by ourselves, and, as before remarked, is mostly inflicted upon our inferiors in condition, or those over whom we exercise some control. Mortified pride and vanity are fruitful sources of it. We have been opposed and thwarted in our endeavour to magnify the idea of self, and unable to vent our spleen and hatred upon the persons who rendered our efforts abortive, we vent them upon all who come within our reach. Perhaps we are dissatisfied with ourselves: we feel that we are ourselves to blame; no matter-self-love forbids that we should voluntarily punish ourselves; we prefer making others bear the weight of our anger.

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These are a few, and only a few, of the effects of the indulgence of a bad temper; and, truly, they are such as to justify the observation, that 'persons have been hung in chains whose deeds had not caused one-hundredth part of the misery to their fellow-creatures which a bad temper is able to inflict."

OBSTINACY.

If there is one form in which a bad temper shews itself more aggravating than another, and more difficult to cure, it is OBSTINACY. Indeed, it is the only exception Locke makes to his general rule of clemency, and for which he recommends corporal chastisement. ،، Stubbornness and an obstinate disobedience," says he, "must be mastered with force of blows: for this there is no other remedy. Whatever action you bid a child

to do, or forbear, you must be sure to shew yourself obeyed: no quarter in this case-no resistance. For when once it comes to a contest for mastery betwixt you, as it is for you to command, and he refuses, you must be sure to carry it, whatever blows it costs, if words will not prevail, unless for ever after you intend to live in obedience to your son. A prudent and kind mother of my acquaintance was, on such an occasion, forced to whip her little daughter, at her first coming home from nurse, eight times successively the same morning, before she could master her stubbornness, and obtain a compliance in a very easy and indifferent matter. If she had left off sooner, and stopped at the seventh whipping, she had spoilt her child for ever, and, by her unprevailing blows, only confirmed her refractoriness; but wisely persevering till she had suppled her will, the only end of correction and chastisement, she established her authority thoroughly, and had ever after a ready compliance and obedience in all things from her daughter; for as this was the first time, so I think it was the last too, she ever struck her."

It would be well first to examine, and if possible ascertain, the cause of obstinacy, before deciding upon the mode of its cure. Obstinacy, I am of opinion, shews itself most strongly in persons endowed with the smallest share of intelligence, certainly in those whose perceptions are the slowest. Individuals apt at catching an idea, and accustomed to logical reasoning, are seldom obsti

nate; they perceive that such and such representations are just and true, and consequently feel no desire to reject or oppose them. Now, obstinate persons most probably do not either perceive or understand; their senses are obtuse, and they resist through ignorance, combined with that degree of pride and self-love which is inherent in us all, and particularly prominent in uneducated natures.

Would obstinacy ever manifest itself in any very glaring degree, if the education of the child had been commenced from the earliest period, the faculties properly developed, and the affections cultivated? Locke, severe as he is against obstinacy, considers it probable that it would not. "I doubt not," says he, "but by ill ordered correction many have been taught to be obstinate and refractory, who otherwise would have been tractable." Now, in the example he gives, viz., the little daughter of his acquaintance, infant discipline had obviously been wholly wanting. The child had come home that very morning from her nurse. Is it probable that so ignorant a person as a hired nurse understood anything of infant discipline? On the contrary, it is most likely that her conduct towards the little girl had been exactly such as was calculated to bring into active operation all the evil propensities of her nature: passionate chiding at one time, undue indulgence at another; firmness of purpose and consistency

never.

Mr. and Miss Edgeworth give it as their opinion,

that obstinacy is never inherent in the disposition: "Of all the faults," say they, "to which children are subject, there is none which is more difficult to cure, or more easy to prevent, than obstinacy. It is sometimes supposed to be inherent in the temper; but so far from being naturally obstinate, infants show those strong propensities to sympathy and imitation which prepare them for an opposite character." Whether obstinacy be an inherent propensity, or a vicious habit arising out of mismanagement, must, I think, remain rather questionable. Certain it is, that many children display symptoms of it. With such, solitary confinement might perhaps be found a better remedy than whipping. To make an obstinate child feel, by disappointing him in his most cherished wishes, that nothing is to be gained by persisting in his obstinacy, and that indulgence can only be purchased by obedience, might also prove a good mode of subjugating him; but the best, when the case admits of it, is to appeal both to his reason and affections.

Children ought to be early trained in habits of self-examination. This will not be found very difficult if persevered in steadily, and will strengthen the judgment as well as correct the heart, and gradually form the character to ingenuousness. We all know that even very young children, taught to observe and to distinguish peculiarities in the forms and colours of objects, will by degrees acquire and display astonishing quickness in the

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faculty of perception. If by daily catechizing them they were accustomed to look into the motives of their own actions, and to trace their consequences, would they not in time acquire a habit of so doing, voluntarily, and a power of judging more accurately both of themselves and others? Obstinacy would by this mode be effectually conquered, yielding to conviction.

GENTLENESS.

Independent of the duty of cultivating a spirit of GENTLENESS, which as Christians we are bound to do, Gentleness, as a matter of policy, as a means of obtaining power and influence in our social relations, is so essential, that it is surprising persons ambitious of exercising power and influence over their fellow-men do not practice it more generally.

Gentleness has in very many cases achieved wonders in this way, and has been found capable not only of encountering, but of subjugating brute force and the most hostile dispositions. "A soft answer," saith the proverb, "turneth away wrath." Gentle and persuasive manners have an almost magnetic power in attracting the good will and esteem of the human kind, whether in savage or civilized life.

In dealing with the uncultivated, gentleness has ever been productive of the happiest effects. Of this, the conduct pursued by that great navigator and truly good man, Captain Cook, towards the natives of the several islands visited by him, affords