were then dismissed, and she declared that she had done with the world, and requested water. She washed her hands, and laid down upon her pillow. Her attendants found her dead, with her hand under her head, and a prayer-book upon her breast. Thus perished the mother of one who has been a meteor on earth, and a blazing star to direct others! From the Miscellaneous Register. THOUGHTS ON THE SILK WORM. The life of the silk worm, though of almost ephemeral continuance, may be made an apt representation of human life. But in a particular manner, it is found to delineate the acquirements and subsequent practice of the scholar and professional man. When the silk worm first appears, although no larger than a mite, she begins to lay in that store of materials from which afterwards is to be drawn her treasure. She devours with unremitted eagerness the leaves of the mulberry, which furnish that viscous store from which at a future period her valuable thread is spun. After being full grown, she applies herself to the task, and relying upon the accumulation already made, she works from her own, and not another's acquirements. So the student, whatever may be his probable pursuit in maturer years, should commence at a very early period to lay up that stock of sound learning which he is to use in the course of a literary life. It should grow up with him, that he may at any time call it to his aid; so that when he shall enter upon the busy scenes of life, he may be prepared with his own armour, not only complete, but graceful and easy upon him But gracefulness and ease can be ac quired only by long and diligent use. If he begins late to acquire a classical education, as the case often is, and then prematurely enters upon the duties of a learned profession, he will resemble the youthful David in the armour of the veteran Saul, without knowing as David did, what befits him, and what does not. He will degenerate into an index scholar. Such a store of useful and elementary knowledge should be previously acquired, that the student may depend on his own strength. To be obliged to look for authorities every time an opinion is to be given, or a question discussed, consumes much time, and generally ends in confusion of ideas. But when the mind is previously replenished with a general stock of ideas, it easily compares, combines, and compounds them for the purpose wanted As the silk worm ceases to accumulate stock when she begins to draw upon it by spinning, and turns her whole attention to the new task; so there is a similarity in the situation of the student, when he commences professional business. He ought to have such a stock of first principles laid up ready for use, that he may not be obliged in any ordinary business to lose time by searching for general rules. He must, it is true, make constant advancement in collateral reading, and must often refresh his memory by a review of past elementary studies; but all this supposes, what ought never to be wanting, a good foundation already laid. such a situation, he can and will become respectable: and otherwise, he || cannot rise above mediocrity. But my meaning will best be shown by examples. In Suppose a young gentleman, in the pursuit of the knowledge of law, should confine himself to the details of mere office business, and should read no more than what may be found in reported cases, totally neglecting the study of the principles of universal law, what will be his situation in life as a professional man? He will be what Dugald Stewart denominates a detail scholar; flippant enough, but destitute of depth. Caus performances clear and satisfactory, he must, like the silk worm, draw upon his own bank. To discount at another man's bank is embarrassing and often ruinous. es of mighty moment cannot be trust-fessional Again; a person once remarked Y. He SUDDEN CALCULATION. In the reign of queen Anne, a gentleman was driving post to London, over Hounslow heath, when his chaise was stopped by two highwaymen, who, with dreadful imprecations called out to him to deliver his money. The gentleman happened to have in the chaise at the time, cash, &c. to a very great amount, the loss of which would have been his utter ruin. had not a minute to reflect, and yet with astonishing composure and presence of mind, he instantly hit upon an expedient which extricated him from his danger: he told the robbers that his life was doubly in their hands, as they might take it themselves, or deliver him into the hands of justice, out of which he could not be released but by death, as he was the unfortunate general Macartney, for the apprehension of whom, on account of the death of the duke of Hamilton, the queen had by proclamation, offered so great a reward; he implored, therefore, their compassion, and entreated them not to take his money, as by depriving him of the means of escape, he must unavoidably be apprehended. The robbers consulted for a few moments, and then informed him that they had agreed to grant a part of his request, namely, not to take his money from him; but as money was absolutely necessary to them, and as they could get more by apprehending than by robbing him, they said he must submit to be carried before some magistrate, as they were determined to deserve and claim the reward offered for his apprehension. The gentleman rejoiced at hearing the intelligence, and having been carried before a justice of the peace, who happened to know the person of general Macartney, he was discharged, not being the person; but the highwaymen were committed. view the fond parent hang over beauties, and half retain her breath lest she should break its slumbers, without a veneration beyond all common feeling, is to be avoided in every intercourse in life, and is fit only for the shadow of darkness and the soliWoman's charms are certainly tude of the desert. Though a lone many, and powerful. The expaud-being, far be such feelings from MATERNITY. ing rose just bursting into beauty, has an irresistible bewitchingness: the blooming bride led triumphantly to the hymenial altar, awakens admiration and interest, and the blush of her cheek fills with delight; but the charm of maternity is more sublime than these. Heaven has imprinted on the mother's face something beyond this world, something which claims kindred with the skies; the angelic smile, the tender look, the waking watchful eye, which keeps its fond vigil over her slumbering babe. These are objects which neither the pencil nor the chisel can touch, which poetry fails to exalt, which the most eloquent tongue in vain would eulogize, and to portray which all description becomes ineffective. In the heart of man lies the lovely picture; it lives in his sympathies: it reigns in his affections; his eyes look round in vain for such another object on the earth. The Hermit in London. ANECDOTE. Among the vices which fashion has too great a share in encouraging, none is of worse example, or less excusable, than that of profane swearing, or the practice of interlarding one's conversation, on all occasions, even the most trifling, with appeals to the Deity. A general officer, who is a living and illustrious example of the perfect compatibility of the most gentlemanly manners, with the strictest purity of language, but who was in early life much addicted to this fashionable sin, dates his reformation from a memorable reproof which he accidentally received when a young man, from an eccentric Scottish clergyman, settled in the north of England. While stationed with his regiment at Newcastle, he had the misfortune one evening to get involved in a street brawl with some persons of the lower order; Maternity! ecstatic sound; so twined and the dispute, as is too usual in such round our heart, that it must cease to cases, was carried on with abundance throb ere we forget it! 'tis our first of audacious oaths on both sides. love; 'tis part of our religion. Na- The clergyman alluded to, passing by ture has set the mother upon such a at the moment, and much shocked at pinnacle, that our infant eye and arms the imprecations which assailed his are first uplifted to it; we cling to it ears, stepped into the midst of the in manhood, we almost worship it in crowd, and with his cane uplifted, old age. He who can enter an apart- thus gravely addressed one of the ment, and behold the tender bade principal leaders of the rabble: "Oh, feeding on its mother's beauty, nour-John, John, what's this now I hear? ished by the tide of life which flows You only a poor collier body, and through her generous veins, without a swearing like any lord in a' the land! panting bosom, and a grateful eye, is O, John, have ye nae fear o' what no man, but a monster. He who can will become o' you! It may do very approach the cradle of sleeping inno- well for this braw gentleman here, cence without thinking, that "Of pointing to the lieutenant such is the kingdom of Heaven!" or bang and swear as he pleases, but, John, it's no for you, or the like o' || you, to take in vain the name o' him by whom you live and have your being." Then turning to the lieutenant, he continued, "Ye'll excuse the poor man, sir, for swearing; he's an ignorant body, and kens nae better." Lieutenant slunk away, covered with confusion, and unable to make any answer; but next day he made it his business to find out the worthy parson, and thanked him in the sincerest manner for his well-timed admonition, which had, as he assured him, and as the result has shown, cured him forever of a most hateful vice. fellow-citizens of the south on that occasion, we rejoice to perceive now so strong and decisive a disposition to abolish a traffic, that has too long continued a blot upon our national character, and the termination of which is sincerely desired by a very large por tion of the American people. Let us no longer entertain illiberal feelings towards our brethren of the south, because slavery has been unfortunately entailed upon them by the avarice and cupidity of other times; but rather let us sympathise with them for being involved with a slave population, and assist in relieving them of a burden, which they seem unwilling to support, and ready to cast off. [Haverhill Gazette. ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE. The following important resolution was brought in by colonel Charles F. Mercer, of Virginia, and passed the House of Representatives of the United States, by the almost unanimous vote of one hundred and thirtyone yeas, to nine nays. THE SLAVE TRADE. The unanimity of the recent vote of the House of Representatives, requesting the President to enter into negotiations with such foreign nations as he might deem proper, for the effectual abolition of the slave trade, and its ultimate denunciation as piracy, must forever put to rest all doubt of the sincere desire of the slave-holding states to abolish this iniquitous Resolved, That the President of traffic, and free themselves from a the United States be requested to enburden that threatens their welfare ter upon and to prosecute, from time and happiness. The impression to time, such negotiations with the which the discussion of the "Missouri several maritime powers of Europe question" made on the minds of the and America, as he may deem expecitizens of those states where slavery || dient for the effectual abolition of the is not permitted, tended very much to African Slave Trade, and its ultimate prejudice them against those of the denunciation, as piracy, under the slave-holding states, if not to create a law of nations, by the consent of the feeling unfavourable to the harmony civilized world. and perpetuity of the Union. The On the adoption with so much unaopinions advanced on that occasion nimity, of this important measure, by by the advocates of slavery, as they the popular branch of our governwere called, were thought to indicatement, we would mingle our congratua desire to extend and perpetuate thelations with those of the friends of evil; those opposed to it, beheld with no little feeling of indignation the propagation of sentiments so repugnant to the genius of our government; to republicanism; to the just and equal rights of man: in fine, to every feeling of humanity and benevolence. But whatever were the views of our universal emancipation throughout the world. It is highly honourable to the distinguished and eloquent friend of liberty who originated the resolution, and is worthy the government of a free people. If this resolution shall meet with a similar reception in the Senate, and the negotiations be commenced, we may consider the day of its adop- || bells, where half-starved cattle were tion as the commencement of a new OUR PARENTS. seeking a relief from pinching hunger, come chiming in mournful sounds, echoed from a thick dark grove not more than ten rods from the opposite side of the dwelling. A field in front was inclosed, which belonged to a man at the red mills, six miles off. Excepting this fold, the place was surrounded by a dark forest, almost inFish creek ran to the accessible. south, a few rods east of the cottage, which had been occupied by a family from the red mills. All was dismal and lonely. A road from the village north, passed about twenty rods to the took a short turn to the east, crossed the creek near the bars, and made a very crooked way to the red mills. It is the common rule of nature, that our parents should precede us to the grave, and it is also her rule, that our grief for them should not be of such power as to prevent us from entering, after they are gone, into a zealous participation both of the busi-west, ran about twenty rods, and then ness and pleasure of life. Yet in all well regulated spirits, the influence of that necessary and irremediable deprivation, however time may sooth and soften it, has a deep and enduring resting place. In the midst of the neisiest, busiest hours of after-life, the memory of that buried tenderness rises up ever and anon to remind us of the instability of all human things, and wins rather than warns us to a deliberate contemplation of futurity. From the Miscellaneous Register. SOPHIA, Or the Girl of tHE PINE WOODS. [Continued from page 190.] CHAPTER II. Here dwelt the lady and her daughter, with no other but her son about twelve years old, who went almost every day to the village to school, and to see his father. It was in the month of June; it was now about six in the afternoon, and the stranger was just bidding them good bye, when the little dog again gave the signal of alarm, and a stranger appeared under full gallop, making down the path from the highway. He rode up to the door, dismounted, and rushed into the hut before the other had scarcely left the threshhold, with "how are you, madam, by G—d I've found you at last-tracked you In order to give the reader some to your den and you, miss, how are idea of the place where this family you-what, catched a beau in your had retired, we shall sketch a short trap already! pretty crafty, egad! description of it. Well ladies, I've come about the old There was not an inhabited dwell-business-I've brought my suit, made ing for two miles in any direction, and the village before mentioned was the nighest. A few scattered huts, thatched with straw, and now entirely deserted by a ragged set of families, were interspersed among the black logs and shrub-oak bushes, on patches partially cleared, made the country around more dreary by far, than if the whole were in a state of natural wildness; and the tinkling of distant cow my declaration, and want you to plead to it, or suffer judgment to go against you by default." "You have had one judgment and execution, sir, and what do you want of another?" said the old woman, with a look of indignation that would have silenced any but a coxcomb. "I want judg ment from you, not against you, in favour of myself, not my client-so that I can have an execution against |