplated to extend only to the infirm and aged, is sturdily demanded as the rightful claim of idleness, and not seldom resisted with the insolence of power. There is no credence, no tie but of interest between any of the members of the rural commonwealth; craft, suspicion, and force, have displaced industry, confidence, and mutual respect. Necessity has made bare, naked gain, both on the one side and on the other, the sole motive of all contracts. Pride despoils benevolence of half its graciousness; ingratitude, insolence, fraud, and injury, but too generally blast the offices of servitude with distrust. It is not alone by the remedies, however powerful, which political science can apply, that the cure can be wrought. Individuals must endeavour to correct the mischiefs which exist around them by kindness, temper, and conciliation; the influential mingling with those whom they can lead or sway, and thus gradually gaining in moral influence what they have perhaps happily for ever lost in physical power. It is quite clear that no good can be hoped till the industrious can be made to feel that their superiors have a personal regard as well as a pecuniary interest in their welfare. All classes must be brought to a nearer level in point of intelligence, and this must be the work of education; for since the democratic spirit is abroad and will not be checked, it is better for all that wisdom which is temperate should be substituted for ignorance which is headstrong. Dependance on each other is the bond of our existence-the distinctions of society may shift or change-but that one great law which binds man to man must remain unaltered to the last. time comes when we must no longer hide ourselves in the fastnesses of an uninvestigating pride. Soon it may be to our advantage to debate those social questions which hitherto we have sedulously avoided, and we shall then discover in practice what has hitherto been confined to the theory of sages-that true self-interest embraces all mankind, and is the very reverse of that antagonist operation which at this moment debases the lofty while it depraves the humble. The Angel of Departure. SHRINK not, oh Human Spirit, The Everlasting Arm is strong to save! Look up-look up, frail nature, put thy trust And overcame the grave! March.-VOL. XXXIV. NO. CXXXV. R M. H. Chorus of ministering Spirits. Life's work is nearly done, One pang and it is o'er, Farewell, farewell, farewell! Kind friends, 'tis nearly past, Come, come and look your last! And that last blessing hear, See how he loved you, who departeth now! Whose breast he leant upon, Come, faithful unto death, And take his latest breath! Farewell-farewell-farewell angel of Departure. Hail, disenthralled spirit! Thou that the wine-press of the field hast trod ! And bow before thy God! Chorus of ministering Spirits. 'Tis done-'tis done! Life's weary work is done! Now the glad spirit leaves the clay, And treads with winged ease The bright acclivities Of Heaven's crystalline way! Joy to thee, Blessed one! Lift up, lift up thine eyes, Yonder is Paradise! And this fair shining band Are spirits of thy land; And these, that throng to meet thee, are thy kin, Bright spirit, thou art blest, This city's name is Rest! And thou hast won its peace, Joy to thee, Blessed One! M. H. CONTRAST. OBSERVE the difference between a religion which God makes for man, and a religion which man makes for God. Man in the vanity of his notions and the emptiness of his pride would think the practical precepts of the Gospel as below the dignity of religion. He would think a smoking altar, a gorgeous temple, a sounding song of Hallelujahs pealing from ten thousand voices far more sublime, than a deed of gentle generosity quietly done to a poor afflicted humble creature sinking down into the dust of oblivion and wretchedness. What a deal of smoke and noise there is about the religions which men make for God! How generous, gentle, and blessed is the religion which God makes for man ON THE INFLUENCE AND EDUCATION OF WOMEN. In an article in the Edinburgh Review, written by the author of the following paper, about a year ago, and which was fortunate enough to attract some attention at that time, great stress was laid upon the necessity of giving to female education a bolder and a nobler tone than it at present contents us to bestow. It is the misfortune of this country that the greatest aim of a politician, who desires immediate respect, is to avoid touching upon any subject that is not thoroughly hacknied. We are always running after novelties in imagination, and shrinking from novelties in reasoning. To strike out a new remedy for an old evil, is to be called a theorist. To be called a theorist, is the bugbear of all that vast class of politicians who wish to turn politics into pounds, shillings, and pence. The older a notion is, the more supporters it has the greater its chance of coming into fashion, and its friends into power. Thus, if any one will take the pains to look to our legislative improvements, he will see that it is never till a plan has been carefully weeded of any thing vast and comprehensive enough to embrace the whole evil complained of, that it is adopted-it is then called practical! and the practice is to preserve all the grand abuses and add a supplement to the petty ones. We are seized with the praiseworthy courage, and the yet more laudable scruple, of Major Macpherson "Major Macpherson heaved a sigh Major Macpherson could not tell why." As soon as he had deciphered the cause, he resolved to cut his throat; and changing his purposes, applies the deadly weapon to the callosities on his nether digitals. Imitating the gallant officer, we are very unhappy till we have done something to cure our State melancholy; we prepare for great things-we out with the razor-we flourish it in the air-and we then, with inconceivable bravery, gently pare the corns of the evil, in order that it may walk and strut about more firmly than ever. Look at the magnanimous pother we have been making for so many years about our Criminal Code, all ending in the "judicious ameliorations" of Sir Robert Peel. Just consider our virtuous resolutions about the Game Laws, and note how softly they have melted away into the new Bill; and while all London was clamouring against the horrors of Burking, see how dexterously we have applied to the little toe of that Cimmerian Association, the razor of Mr. Warburton's solemn modicum of inefficiency. All these little improvements charm us; under the appearance of being practical, we quite forget that they never work. We emasculate Amendment, and then wonder - and cry out-and bless ourselves, because it does not produce a large family! Supposing a man were now solemnly to bring forward in the House of Commons a motion for a Committee to inquire into the state of Female Education-would not there be "shouts of laughter?" What would the "Times" say indeed! Could that man ever become Secretary for the Home Department? He would be thought even too a silly to be called theoretical. Yet the man would only have made a mistake as to the place of investigation: the inquiry ought to be made, but perhaps morally, rather than legislatively-by writers, rather than senators: but this is a problem-a committee even of legislators, boobies as they generally are, might do much. Reports upon the schools about Sloane Street would contain " vast mass of interesting matter." But there is one little phrase which would alter the whole tone of the motion-it might cease to be ridiculous. Let the legislator say, "the state of Female Education among the lower orders!" We are delighted directly we can meddle with poor people, especially in a parliamentary committee, which mankind certainly invented in order to prove how far the science of doing nothing might be carried. But the state of education among the higher orders? No! that must not be meddled with at all! We Gentlemen and Ladies are beyond the reach of amelioration. Committee the Unwashed as much as you will. Great-cry them, and little-wool them, to their hearts' content, but leave us, as some Whig philosopher would profoundly remark, "to the natural disposition of human events!" Turning ourself somewhat more seriously to this subject, it is certainly a fact that the mental powers of women, in all classes, from the highest to the lowest, are not brought under their fair share of cultivation. There are some things which, on a bad system, are done well; others which are done ill, but on a good principlebut with regard to Female Education, both the principle and the practice are equally wretched. Our principle is, that women should be educated in order to marry,* and our practice is to give them such an education as would, if the bounty of Nature were not so great as to counterwork the evils of Art, utterly unfit them for being good wives. Do we teach them knowledge? God forbid! that would be masculine !+-we teach them accomplishments. They are ignorant of the laws of their country, but they can speak French with the most unconscious inaccuracy! They do not know if there's such a thing in the world as Public Virtue, but they've an excellent notion of putting cows into water-colours! They never talk wisdom-that would be, indeed, unwomanly: they give up their souls altogether to scandal; they conceal affections with the most feminine modesty; but as for their dislikes, they are too sincere not to paint them as glowingly as possible. Is this severe on them ?—not at all; it is severe on the education we give them. Singular it is, indeed, that, despite of all the pains we take to teach them hypocrisy in feeling, and to terrify them from advances in knowledge, the pure and noble nature of the sex should shine out so often, and through so many disadvantages. "But," cries out a gentleman whom I have in my eye; a sober, solemn gentleman, who intends to marry an English" wife, and who pares his nails See what our amusing Correspondent says, lightly but significantly, on this subWhat will our Spinsters do?" ect, in " + Masculine! We certainly meet with a vast deal of knowledge among men! |