most important and extensive utility are often made to proceed from some one primary cause; neither do these effects, in any one instance, either clash or jar, or interfere with each other, but each one is as perfect in its kind, as if the common source of its activity were adjusted and appropriated to the accomplishing of that single effect alone. An illustration or two will suffice, where the number of examples is so great, that the difficulty lies more in the selection than in the discovery. The atmosphere is formed for the respiration of numberless animals, which most important office it perfectly performs, being the very food of life. But there are two other processes almost as important, which could not go on without an atmosphere, seeing that it is essential to both of them the dissemination of light by its powers of refraction and reflection, and of heat by its decomposition. The ocean is a fluid world, admirably calculated for the propagation and continuation of those myriads of aquatic animals with which it abounds; and thus, it enables the Creator to extend, both in depth and surface, the sphere of sensation, of life, and of enjoyment, from the poles even unto the line. But the ocean has other most important offices to fulfil; it is perhaps more necessary to the earth, than the earth itself is to the ocean; for while it appears to be the great receptacle of salt water, it becomes, through the joint medium of the sun and of the atmosphere, the principal reservoir and distributor of fresh. The sun himself was created as the grand emporium of light and heat to the system. He not only varms and enlightens, but he also regulates and ontrols, both the times, and the spaces, of the whole planetary world; the lord of motion, no less than of light, he imposes a law on those erratic bodies, as invincible as it is invisible, which nevertheless allows the fullest scope to all their wanderings, and subjects them to no restraint but that which is absolutely necessary for their preservation.

When we consider that Julius Cesar, Pompey, Brutus, Cato, Atticus, Livy, Cicero, Horace, Virgil, Hortensius, Augustus, and Marcus Varro, were contemporaries, that they were, at the same time, enclosed within the walls of the same city, which might well be termed 'Roma virum genitrix ;* and when we further reflect, that this bright constellation was attended also by another subordinate to it, made up of stars, indeed of lesser magnitude, but which would have shone with no small lustre in any other horizon, we no longer wonder that a capital that could breed and educate such men, should aspire to the proud title of mistress of the world, and vaunt herself secure from all mortal wounds, save only those that might be inflicted in an evil hour by parricidal hands. The close observer of human nature, who takes nothing on trust, who, undazzled by the lustre, calmly inquires into the use, will not be contented with a bare examination of the causes that conspired to produce so marvellous a union of talent, but will further ask, how it happened, that men, whose examples have been so fertile of instruction to future ages, were so barren of improvement and utility to their own. For it must be admitted that Rome was 'divided against herself,' split into faction, and torn to pieces by &

• Rome, the mother of men.-PUB.

most bloody civil war, at the very moment she was in proud possession of all this profusion of talent, by which she was consumed, rather than comforted, and scorched, rather than enlightened. Perhaps the conclusion that is forced upon us by a review of this particular period of Roman history, is neither consolatory nor honourable to our nature : it would seem, I fear, to be this, namely, that a state of civil freedom is absolutely necessary for the training up, educating, and finishing, of great and noble minds; but that society has no guarantee, that minds so formed and finished, shall not aspire to govern rather than to obey; no security that they shall not affect a greatness, greater than the laws, and in affecting it, that they shall not ultimately destroy that very freedom, to which alone they were indebted for their superiority. Such men too often begin by subjecting all things to their country, and finish by subjecting their country unto themselves. If we examine the individual characters of those great names I have cited above we may perhaps affirm, that Horace, Virgil, Hortensius, Varro, and Livy, were more occupied in writing what deserved to be read, than in doing any thing that deserved to be written. Atticus was a practical disciple of Epicurus, and too much concerned about the safety and health of his own person, to endanger it by attacking that of another; as to Cicero, though he was formed both for action and deliberation, yet none of the blood that was spilt in his day, can fairly be charged to him; in fact, he had so much of the pliability of his friend Atticus about him, that he might have flourished even in the court of Augustus, a rival of Mæcenas, had he himself been less eloquent, Octa whole of his liberty, but then he would be also liable to the encroachments of others, who would feel equally determined to preserve the whole of theirs In a state of civilization each individual voluntarily sacrifices a part of his liberty, to increase the general stock. But he sacrifices his liberty only to the laws; and it ought to be the care of good governments, that this sacrifice of the individual is repaid him with security, and with interest; otherwise, the splendid declarations of Rousseau might be verified, and a state of nature preferred to a state of civilization. The liberty we obtain by being members of civilized society, would be licentiousness, if it allowed us to harm others, and slavery, if it prevented us from benefitting ourselves. True liberty, therefore, allows each individual to do all the good he can to himself without injuring his neighbour.

Of two evils, it is perhaps less injurious to society, that a good doctrine should be accompanied by a bad life, than that a good life should lend its support to a bad doctrine. For the sect, if once established, will survive the founder. When doctrines, radically bad in themselves, are transmitted to posterity, recommended by the good life of their author, this is to arm a harlot with beauty, and to heighten the attractions of a vain and unsound philosophy. I question if Epicurus and Hume have done mankind greater injury by the looseness of their doctrines, than by the purity of their lives. Of such men we may more justly exclaim, than of Cesar, 'confound their virtues! they have undone the world.'