with, and a few young friends besides; and I have an allowance to do what I please with ; and I am not very handsome: and I live in a convenient house, tolerably pleasant, with a garden, and have a garden and room of my own, and books and globes ;-dear, how foolish I was not to find it out at first! Well, but how is it then that I am not as happy as I thought I should be with all those things? Why was I so dull and uncomfortable this afternoon, that I thought every body better off than myself?"

"I'll tell you the reason, my dear," replied her mother, "we have still left something out. The situation I have described, and in which precisely you yourself are placed, is certainly, as far as outward things can go, one of the happiest in the world; and in such a world as this, a change for you would almost certainly be for the worse; but then we must remember, that no situation, no possible combination of circumstances, can make us perfectly happy in this world, because it is a sinful world. When we fancy others better off than ourselves, it is only because we know our own circumstances, but do not know theirs. Those ladies whom you imagine to be so happy only because they were travelling, and wore pretty riding dresses, have, very probably, some outward trial, or some secret uneasiness, which makes them less so than you. But besides this, there are, as I said, some things which we have forgotten to include in our list of desirables; and they possess this great advantage above all the rest, that if we wish for them aright, wishing will not be vain. I would therefore in addition to all we have mentioned,

wish for an amiable, obliging disposition; a cheerful, open temper; a peaceable and contented spirit. I would wish also, for industry and activity, which are the best securities against langour and discontent; and without which, no circumstances can make us happy. Above all, I would desire a good conscience, and a heart right towards God. These are things, my dear Lucy, which, if we wish for, not feebly and lazily, but seriously and earnestly, may certainly be obtained. With these, in any circumstances, we shall be happy; and without them, we should not be contented, even with twenty thousand a a year!"

VII.

THE USE OF BIOGRAPHY.

THAT“ what man has done man may do," is a most stimulating and encouraging truth. It is this consideration chiefly, that renders the lives of individuals who have distinguished them、selves in their day and generation so interesting to their fellow-creatures: and it is a remark which should be borne in mind, whether we are studying the actions of great good men, or of cleIn the former case, we should inquire whether we are not possessed of the same qualities, powers, and opportunities, (generally speaking) with which they were favoured; and in the latter, that we partake of the same depraved nature, and are liable to the same

ver bad men.

temptations that led them astray. It is not the history of other beings,-of those above or below us in the scale of intelligence; it is neither of angels nor brutes, but of men like ourselves that we read.

It is a common remark, that biography is one of the most useful studies to which we can apply; but we must remember, that its usefulness, to us, entirely depends upon our right application of it. It is idle indeed, to take up a book of any kind, merely with a view to entertainment; we hope our readers are all of them, by this time, above so childish a practice: but it is possible to read with a general desire to derive benefit, and yet without that close, personal application of it to ourselves, which alone is likely to do us good. We would therefore recommend, especially to the reader of biography, to keep one grand object in view; and to make this close inquiry whenever such a volume is opened,-In what respects is this applicable to me?--How can I make it subservient to my improvement ?-We will endeavour to offer suggestions that may assist the reader in

own

some

this inquiry.

Suppose that a young person in the quiet and humble walks of life should meet with the annals of some great warrior or statesman ;-he would

probably say, "This is nothing to me, except as mere amusement; I have no ambition, at least I have no talents or opportunities to distinguish myself in public life; I am quite contented with my bumble lot; I seek not great things for myself." Herein, indeed, he would show his wisdom; and yet it might not be true that such a

history was nothing to him. Whatever is in itself excellent, is worthy of our attention, and more or less of our imitation, however widely our circumstances may differ. Great talents, and splendid achievements are necessarily confined to a few; and as we may be virtuous and happy without them, this is not to be regretted but it is the duty and interest of every individual to ai at excellence, in his own sphere, however humble; and while it may be the farthest from our wishes or our duty to engage in public services, it may still be highly to our advantage to trace the steps, and to mark the progress, by which great men have arrived at eminence. Many of the very same qualities are requisite to make a good tradesman, or skilful mechanic, which are needed to form a great statesman or general.

We shall probably find that such a man was early distinguished from the frivolous or dissolute around him by devotedness to his object: that he made it his study, his pleasure; not merely engaged in it as a matter of course, or of necessity. We shall find that he was not discouraged by difficulties, but rather stimulated by them to more vigorous efforts; that he never consulted his own ease or gratification, when they stood in the way of his grand design: that he was characterized by a disregard to trifles of all sorts, and by a steady aim at the most important ends. Now as these, among other good qualities, ensured to him success and distinction, so we may be assured that the same causes will produce the same effects, in whatever situations they are applied. Thus far, a little apprentice-boy may learn of Peter the Great; and become, by and

by, as distinguished in his trade, as the Czar was in his empire.

When we read the lives of distinguished persons, we are generally struck with the lamentable mixture of mean qualities, and bad actions, which sullied the glory of their highest achievements, In the whole history of mankind, there are but a very few exceptions to this remark. From which we may learn, not to envy that eminence of rank or talent, which so peculiarly exposes to temptation. At the same time it should make us watchful of ourselves; since, if men thus eminently gifted, and possessed of such gigantic powers, had not wisdom sufficient to govern their passions, nor strength to resist temptation, what need must there be for us to guard against the danger! For although it frequently appears that clever men are wicked men, it by no means follows that to be wicked one must needs be clever; on the contrary it is often seen that persons of the weakest intellect sink into the lowest degrees of vice.

From the lives of distinguished bad men, we see the small value, in themselves, of those shining qualities which dazzle mankind. What is genius without virtue!--it is but a splendid curse; proving still more baleful to the individual himself, than to those within the sphere of his influence. But in tracing the career of men distinguished alike by their talents and their vices, it is especially profitable to observe, the gradual steps by which they arrived at the height, or rather the depth of their notoriety. There was a time when Nero appeared amiable and humane. Let us not, therefore, conclude, that we shall ne