viction not only of the uselessness, but of the pernicious effects of spirits. At the commencement of the present year, however, having accepted a commission to travel for another firm, he addressed a letter to the Temperance Depositary, requesting him to erase his name from the signature book of the Society, confidently believing, from what he had seen and heard of the tyrannical drinking customs throughout the country, that he should never succeed in his new line of life, unless he fell in with the prevailing habits. But we rejoiced to see a letter from him a few months after he set out, in which he said:

"I am agreeably surprised at the little trouble one meets with in avoiding drinking to excess. I have not (although I requested my name to be erased from the Temperance list when I commenced travelling) drunk a drop of spirits. I generally take two glasses of wine after dinner, and in the evening, from the example of two or three old members of the Society of Friends, I request 8d. to be put to my bill, instead of drinking at all. I shall therefore ask to be re-admitted to your books, and hope to meet with no opposition."

We are not wrong, then, in indulging the expectation that in a few years we shall see a great reformation amongst this hitherto very intemperate class of men, and that none but those who set comfort and respectability at defiance will persevere in a course so fatally destructive to both.

No maxim is so forcible as an inference correctly drawn, resulting from our own reflection, and based on matter of fact.

"WHAT," it has been asked, "has a young man in the morning of his days, and the spring-time of life, whom the chilling blasts of winter never compelled to wrap his mantle close around him;-a young man, whose pulse bounds with health, and whose heart fails not by reason of agea young man, to do with cigars?" What? why just as much as he has to do with ardent spirits. Why then is it that we meet so many fashionably-dressed young men, as well as others, 'neath the scorchings of a summer sun, like locomotive chimneys, emitting smoke as they pass along, and contaminating the pure air of our village fields and lanes with the fume of Havannahs? Why? it may be answered, because such persons do not appear to know that there is a connection between effects and causes-1 -the thirst produced by the cigar, and, in many cases, the drunkenness ensuing; and that a free-born Briton may be really as much a slave, as he that writhes under the lash of an American taskmaster.-And because females, who in truth give laws to society, sometimes smile at what they should deprecate, and palliate what they should prohibit;- females, whose vast and acknowledged influence in society is such,

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that it shall be found the folly or vice tolerated amongst them shall be by the moralist denounced almost in vain.

Intemperance is allowed to be a tyrannical and destructive vice; but who shall effectually beat that hydra out of its stronghold, until an intemperate man finds it difficult to form a connection with a virtuous female? What society for the suppression of vice is likely to be so effective, as a determination on the part of such females to exclude the vicious man, as well as woman, from their association? But how many of the well-disposed amongst them are incapable of forming a correct judgment! How often is the judgment biassed by the affections! How many, on whose education large sums have been expended, are left untaught on important points! How easily volatile minds, unaccustomed to reflect that follies often germinate into vices,the act into the habit,—may be induced to believe it impossible to prove, that one original act of disobedience could lead on to, and involve all human evil, and even the conflagration of the globe! While however on each of these classes, the powers of abstract rhetoric might be employed in vain, a short sketch, founded on facts, should it pass into the hands of any such, may, with the divine blessing, not be wholly without effect. There are persons to whom an essay would be insupportable, who will read a tale.

Victorine and Charlotte were the daughters of a gentleman of ample fortune in the West of England, and from the death of their inestimable mother, companions of the retirement, and chief contributors to the happiness of Mr. Dornford, who felt, dear as was every child to his heart, them doubly dear, whose playful sprightliness had often beguiled the heavy hour, and suppressed or soothed the sorrowful recollection; and after the happy settlement of several others, in subordination to the higher claims of religion, objects of his ever anxious solicitude. The best judgment of both parents had been exercised in the selection of schools and public preceptors for the elder children; but from the date of the loss of Mrs. Dornford's dear panionship, Mr. D. was desirous that Victorine and Charlotte's education should be conducted at home.

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Difficulties, however, presented themselves. To introduce a stranger to his familiar intercourse during intervals of study of such frequent occurrence, might cause only general politeness, and becoming respect towards her, to be mistaken for particular attention. To subject himself

to the perpetual influence of female society he was not willing, whose heart had purposed that the full tide of its affection should flow into the bosom of his children, the only acknowledged representatives of their late mother, and true claimants on his care and love. To expect that a female of high qualifications should be confined within the precincts of the rooms set apart for education, whenever visitors were not expected, would appear as if it were apprehended some evil might result from further communication.

But it occurred to him, that all these might be obviated by a thoroughly accomplished sister, a widow, in her twentieth year, residing with her brother-in-law, a clergyman, in Worcestershire: and indulging the hope that, while by no means depending on such engagements, she might from feeling towards himself and the children, be induced to undertake their superintendence, he wrote to her requesting the same, as the greatest proof of kindness she could shew him, making a handsome proposal of consideration.

Mrs. Lindsey acquiesced, on condition that she should pass the time necessary for the relaxation of the children, at the Priory; that the domestic management should rest entirely with Mr. Dornford's trustworthy housekeeper; and that one of her married nieces should, if friends were expected, perform the feminine honours of hospitality, until Victorine should be old enough to sit at the head of her father's table; when it might be expected the pupilage of Charlotte, then six years of age, would terminate to occasion her release. Mrs. Lindsey had much pleasure in believing that she enjoyed the confidence of the family in general, who regarded her independence as a highly advantageous circumstance, presenting security against the temporizing so common to governesses, and the ill corresponding of the address in the study with the report in the drawing room, arising from the conviction, that if their true opinion of the behaviour or improvement of their pupils should be known, they would be dismissed in the hope that some other person might manage or advance them better; and also the error so prevalent amongst pupils, of considering the governess or tutor under obligation to them for emolument, rather than themselves to him, or her, for the exercise of patience, and the impartation of knowledge; an upside-down state of things, which, Mr. Dornford used to say, the good sense of the parents or friends of children should correct, as it could

not be expected that persons enjoying an independence should be willing to engage in such arduous duties.

The present case, however, being a happy exception, from the first day of Mrs. L.'s entering upon the office, every thing was real and unvarnished. Neither specimens of penmanship nor drawing were touched up to deceive the parent; and if at any time, as Victorine and Charlotte's education advanced, their papa looked into an exercise book, which he sometimes did for amusement, and found an error, Mrs. Lindsey would say, "That has occurred in the entry; the exercises are always corrected by me, in the first instance, with explanation," (the soul of correction.) "You must impute it, my dear brother, to the volatility of youth; as my dear nieces increase in attention, their books will appear more correct on perusal:" when Mr. Dornford would close the book, stroke the curling hair of his sweet girls, and direct towards them a look of inexpressible kindness. And though, to them, the course adopted by their aunt might at first appear rather harsh, it resulted from sound judgment, and ultimately pleased them much better than perpetual reproof for careless entry would, that is as often by some disregarded, while depending on after corrections neatly made, (a heavy tax on the time and attention of the governess,) to gloss over and conceal it from the eye of the parent or friend; and the same remark will apply to other faults, for which like frankness and sincerity in the teacher would prove the best antidote.

To please so kind a papa, was a sufficient motive with each; and if at any time Charlotte, by an innocent stratagem, effected her escape from the study, that, instead of exploring the intricacies of a difficult sum, or reducing to application the rules of a French academy, she might enjoy his caresses,-the desire of his approval forwarded her ottomans, and threw nature into Victorine's painting, and expression into her music. Not that Mrs. Lindsey's approbation was regarded by either of them with indifference. Her interesting person, extensive information, unaffected manners, and affectionate disposition, drew forth towards her a large share of their respect and love. Perpetual reference was made in their minds to her report, which they knew would be veracious and faithful, and which they were most anxious should be satisfactory.

As they advanced in age, and were better able to appre