a third of which so much has been written; whilst might have timidly avoided the subject altogether, and thus failed in his duty, both to his God and his hearers. Dr. Fleming has adopted the golden mean, and a more perfect specimen of correct argument, scriptural doctrine, and chastened eloquence, it has not been, for a long time, our good fortune to peruse; it unites christian feeling to sound philosophy, and calmly, yet, firmly, discusses the doctrine of assurance, by addressing the understanding through incontrovertible and scriptural arguments. There are three texts on which the fabric of Dr. Fleming's discourse is reared, 1. Col. ii. and 2. 2. Heb. x. and 22. 3. Heb. vi. and 11. Assurance of Understanding. Assurance of Faith. Assurance of Hope. and it commences with certain propositions, to which it is impossible to deny our full and free assent. After a suitable introduction, the Doctor observes: Assurance is a large and an important subject; but it is only one of many large and important subjects that are handled in the Word of God. And, in looking to that Word, as the rule of our faith and manners, we have no right to fasten upon those passages which relate to ASSURANCE, and to confine our thoughts and attention exclusively to them. The writer next proceeds to show, that not only that there are three kinds of assurance, but that each kind is supported by evidence distinctly and peculiarly its own; and, having proceeded at considerable length, to establish the truth of these observations, he observes, The last, and highest kind of assurance, is the assurance of hope, or the persuasion that we, as individuals, are in a state of grace and salvation. You will see, at once, that this kind of assurance is grounded on the third kind of evidence of which religion admits-the evidence arising from experience. You will see, too, from the nature of the thing, that the assurance of hope comes after the assurance of faith; and that we must attain to the latter before we can attain to the former. The assurance of faith is the firm conviction of the truth and certainty of the things testified in Scripture. The assurance of hope is the joyful persuasion that we are interested in the accomplishment of these things. Faith counts it a true saying, and a saying "worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." Hope looks for him as " coming the second time, without sin, unto salvation." And if this hope, and the full assurance of the same, is in us, it will lead us to look for him, as coming to complete our salvation. But, says the Apostle Peter, (1 Pet. iii. 15.) "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear, having a good conscience." Here you see some of the grounds, or warrants upon which we may rest or cherish this hope-a good conscience and a sanctified heart. The original ground, or warrant, no, doubt, is the Word of God. For it is by faith in God's Word that we come to this hope; and with. out faith we never can come to it. But then God's Word contains no description, nor indication of the individuals who are to be saved, farther than the declaration that "they who believe shall be saved." Now, the fact that we believe is not to be learned from the Scriptures, but from the reception which we give to the Scriptures, and from the effects which our reception of them has upon the heart and life. In other words, the evidence that we are in a state of grace and salvation, is not to be gathered from the testimony of the Gopel, which merely proclaims grace and salvation to those who believe; but, from the fact, that we have obeyed the proclamation, and believed the testimony of the Gospel. The fact that we have believed, again, is to be ascertained by our having the fruits of faith in us; and among these fruits, a good conscience and a sanctified heart are the most prominent and important. Belief, being the act or exercise of an intelligent being, may no doubt be accompanied with consciousness; and, from the moment that a man believes, he may, it has been thought, be sensible, or conscious that he does so: hence, saith the Scripture, "He that believeth hath the witness in himself." It has been questioned, however, whether this witnessing of our own spirit--this testimony of our own consciousness, is, by itself, a good and sufficient warrant to cherish the assurance of hope. But the dispute is scarcely worth the entering on, because, you will observe, it is in the nature of things impossible that his own consciousness should, for any perceptible length of time, be the only evidence that a man has of his being a believer. If he indeed believes, his faith will manifest itself by its fruits; for faith is uniformly spoken of in Scripture as a principle that is powerful and extensive in its operations. It is the very fountain-head from which descend those living streams which cheer and fructify the dry and barren land, and nourish those green spots which refresh, by their loveliness, the hard bosom of this world's wilderness. It is the source of those heavenly influences, which gladden the dark heart of man -cause his desert soul to rejoice and blossom as the rose— strengthen his weak hands confirm his feeble knees-cause his face to shine as with the oil of joy, and make his whole path through life healthful and fragrant. In a word, "Faith purifieth the heart-overcometh the world-worketh by love, and is full of mercy and of good fruits." Now, if these good fruits are produced, the existence and exercise of faith may be safely inferred; and if they are not produced, the weakness or want of faith may be as surely inferred; "For, in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature ;"-" And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them and mercy; and upon the Israel of God." Now, if we are walking according to this rule of the apostle, that is, if we are become new creatures, then we are warranted to take to ourselves the blessing of the apostle, and to hope that peace shall be on us and mercy. If we see, and can satisfy ourselves that we are following hard after Christ; that we are learning of Him who was meek and lowly in heart; that we are denying ourselves to all ungodliness, separating ourselves from all sinners, delighting ourselves in God's law, and rejoicing to do God's will; then we may conclude that we are in the faith of God's Word, and consequently in the way of grace and salvation: and, by showing the same diligence," and following the same path with those who through faith and patience have inherited the promises, we also may rise to the full assurance of hope, that we shall obtain the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls." Nay, in proportion as we proceed "to put off the old man which is corrupt, and to put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness"-we are not left merely to argue, or infer that we are in the way of inheriting the blessing, for "the Spirit may witness with our spirits that we are the children of God—and if children, then heirs-heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ." It is to be observed, however, that the Spirit witnesseth nothing beyond what is contained in the Word of God. Now, as that Word contains no express or positive declaration that we, individually, shall be saved, the Spirit bears no direct testimony to this point. 66 66 ELIJAH. DEEP thunder in the cloud, Fierce lightning in the sky; The Prophet's soul, wrapp'd in a shroud, Of fearful mystery. Near the hill cliff he lay, He saw approaching woe; In the wild lightning's gleam Their steel-girt helmets glance-- That rock-bound canopy." And thus, in wrath, he spoke, Warriors ascend the hill, The length'ning pennons wave; They pass-they pass, the mountain rill, March they to find a grave? No! hear their leader humbly pray, "Thou man of God, forgive, Oh! bid the dreadful lightnings stay, And bid thy servants live. We own the power of Israel's God, Bade Israel's prophet go→→ LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. THE EARL OF BRIDGEWATER'S BEQUEST. THESE of our readers, who combine the study of natural, with that of revealed theology, will be gratified by the following statement, the particulars of which, many of them may not yet be acquainted with:- The Rev. the Earl of Bridgewater beqeathed, in 1815, the sum of eight thousand pounds to some person or persons, who should be nominated, by the President of the Royal Society, to write, print and publish, "a thousand copies of a work on the power, wisdom, and goodness of God, as manifested in the creation illustrating such work by all reasonable arguments, as, for instance, the variety and formation of God's creatures in the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms; the effect of digestion, and thereby of conversion, the construction of the hand of man, and an infinite variety of other arguments; as, also, by discoveries, ancient and modern, in arts, sciences and the whole extent of literature." And he desired, that the profits arising from the sale of that work should be paid as a farther remuneration to the person or persons so employed; with power to advance the sum of £800 during the writing and printing of the said, work. The Earl died in 1829, and in the following year, his trustees invested the sum of £8000 in the 3 per cent. consols. The late President of the Royal Society, Mr. Davies Gilbert, anxious to discharge his task in an adequate manner, obtained the consent of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London to share it with him; and, after much deliberation, the work has been placed in the hands of the following eight gentlemen :The Rev. William Whewell, M. A. F. R.S. Professor of Mineralogy in the University of Cambridge. The Rev. Thomas Chalmers, Professor of Divinity in Edinburgh. John Kidd, Esq. M. D. F. R. S. cine in the University of Oxford. Regius Professor of Medi The Rev. William Buckland, D. D. F. R.S. Professor of Geology in the University of Oxford. THE Exhibition of the Royal Academy is expected to be very splendid this season; each of the members, it is said, will send their full allowance of works, and we have heard it avowed, that portraits will be less numerous than formerly. Wilkie will be in great force, both with historical and domestic pictures. Turner, though he has given much of his time to the magnificent scenery of the poems of Sir Walter Scott, has some works of a poetic stamp, ready to meet the landscapes of his rival Callcott; the President has some excellent portraits-so has Phillips, so has Pickersgill Etty, Allan, Howard, Collins, Jones, Hilton, and others, who support the attractions of the Exhibition annually, will in some cases excel their former efforts. Nor will the sculpture be otherwise than worthy of the paintings. We are, indeed, glad to hear, that so many noble works are ready for the eye of the world. Art is by no means a very remunerating pursuit, and for the last twelve months it has been sadly depressed; but the nightmare will soon, we hope, cease to press upon it, and public feeling, flowing in a natural channel, will sooth and encourage it in producing works worthy of the country. MUSICAL INTELLIGENCE. THE composer to the Chapel Royal has always the task assigned to him of composing a piece for the Coronation of our Soverigns, and no native musician is better qualified to perform it well than Mr. Attwood. The anthem performed at the Coronation of his present Majesty is entitled, " O Lord, grant the King a long Life." The introductory Maestoso is for the band alone, and consists of thirty-five bars, on a bold subject, which, on repetition, is accompanied with the national air, “Rule Britannia," played by horns and trumpets. It is very ingeniously interwoven with the other parts, on the plan of the Anthem composed for the Coronation of George the Fourth, wherein "God Save the King" was similarly treated. This is followed by a Moderato in common time. This movement contains a great variety of pure modern counterpoint, and the parts flow most pleasantly: the wind-instruments are written for in the style of Mozart, our author's instructor; and the tout ensemble promises to be a very effective composition in a cathedral. The anthem concludes with an "Amen" chorus-a fine fugue, worked with considerable talent, the subject beginning with the bass voices, is taken up at the fifth bar by the tenor and trebles successively: it is relieved by modulations in the modern school, which Mr. Attwood seems perfectly master of. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. "THE FOREGROUND," in an early number. "Jaques" under consideration. Sonnet by "A Constant Reader," will be placed in the hands of the poetical critic. We thank "W. H." We are under many obligations to the "Whole Alphabet." FOR Advertisements. NOR a Short Time only.-Patronized by his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester.-MONSIEUR EDOUART, Silhouettiste of the French Royal Family, No. 149, Queen Street, respectfully informs the Nobility and Gentry, that he will remain a few days longer in Glasgow, in consequence of his inability to execute the numerous orders he has received since he announced his departure. Owing to the fatal disease which now prevails in the city, and which carries off its victims with such rapidity, the Silhouettes of Mons. Edouart have already, in some cases, been found to remain as the only faithful memorials of beloved friends and relatives. Mr. E. begs to observe, that no Likeness of any Gentleman is exhibited without his consent; and that the Likenesses of Ladies are never exhibited in his Show-Room, or Duplicates sold, without the consent of the parties. Children under Full length standing, 5s. Ditto sitting, 7s. Eight Years, 3s. 6d. Duplicates of the Shilhouettes, full-length, 3s. Ditto sitting, 4s. Ditto Children, 2s. 6d. Family Groups taken at their residences, on the same terms, any time after 6 o'clock in the evening. LET,-TWO LODGINGS in MAXWELTON TPLACE and ONE in KINGSTON PLACE, consist ing of Dining Room, Drawing Room, Three Bed-Rooms, Laundry, Servants' Room, Cellarage and Kitchen, with Bleaching Green and Flower Plot. Attached to one of the Lodgings is an excellent Coach House, Two Stalled Stable, and Dog Kennel. Apply at No. 4, Maxwelton Place. The Grounds extend to somewhat more than One and a Half Scotch Acres, consisting of Shrubbery, Romantic Wooded Banks, with a productive walled Garden, and about two Roods of excellent Pasturage. The House was recently built, and since occupied by the Proprietor is perfectly dry, free from smoke, completely furnished, and every way adapted for the Residence of a Genteel Family, most conveniently situated for Sea Bathing, and commands one of the finest and most extensive views on the Frith of Clyde. For further particulars, apply to the PROPRIETOR at the House; or to Messrs. GRAHAM, House Agents, 90, Argyle Street, Glasgow. PUBLISHED, every Morning, Sunday excepted, by JOHN FINLAY, at No. 9, Miller Street; and Sold by JOHN WYLIE, 97, Argyle Street; DAVID ROBERTSON, and W. R. M'PHUN, Glasgow; THOMAS STEVENSON, and the other Booksellers, Edinburgh: DaVID DICK, and A. GARDNER, Booksellers, Paisley : A. Laino, Greenock; and J. GLASS, Bookseller, Rothsay. PRINTED BY JOHN GRAHAM, MELVILLE PLACE. THE DAY. A MORNING JOURNAL OF LITERATURE, FINE ARTS, FASHION, &c. CARPE DIEM. GLASGOW, MONDAY, APRIL 9, 1832. ON FUMIGATION AS A PREVENTATIVE OF CHOLERA. CHLORINE has long been famed for its anti-contagious powers. The nature of infectious diseases admits, with difficulty, of these powers being made the subject of direct experiment upon them; but there is abundant proof of its effect in purifying air, loaded with the most loathsome effluvia, from the decay of animal or vegetable matter. M. Orfila, having occasion to examine the body of a inan supposed to have been poisoned, and who had been nearly a month dead, found the smell almost insupportable. He was induced to try the effect of chloride of lime, and had scarcely sprinkled over the body, when the unpleasant smell was entirely destroyed, and the operation proceeded in, with comparative comfort. Attempts, also, have not been wanting, to bring direct proof of the value of chlorine, in destroying pestilential miasmata. In the year 1829, a French medical expedition was sent to Egypt and Syria, under the direction of M. Parisot; the object of which, was to ascertain the cause of plague, and the effect of chlorides in staying its progress. Not finding the disease in Egypt, M. Parisot and his five colleagues proceeded to Tripoli, where 20 to 25 persons were dying of it, daily. When there, six shirts and six pairs of drawers, in which persons had recently died of the plague, were brought to them. The clothes were foul with diseased matter, and of a detestable odour. They were steeped 16 hours in a solution of chloride of lime, (3 lbs. to 50 gallons of water,) then wrung out and dried in the sun. Each of the medical men took a shirt and a pair of drawers, and wore them for 18 hours, next the skin. M. Parisot wrote, after three weeks, that the health of his party was unimpaired. The chain of evidence here, is not altogether complete; but in a subject of such difficulty and danger, we must be content to receive it, in connection with what we know of the changes produced by chlorine, upon matters which are perceptible to our senses. Chloride of lime, (the bleaching powder of Messrs. Tennant) is now much used as a substitute for free chlorine, and it is, in many cases, of more convenient application. The solution is sprinkled upon the floors. of infected places, and clothes supposed to be imbued with pestilential matter are steeped in it. Chloride of lime, however, not being volatile, can excite no purifying power upon substances with which it is not in immediate contact, and the quantity of chlorine, set free from it by the air, is too slight to deserve attention. To produce complete fumigation, therefore, we must resort to means by which the chlorine gas can be evolved instantly, and in considerable quantities. There are various ways by which this may be done. After the experience of regularly fumigating 300 work people's houses, we have fixed upon the following as being the cheapest, as well as the most effectual and convenient : Mix, in a common bowl or small basin, 1 Ounce of Powdered Manganese, with Chlorine gas begins to be given off immediately, and if the room be not wanted for some hours, the doors are closed, and the action allowed to go on; but, where one apartment constitutes the house, it is more convenient to heat the mixture, by throwing into it a few cinders from the fire place. Large quantities of chlorine and muriatic acid are thus given off at once, which soon penetrate into every part of the room. In one hour, fresh air may be admitted, to render the house habitable, with the certainty that every thing which has been exposed is purified of its disagreeable smell, and, as far as chlorine will do it, of its pestilential matter. If, however, the house and its furniture have not been previously clean, the filth will soon.begin again to be offensive, and to encourage pestilence. In good houses, where alarm has been occasioned by disease appearing in the neighbourhood, and where there is no suspicion of the previous existence of infectious matter, it is better to keep up, constantly, such a slight smell of chlorine, as will neither inconvenience the inmates, nor injure the furniture, than to give the strong and passing dose already described. For this purpose, dilute 4 Ounces of Spirit of Salt, with 4 Ounces of Water, and then add In a few minutes, the smell of chlorine appears, in quantity sufficient to impregnate the air of a room, or even of several contiguous rooms, if the doors are left open to admit it. At the end of 24 hours, chlorine will continue to be given off, by stirring the mixture, but the duration and intensity of the smell are easily regulated, by the quantity of water that is employed. If the supposed danger continues, the dose may be renewed when the chlorine ceases to be given off. The expense of the materials, when they can be bought at wholesale prices, is altogether trifling. Manganese at 8s. or 10s. a cwt. and spirit of salt at ląd. per lb. makes a fumigating dose to cost one farthing. We must not be understood to encourage the idea, that a single case of cholera, in one of our open streets, can so far impregnate the air, as to endanger the health of persons residing in a different house; and, it is rather with a view to inspire confidence, than to excite alarm, that we offer the information contained in our present paper. That cholera does affect the air has been very distinctly shewn off the Coasts of Ceylon and the Mauritius. The miasma of marshes acts in this way; and that of Walcheren extended to vessels riding at anchor, fully a quarter of a mile from the shore. The alarm arises from a want of attention to the very different amount of poisonous matter exposed to the action of the air. LITERARY CRITICISM AND FINE ARTS. VIEWS OF THE OPENING OF THE GLASGOW AND GARNKIRK RAILWAY, By D. O. Hill, Esq. S. A. and A. R. I. Also, an Account of that and other Railways in Lanarkshire. Drawn up by George Buchanan, Esq. Civil Engineer, Edinburgh. 1832. Iris rather a novelty to treat of steam locomotion, under a head which is usually confined to the creations of fancy; but the fact is, that the work which we have announced under the above title, is one that may well claim a place beside others of greater pretension, whether they may be the productions of the pencil or the pen. The most striking attraction which it presents to the eye, is four views upon the Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway, representing different parts of the line, and exhibiting a very accurate idea of the manner of travelling which it has brought into practice. The first picture is an exact copy of the scene which was presented to a spectator, on the 27th of September last, the day when the railway was opened, and which we remember to have witnessed, among other admiring strangers, from the commanding situation of the bridge at Provan Mill. The busy groups which were then seen, hurrying to obtain an advantageous situation, or waiting in anxious expectation till the long serpentine train should be visible from end to end, are here brought again to view, and the noble sight of endless moving machines, which was hailed with shouts of exultation from every side, is presented to the eye with something of the effect which was produced by the regular and easy motion of the original, and with none of the transitory pleasure which diminished, in some degree, the reward of an hour's patient stance upon the bridge. The next is a view of the Germiston embankment, looking West, and is really a harmonious combination of the beauties of nature, and the wonders of art. Those landed proprietors who object to the formation of railways on their estates, on the ground of its spoiling their appearance, may see from this, how far the naturally inert, but artificially active machines are, from being unsightly objects. The two other prints represent the depots at St. Rollox, the spirited proprietors of which, the Messrs. Tennant, have been principally instrumental in bringing this liberal scheme to completion. The bold and effective style in which these and the other engravings are executed, with the exception of a trifling, but very evident error in perspective, in view Fourth, is highly creditable, both to the designer Mr. Hill, and to our namesake the lithographer; and we do not doubt, but that they will be the means of interesting, in behalf of the very useful speculation which has called them into being, a much larger portion of the public than have hitherto turned their attention that way. The letter-press, which forms the other portion of this work, contains what might be expected from the able writer, a very clear demonstration of the advantages connected with railways, especially in the county of Lanark, and a succinct detail of the peculiar circumstances attending the formation of that now established between Glasgow and Garnkirk. The causes which have contributed to the increase of facility in land communication, are very well classified and described, and it is shewn, that all the improvements which have been made hitherto, rapid and extensive as some of them have been, have never equalled in importance the results which are to be expected from the discoveries of Mr. George Stephenson, Mr. Gurney and others. Mr. Richardson is at some pains to ascertain the precise extent and value of the coal fields in the neighbourhood of Glasgow, and shews the insufficiency of canals to afford a means for conveying this useful mineral to the market. This is followed by an account of the progress of railways in the west, with the success which attended them ever since the formation of that called the Monkland and Kirkintulloch. Due attention is paid to the distinguishing excellences of the Ballochney railway, and to the benefits which have accrued from it to the public. Then comes a description of that which forms the more immediate subject of this work, the Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway, the merits of which are very fairly and highly estimated. We shall quote from this part the following passage, illustrative of the effects already produced by this undertaking :— Since the railway commenced, in September, the chief trade on it has been in coals, of which a very great quantity has been already sent down the line, averaging about 350 tons daily, or at the rate of 100,000 tons annually; and the quantity is expected to be much greater, when additional engines arrive, and things get into their regular train. A carriage for the conveyance of passengers also leaves Coat Bridge and Leaend every morning for Glasgow, and returns in the evening. Each time, also, the engine starts with a load of coals from the upper part of the line, or with empty waggons returning, a small passenger waggon is attached, not being regulated by any hour; and a considerable number of stragglers find their way in this manner along the line. This railway promises to realize fully the great object of its promoters, and to become, at the same time, a work of vast benefit to the city of Glasgow, as well as to the districts through which it passes. Such is the facility of transport on it, that coals from Kipps Colliery for example, which were formerly carted one and a-half miles to the Monkland Canal, and by it conveyed to Glasgow at an expense in all of 3s. 6d. a ton, can now be sent by the railway for less than 1s. 3d. In fact, the expense of carting them that one mile and a half to the canal, amounted to two-thirds of the whole expense of sending them by the railway to Glasgow. From the collieries, again, situated on the canal, the saving by the railway will amount to 1s. 4d. a ton. This must evidently have a sensible effect on the price of coal, generally, throughout Glas gow and the neighbourhood, and the consequences of even a very trifling reduction in the price of this necessary, over so large and populous a city, must be in the highest degree important to the inhabitants, as well as in giving a new and powerful stimulus to trade and manufactures. The extent and magnitude of some of the manufacturing establishments in this city is what few have an idea of, and the consumption of coal enormous. In the chemical works, for example, of St. Rollox, belonging to Messrs. Charles Tennant and Co. and the most extensive perhaps in the world, which are situated, as already mentioned, close on the railway at the west end, and which cover an extent of about ten acres, the greater part of which is covered and roofed over with buildings, the quantity of coal required for the different furnaces amounts to 30,000 tons annually, and in the City gas-works in the same neighbourhood, the consumption amounts to about 16,000. Supposing the price only reduced Is. a ton, here would be a saving in two works only, of £2300 a year, and if we take the whole annual consumpt of the city at 700,000 tons, a difference of 1s. a ton on this quantity would occasion a saving of £35,000 a year; or nearly half the expense of the railway. It is not alone, however, in the mere saving of such a sum of money that the advantage consists, but what is of still more importance, in the encouragement it holds out to trade and manufactures, such a difference is sufficient to draw new establishments to the place; for, as the price of coal is one of the principal considerations in the establishment of many manufactures, a small difference is often sufficient to turn the balance in favour of one place over another, and thus the saving of what may appear only a trifle per ton, may become in its consequences of the highest public importance. We need not extend our remarks any farther, save to mention, that the work is concluded by a calculation of the advantages likely to result from the completion of the railway now in progress, embracing in its extent a number of collieries in the direction of Carluke and Coltness. When to this it is added, that the whole is illustrated by correct etchings and accompanied by a sketch of the Lanarkshire railways, shewing the public works in connexion therewith, our readers will at once perceive the value, as well as the elegance of the treatise. LITERARY CRITICISM. THE DIAMOND GAZETTEER OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND; with Tables of Principal Towns, Population of 1831, &c. &c. Glasgow, 1832. THIS neat and tiny volume may, indeed, be called, Multum in Parvo; for, although it is not bigger than a snuff-box for the waistcoat pocket of the jemiest of those who take rapee, it not only comprises a compen→ dious account of all the counties, cities, boroughs, towns, capes, forts, rivers and lakes of Great Britain and Ireland, but likewise many most useful and complete tables of cities and towns, with all the principal tra velling routes throughout the empire. The work has, evidently, been prepared with considerable labour, and, although it is only of the small dimensions to which we have alluded, we find that not a city, town, or village has been overlooked, that is worthy of particular description, either in point of its local, historical, commercial, or manufacturing importance. This handsome little to me is, in fact, both a typographical and topographical gem, and will be found one of the most useful companions, that we know, to the traveller whose library must be portable. IMPORTANCE OF ORDER IN OUR CONDUCT. We have sometimes attempted to ridicule method and regularity in our worldly conduct, but every wise man must allow that to act by some rule, and to some end, is so essential to our happiness, and so conformable to the designs of our Creator, that it cannot be neglected without a violation of the laws of God. This regard to duty and propriety is in fact the bond by which peace is preserved in kingdoms, and union in families. It is this which regulates the conduct of the servant towards his master, and the subject towards his Prince. It is this which engages parents to love their children, and study to promote their happiness, and children to make due returns of obedience, honour and grateful assistance to their parents. It is certainly one of the greatest misfortunes in the world to live without any stated rule of conduct, in perpetual tumult and confusion. Our life should, in fact, be a transcript of the universe, which could not subsist, much less attract our admiration, were it not for that just proportion which is discoverable in all its parts. Take order from a world, and you reduce it to a frightful chaos; leave man without any other guide than his own passions and caprice, and there will be nothing but perpetual discord between his judgment and his will. Ruin ensues when a man exhibits in his own illregulated mind the miseries of anarchy; his ideas are confused, his imagination is bewildered, his conscience misled, his reason obscured, and his soul becomes the seat of tumult and confusion. The man who lives at random is a slave to his own whims and caprice. The world reprobates such an one as a monster which disturbs its harmony, and society rejects him as a being incapable of friendship. Whoever is irregular in his own mind is destitute of every quality which can contribute to the ornament or benefit of human life; his manners are disgusting, his expenses are excessive, and his whole conduct unaccountable. The exact proportion observable in every work of God is intended to teach us, that order is the greatest beauty in nature, and that, to despise this, is to counteract one of the greatest laws of the Creator of the universe. It is the duty, therefore, of every one, to endeavour to imitate, in his behaviour, that general harmony in the creation, which, in the course of every year, supplies man with whatever is agreeable or useful. The mind in which disorder prevails, is like a city without government, or a house without unanimity: How many, in fact, seem to delight in nothing but irregularity; individuals who go to rest when others rise, who eat when others fast, who stay at home when others go to church-in short, whose chief employment seems to be, to break through every rule, without the least regard to method in any part of their conduct. The fashionable lady, whose gaiety is so much the object of envy, confounds night with day-knows no laws but her own whims, has no home but for pleasure, no plan except it be to avoid every thing that is akin to regularity. When the mind is thus disordered, it is afraid to look into itself, or if it ventures to examine at all, it only does it superficially. The senses are so many tyrants, from whose power we are unable to de liver ourselves, and nothing appears really valuable, which does not administer to their gratification. Let us maintain then that dominion over our own hearts, that we be not overcome by those passions which lay daily seige to our virtue, and if we do so, then our own thoughts will be regulated by wisdom, and we will be raised above those clouds which obscure the light of the understanding. Were man only confirmed in the wise habit of acting methodically, every part of his conduct would be happily adjusted. He would then set apart proper seasons for study and for recreation-he would then manage his time and his income with prudence-he would then distribute exact justice to his neighbours, and he would' never engage in any important enterprize without considering the end. Nothing will then make him ever forget the duties which he owes to his character and station, and no day will then ever pass, in which he will not remember his duty to God. LITERARY PLAGIARISM. To the Editor of the THE DAY. SIR, I agree with your correspondent in Friday's publication, that foreign literature has been much indebted to writers in English, and, I think, he sufficiently demonstrated the resemblance betwixt "the Ephemeral" of the German Author, which appeared in No. 76 of The Day, and Franklin's well-known paper entitled "the Ephemera," or, as your coutributor has called it, "emblem of life." However, whilst agreeing thus far with "A Yankee," I cannot allow him to appropriate, as a portion of his country's literature, the parable on persecution which appears in all the editions of Franklin's works that I have seen, and which has been generally considered as a happy specimen of that eminent American's powers both of composition and imitation. This parable excited considerable speculation when it was last given to the world. The Scriptures were diligently searched to determine bets, whether or not it was in the English Bible, and the search being unsuccessful, it was, without further enquiry, attributed to Franklin. This worthy philosopher seems to have had little inclination to undeceive the world regarding its origin, for he sent it to Lord Kames as a Jewish parable on persecution, and it was published, by the latter, in his "Sketches," probably under the impression, that it was of Franklin's own composition. The source whence Franklin derived this parable, was, evidently, the works of Dr. Jeremy Taylor, who, although he calls it "a story found in the Jews' books," was generally understood to have composed it, in order to introduce, with a better grace, an apt illustration of his moral. Investigation, however has shown, that the English Divine is no more entitled to be considered its author, than the American Philosopher. It has been traced to its legitimate source, and it appears that Taylor took this beautiful apologue from an epistle dedicatory, prefixed to the translation of a Jewish work, by George Gentius, who quotes it from the Persian Poet Saadi. |