happiness which this world can give, and which admirably fits and educates us for a better;-for that which is our destined and real home.

In this improved age a cultivated intellect gives its possessor an actual rank in society-a little nobility, whatever be his station, provided it does not produce pride, self-conceit, discontent, or misanthropy. It is because the evolution of talents in humble life has so often produced these vices, that many oppose the extension of the blessing of education to the poor. I believe there is the danger of such a consequence, but I think it will not be general or lasting; and I think it is so delightful an object to see a cultivated peasantry, that I rejoice to hear of your mental proficiency. I have been always interested in hearing of the Swiss Peasant, and of the Scotch Shepherd, reading their books in the intervals of their labour. I have seen with delight in London, the humble mechanic walking to his early work with his book in his hand-and sitting of an evening on the threshold of his door reading attentively:The good taste has not yet spread enough to make these things general, but they are becoming so,

I do not wish to see a good taste and ingenuity like your's taken out of its station in life, but encouraged to remain in it, pursuing its improvements, and assisted to attain them. I would far rather see you the Gardener, or the Labourer, distinguished for a cultivated intellect, and benefiting gradually your own circle of life and neighbours, by the example of your improvements, and the gentleness, forbearance, and kindness, with which you accompany them; than see you made, like BURNS an Exciseman, or taken by the hand for a short time, as a novelty, and then dropped and unnoticed for ever, as so many have been to their own injury. No, my advice to you is, to remain contentedly in the station you are in-letting neither approbation

mislead you, nor any momentary patronage tempt you out of your accustomed habits. Your verses on the Setting Sun, shew me that you have connected your mind with Religion, the most abundant fountain of happiness to the mind and heart. Cultivate this admirable feeling. From experience I can say, that Religion gives a pleasure superior to any other, when it is cultivated as a matter of steady feeling, as well as of reason. By pursuing it, we make ourselves a part of the divine economy of things: we connect our mind with our Maker's, and ensure his kind favour and support;-not to our own fancies, but as He thinks it best and wisest to omit his blessings, or to yary them. May He, in his own good time, add to your present situation, every additional comfort which it will be beneficial to you to enjoy.

Allow me, as a subscription for a copy of any poems you may publish, or may write, to enclose a One pound note, not for the Bookseller, but for yourselft. And also allow me another pleasure, which will be to send you a few books. Oblige me with an answer to say that this has come safe, and to mention what books you have, that I may not send you, what you already possess. But if I judge of you rightly, I think a few books will afford you more gratification than any thing else. Address your answer to Mr. A. B. to be left at No. 32, Red Lion Square, London, and my friend will forward it to me, as I am now in Surry. Tell me how I shall direct the books to you. Shall I direct them to be left at Mr. Drury's for you, or to any other place? Your's most sincerely,

January 6th, 1820.

* See our Poetical Department, page 32.

A. B.

† We are happy to be enabled to inform our readers, that these

Poems are just published, and may be had of all Booksellers.

C-VOL. I.

AGAIN, my dear Parishioners! with the best intentions, I unobstrusively enter your dwellings, at a time when the mind is generally disposed to serious thought; and never, surely, was serious thought more requisite, in all classes, than at the present crisis-a crisis, when no one, who is desirous that the laws of God should continue inviolate, or that the bonds of civilized society should not be broken, will charge the sacred guardian of a parish with exceeding the line of his duty, if he thus publicly exhort those, "over whom the Holy Ghost hath made him overseer," to holiness and to peace! That such exhortation will be received in the same spirit as that in which it is written, I have reason to presume, my flock, from your recent conduct during those days of blasphemy, disloyalty, and rebuke, when so many of your deluded countrymen in other parts of the kingdom were too prone to " follow a multitude to do evil." Then did you wisely maintain a faithful adherence to the laws, and a steady attachment to "the Faith that was once delivered unto the “Saints.” The various attempts of men, wishing violently to alter the former, and to subvert the latter, which unhappily wrought so much mischief elsewhere, were by you resisted in a manner, alike honourable to your understandings and to your hearts. Though, like the pestilence that walketh in darkness," Infidelity and Disaffection here scattered their noxious tares, with a diligence deserving a better cause; yet so far from taking root in a single heart, they excited only pity towards the wretched disseminators, and horror at the

dreadful precipice, down which such emissaries of Satan would plunge the unwary. Your peaceable demeanour at your daily employments, and your added numbers, on the Sabbath, at the Sanctuary, proved this-expressively declaring, that you conceived it an indispensible duty to shew, in a public manner, who were on God's side, when the mouth of the wicked was opened against him. Yes; during that portentous time, when the Anarchist, the Parodist, the Deist, and the Atheist, seemed leagued in a common confederacy; not only against the Laws, but against God and his Church-to the Laws you remained inflexibly obedient, and to the Church you resorted with an ardour of affection.

Thus did infidelity and disloyalty, by their own boldness, unmask their own features; which "to be "hated need but to be seen." Continue, my flock! to abhor them, while you pity and pray for their infatuated votaries observing the strictest vigilance and caution against their devices, Continue to "fear God, to ho

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nour the King, and meddle not with them who are "given to change." In a word, continue in the faith of Christ, grounded and settled; and let nothing move you away from the hope of his Gospel.-*

To strengthen and confirm that faith, behold the following high authorities in its favour!-opposed to which, what can infidelity adduce that is comparable?

"There never was found," said the great Lord Chancellor Bacon, "in any age of the world, either "philosopher, or sect, or law, or discipline, which did "so highly exalt the public good, as the Christian "Faith."

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There is no book," said Lord Chief Justice Hale to his Children, "like the Bible, for excellent learn"ing, wisdom, and use. It is want of understanding in

* Col. 1. 23.

"them who think and speak otherwise. By frequently "reading it with due observation, it will make you wise for this world, and for that which is to come. "Let me exhort you," said Sir John Eardly Wilmot to his son, "to read, with the greatest attention, both "the Old and New Testaments. You will find your "mind extremely becalmed by so doing, and every "tumultuous passion bridled, by that firm belief of a "Resurrection, which is so evidently impressed upon "mankind by Christianity.”

There are no songs," said Milton, "comparable to "the Songs of Zion,-no orations equal to those of "the Prophets, and no politics, like those which the Scriptures teach."

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[“Had Cicero lived," said Addison, "to see all that "the Gospel has brought to light, how would he, who "so fondly hoped for immortality, have lavished out "all the force of eloquence, in those noblest of contem"plations-the Ressurrection, and the Judgment that "will follow it! How had his breast glowed with 'pleasure, when the whole compass of Futurity, re"vealed in the Scriptures, lay open to his view! How "would he have entered, with the force of lightning, "into the affections of his hearers, upon the glorious "themes which are contained in those pages!"

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"In his own Bible, thus wrote the learned Sir William Jones: I have regularly and attentively perused "these Holy Scriptures; and am of opinion, that this "Volume (independently of its Divine Origin) contains "more true sublimity, more exquisite beauty, more "pure morality, more important history, and finer "strains of poetry and eloquence, than can be collect"ed from all other books, in whatever age or language "they may have been written."