the eggs. At last, however, he was obliged to give out, for fear of accident, being crammed to the very throat. 7. Having, therefore, eaten and drunk sufficiently, he thought proper to conclude the farce by rising from table and accosting me in these words: "Signor Gil Blas, I am too well satisfied with your good cheer to leave you without offering an important advice, which you seem to have great occasion for. Henceforth, beware of praise, and be upon your guard against everybody you do not know. You may meet with other people inclined to divert themselves with your credulity, and, perhaps, to push things still further; but don't be duped again, nor believe yourself (though they should swear it) the eighth wonder of the world." So say ing, he laughed in my face, and stalked away. LE SAGE. ΕΙ 1. You object to Mr. Madison, the want of energy. The want of energy! How has Mr. Madison shown it? Was it in standing abreast with the van of our revolutionary patriots, and braving the horrors of a seven years' war for liberty, while you were shuddering at the sound of the storm, and clinging closer with terror to your mothers' breasts? Was it, on the declaration of our independence, in being among the first and most effective agents in casting aside the feeble threads which so poorly connected the states together, and, in lieu of them, substituting that energetic bond of union, the Federal Constitution? Was it in the manner in which he advocated the adoption of this substitute; in the courage and firmness with which he met, on this topic, fought hand to hand, and finally vanquished, that boasted prodigy of nature, Patrick Henry? Where was this timid and apprehensive spirit which you are pleased to ascribe to Mr. Madison, when he sat under the sound of Henry's voice for days and weeks together; when he saw that Henry, whose soul had so undauntedly led the revolution, shrinking back from this bold experiment, from the energy of this new and untried Constitution; when he heard the magic of his eloquence exerted to its highest pitch, in painting, with a prophet's fire, the oppressions which would flow from it; in harrowing up the soul with anticipated horrors, and enlisting even the thunders of Heaven in his cause? 2. How did it happen that the feeble and effeminate spirit of James Madison, instead of flying in confusion and dismay before this awful and tremendous combination, sat serene and unmoved upon its throne; that, with a penetration so vigorous and clear, he dissipated these phantoms of fancy, rallied back the courage of the House to the charge, and, in the State of Virginia, in which Patrick Henry was almost adored as infallible, succeeded in throwing that Henry into a minority? Is this the proof of his want of energy? Or will you find it in the manner in which he watched the first movements of the Federal Constitution; in the boldness with which he resisted what he deemed infractions of its spirit; in the independence, ability, and vigor, with which, in spite of declining health, he maintained this conflict during eight years? He was then in a minority. Turn to the debates of Congress, and read his arguments: you will see how the business of a virtuous and able minority is conducted. Do you discover in them any evidence of want of energy? Yes; if energy consist, as you seem to think it does, in saying rude things, in brava'do and bluster, in pouring a muddy torrent of coarse invective, as destitute of argument as unwarranted by provocation, you will find great evidence of want of energy in his speeches. a contrast! 3. But, if true energy be evinced, as we think it is, by the calm and dignified, yet steady, zealous, and persevering pursuit of an object, his whole conduct during that period is honorably marked with energy. And that energy rested on the most solid conscious rectitude; supported by the most and durable basisprofound and extensive information, by an habitual power of investigation, which unravelled, with intuitive certainty, the most intricate subjects; and an eloquence, chaste, luminous, and cogent, which won respect, while it forced conviction. We have compared some of your highest and most vaunted displays with the speeches of Mr. Madison, during his services in Congress. What It is the noisy and short-lived babbling of a brook after a rain, compared with the majestic course of the Potomac. 4. Yet, you have the vanity and hardihood to ask for the proof of his talents! You, who have as yet shown no talents no talents beyond those that can be of service to your country, of the merciless Indian, who dexterously strikes a tomahawk into the defenceless heart! But what an idea is yours of energy! You feel a constitutional irritability;-you indulge it, and you call that indulgence energy! Sudden fits of spleen, transient starts of passion, wild paroxysms of fury, the more slow and secret workings of envy and resentment, cruel taunts and sarcasms, the dreams of disordered fancy, the crude abortions of short-sighted theory, the delirium and ravings of a hectic fever, - this is your notion of energy! Heaven preserve our country If this be the kind of energy which from such energy as this! you deny to Mr. Madison, the people will concur in your denial. - But, if you deny him that salutary energy which qualifies him to pursue his country's happiness and to defend her rights, we follow up the course of his public life, and demand the proof of your charge. WM. WIRT. 1. A WINTER'S SABBATH SCENE. -- Grahame. Not even a footfall heard. Smooth are the fields, 2. THE SNOW-STORM.- Emerson. Announced by all the trumpets of the sky, Come, see the north wind's masonry! And when his hours are numbered, and the world Leaves, when the sun appears, astonished Art, 3. A WELCOME TO WINTER. — Thomson. See, Winter comes to rule the varied year, Vapors, and clouds, and storms. Be these my theme, Pleased have I wandered through your rough domain; Heard the winds roar, and the big torrents burst; Looked out the joyous Spring, looked out and smiled: 4. THE NEW YEAR. Fleetly hath passed the year. The seasons came When the cool wind came freshly from the hills; Had faded from its glory, we have sat By the good fires of Winter, and rejoiced "God hath been very good." "T is He whose hand Moulded the sunny hills, and hollowed out The shelter of the valleys, and doth keep CCVI. POPE'S EPISTLE TO DOCTOR ARBUTHNOT. When Pope had reached the meridian of his fame, he was beset, as many distinguished literary persons are at the present day, with applications from numerous writers, who had mistaken a desire to write for the ability, to read and revise their compositions, and to use his influence in having them published. In this poetical epistle to his friend and physician, he humorously describes his annoyances; and expresses his fears that Bedlam (the madhouse) or Parnassus has sent forth the troop of poetasters and scribblers who lie in wait for him. 1. "SHUT, shut the door, good John!" fatigued, I said; All Bedlam or Parnassus is let out: Fire in each eye, and papers in each hand, What walls can guard me, or what shades can hide? They stop the chariot, and they board the barge. Even Sunday shines no sabbath-day to me; 2. Is there a parson much be-mused in beer, A clerk, fore-doomed his father's soul to cross, Is there who, locked from ink and paper, scrawls 3. Friend to my life, which, did not you prolong, If foes, they write; if friends, they read me dead. To laugh were want of goodness and of grace, With honest anguish and an aching head, This saving counsel, "Keep your piece nine years." * Pope's villa, on the Thames. |