confided, are thus taught betimes to have the fear of God before their eyes."

Every one who has joined in this beautiful ceremonial, or contemplated its appearance, will admit the force of the preceding observations. Even to the eye of the common spectator, the scene is full of peculiar interest; but to the individuals themselves, sensations must often arise of far deeper intensity. While the pealing organ, and the shout of many voices, raise their hearts to heaven, memory, it may be supposed, will not be inactive; and the thought that Newton, or Ray*, or Milton, or Taylor, once pressed the stones on which they are kneeling and still, if we may so speak, sanctify the walls with their presence;-such a thought as this may blend with the enthusiasm of the spirit, and elevate its intellectual wishes in proportion to the exaltation of its spiritual desires. These sentiments cannot, of course, be universal; it is sufficient for the argument if they prevail to a moderate extent, and by the ennobling a few minds, invisibly and gradually communicate a higher tone to the many. Undoubtedly, if the restrictive regulations were removed to-morrow, a numerous body of

* "Because I could no longer" said this admirable Christian, (when ejected from his fellowship for nonconformity, and prevented from exercising his clerical duties,) serve God in the church, I thought myself bound to do it by my writings."

students would be found sufficiently impressed with a sense of their dependence upon God, and of their duty to return daily thanks to him for his mercies, to assemble in those temples consecrated to his service. And this supposition is countenanced by the crowds that throng the galleries of St. Mary's, when such men as Mr. Rose, or Mr. Dale, or Mr. Melvil occupy the pulpit; each differing from the other in manner and in style, yet each commanding the attention and the respect of an overflowing congregation. The same remark will apply to the other churches in the town, where the academic dress is conspicuous; and particularly to the evening lecture of Mr. Carus. These are most valuable and interesting indications of religious feeling; and the more so, as they flow entirely from unconstrained inclination, and are to be deemed sincere, inasmuch as no inducement to hypocrisy can be assigned.

Yet admitting to its fullest extent the efficacy of the voluntary principle, no reflecting mind will consent to intrust the observances of religion entirely to its influence. Nor, indeed, is there any occasion; for those who would attend of their own accord, will not experience any hardship from a regulation, which their good feeling virtually repeals; while those, on the other hand, whose associations lead them to different occupations, and

who would gladly escape from the payment of a morning or evening tribute to their heavenly Father, may hereafter rejoice, that once in every day, at least, they were obliged to listen to the word of God. Seed thus imperceptibly dropped, though choked for a season, may, at a future time, spring up, under the dew of His blessing, and bear fruit a hundred fold. Nor let it be deemed matter of reproach, that our piety requires such constant fanning to keep the flame alive. One of our most thoughtful moralists has told us, that religion, of which the rewards are distant, and which is animated only by Faith and Hope, will glide by degrees out of the mind, unless it be invigorated and reimpressed by external ordinances, by stated calls to worship, and the salutary influence of example. And if such an observation could hold in any degree of Milton, how much more powerfully must it apply to us. Let us therefore, cheerfully and gladly, follow the footsteps" of those who having fought the good fight in this life, have received a crown of glory in that which is to come-who speak to us from their tombs, but with no earthly voice, encouraging us by their example-telling us to be firm and of good cheer in this our pilgrimage-that beyond the dark portal to which we all are hurrying, there is a land of promise—and that treading in the steps where

they have trodden, and guided by the heavenly Hand which guided them, we ourselves may reach that land, and dwell with them in everlasting glory*.*

Professor Sedgwick's Discourse on the Studies of the University, 4th ed., p. 5.

PRAED AND HIS CHANSONS.

Vir perelegantis ingenii, et mollissima dulcedine carminum memorabilis.-Velleius Paterculus.

THE Conclusion of the eulogy bestowed upon the old Grecian, Hesiod, quietis otiique cupidissimus, must, I fear, be omitted from the motto. The Carlton Club is dearer to the Member for Yarmouth than the Muses' Bower. Those days when it was pleasant with Spenser to play with

The flowers of a golden tress,

are faded and past. He cons an estimate instead of a sonnet, and prefers a gallop with Sir Francis Head through a Poor Law Commission to a Midsummer Night's Dream on Parnassus. Political life must have its charms, as it has its uses,-call it advancement if you will; but to me it seems, as it did to Shenstone while tying up his flowers at the Leasowes, only an advancement from the pit to the gallery, a very noisy elevation! But Mr. Praed has made his choice: yet he ought to remember that one poet of rare sensibility and genius, after serving fourteen years for Rachel, found himself deprived even of Leah*.

* See Cowley's Complaint.