There with compassion all our errors scan,

And plead the cause of frail and sinful man.

Never published. Copied from the original, which was lent to me by T. D. Bayly Esq. Barrister.

CLVII. ENGLISH AND GERMAN UNIVERSITIES-DR PARK. [FROM A PRIVATE LETTER.]

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It is in all cases proper that remuneration should be merely commensurate with the service; and in literature as well as in religion, that the reward rendered should be in exact proportion to the duty performed. Neglect of this sound principle has converted our English Universities into a public nuisance. The public lecturers are quite independent of the emolument derived from their pupils; consequently, they teach nothing worth learning, except it be obedience to the church, and submission to the throne; but in Germany the ablest Professors seldom receive a higher salary than £200 a year; the rest is derived from the contribution of their disciples. I need not add, that the number in each class is in exact ratio to the learning and science of each Professor. The ignorant continue in the obscurity of poverty, whilst the learned and scientific invariably rise to reputation and affluence; hence it is that whilst the English Universities have contributed little to the advancement of the human mind, their colleagues in Germany have explored regions, and discovered truths which shake the faith of nations, and the thrones of kings. They have overthrown the temples of superstition, and broken open the dungeons of slavery;-I talk not of political but of intellectual Germany. Neither does my friend object to a fixed salary "pitifully small," his confidence in his own powers, experience, and learning, flatter him, and embolden his supporters to entertain the probable expectation, that "classical attainments, and lite

rary reputation," admitted by his enemies to be "unquestionable, and pre-eminent," will not fail to attract scholars in such numbers, and on such terms, as must secure a high character for the establishment, and ample wealth for its conductor. That a scholar like Samuel Parr, whose time was devoted to ancient literature, should have found no leisure for investigating the profound mysteries of modern housekeeping, is too obvious to be remarked-but to attribute his failure to a defective state of his domestic arrangements, when it originated solely in the brutality of his temper, is what no one, in fair argument, would endeavour to maintain :-as a scholar, Parr was admirable—in politics most contemptible-but in manners -a perfect brute; and to the brutality of his manners—not to his ignorance of Cookery-did he owe the deserved failure of every scheme of advancement, which required, as a chief ingredient, suavity of manners and benevolence of heart. But to contrast the ferocity of the one with the meek gentleness of the other, is what no man will require at my hands—who knows any thing personally or historically of either. That Mr should have amassed a fortune, where Parr sold his Greek Thesaurus to purchase bread, only proves that mediocrity of mind is better qualified for the economies of life, than the acquisition of learning. The question is not, who shall accumulate most money-but upon whose shoulders, shall worthily descend the sacred mantle of the Greek Sage.

The poverty of learning is reduced to a proverb, and if Genius has its victims-Ancient Literature is not without its martyrs Poor Chatterton, and noble Byron fell early in the cause of poesy and freedom, and my reverend Friend lingers long in sufferings from his enthusiasm for Hellenic learningand as to the allusion to his "domestic helpmate," I would disdain to introduce the affectionate partner of all his sorrows, for the purpose of prolonging their too painful endurance; and I would not sting him to the heart by telling him— that but for her-whose kind attentions have soothed his grief, and balmed his wounds-he might hope to pass the remainder of

his days in easy competence and cheerful quietude-and if her society has been in his youth, not a reality of bliss-but a dream of pleasure-accursed be he, who would awaken him from that dream-only to leave him to the miserable solitude of an impoverished old age.

Although Parr did not make a fortune for himself, he made scholars for literature, and Patriots for his Country,-and if Tweddel sleeps enshrined in the glories of the Parthenon, Maltby lives to be an honour to his country, and a credit to his instructor.

I must recall to your mind, that the real question is one of Greek and Latin learning; the object is to endoctrine youth in the literature of Athens and Rome, and it is vain to say that inferiority in this respect can be made up, by indulging the boys with dimity bed curtains and cotton night caps, or by ornamenting their dormitories with Wedgewood's most elegant Etrurian utensils.

CLVIII. POOR RICHARD'S MAXIMS ON THE VALUE OF TIME.

God helps them who help themselves.

Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears, while the used key is always bright.

Dost thou love life? then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of.

The sleeping fox catches no poultry, and there will be sleeping enough in the grave.

If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality.

Lost time is never found again, what we call time enough, always proves little enough.

CLIX. TIP POO SULTAN'S THRONE.

The Sultan's throne, we are told, being too unwieldy to be conveyed away, was broken up. It consisted of a howdah, or armed seat, upon a tiger covered with sheet gold; the ascent was by silver steps, gilt; the canopy was equally superb. and decorated with a costly fringe of white pearls all around it. The eyes and teeth of the tiger were of glass; it was valued at 60,000 pagodas, or upwards of £25, 000 sterling. The sheetgold alone was estimated at 40,000 pagodas. Every inch of the howdah contained an Arabic inscription, chiefly from the Koran, and superbly stamped, being raised and polished in the most beautiful manner. A gold figure of a bird, covered over with the most precious stones, was fastened to the top of the canopy; its beak was a large emerald, its eyes were carbuncles, the breast was covered with diamonds: on its back were many large jewels, fancifully arranged; while the tail, made to resemble a peacock, was actually studded in the same manner. The whole was so formed as to have the appearance of plumage, and so closely set, that the gold was hardly to be seen.

CLX. THE LATE DUCHESS OF WELLINGTON.

It is now, we believe, pretty generally known and there can be no motive for not making public mention of the cirumstances since the decease of her Grace, the Duchess, that between the period of her engagement with General Wellesley and his return from India, she was seized with that cruel distemper so long the scourge of female beauty. She is stated to have once written to release Sir Arthur from his engagement; but with equal magnanimity he refused to avail himself of the permission, pressed his suit and on his return was united to her.

CLXI. THE PITCHER PLANT.

This plant abounds in the stony and arid parts of the island of Java, from which, were it not for this vegetable wonder, small birds and quadrupeds would be forced to migrate in quest of water. At the foot-stalk of each leaf is a small bag, shaped like a pitcher, furnished with a lid, and having a kind of hinge that passes over the handle of the pitcher, and connects it with the leaf. This hinge is a strong fibre, which contracts in showery weather and when the dew falls. Numerous little goblets, filled with sweet fresh water, are thus held forth, and furnishes a delicious draught to the tiny animals that climb their branches and to a great variety of winged visitants. But no sooner has the cloud passed by, and the warm sun shone forth, than the heated fibre begins to expand, and closes the goblet so firmly as to prevent evaporation, precluding a further supply till called for by the wants of another day.

CLXII. ALEXANDER'S TOMB.

It is not generally known that the tomb of Alexander the Great is now deposited in the British Museum. Where the body itself of that celebrated warrior has been removed is altogether uncertain. After his death, the greatest care was taken of his remains. A golden chasework encircled the corpse, surrounded with an envelope of the same metal, inclosed in a purple vestment. His superb armour covered all. The body, after two years' preparation for a magnificent funeral, was borne in a splendid car from Babylon to Alexandria, and deposited in a tomb which Ptolemy had prepared for the remains of his deified master, who was ever after deemed the thirteenth god of the Egyptians. His tomb itself became the object of worship with the Corabiasis. Augustus Cæsar, three centuries after his decease, viewed the body of the hero, which was then entire,