The well-known doctrine of a master-passion is only an exaggeration of the fact, as displayed in the characters of most persons, especially of those who have warm constitutions, and it is therefore of great importance to watch the growth of such a powerful despot in ourselves and in others, if we hope to govern or to understand either. Yet it is, in truth, surprising how few are sufficiently acquainted with themselves to see, distinctly, what their own motives actually are. It is a rare as well as a great advantage for a man to know his own mind.

If we attend to what is going on we have, at first, a voice in chusing our own sovereign; for the monarchy, though absolute, is elective, and much indeed does it concern us to chuse our ruler wisely.

Ambition and vanity are cruel taskmasters; and it is only to our home-bred affections that we must trust for real pleasures. The world tempts and mocks us; first makes us thirsty and then gives us bitter water to drink, and this is remarkable that our regard for others is fitted rather to give us pleasure than pain. A father may be more gratified by

his son's success than by his own; yet he cannot feel so acutely either his disappointments, or his toothache. Even when defeated and mortified, the social feelings are not wholly unpleasing, for the French actress's exclamation, while speaking of an unfaithful lover's once deserting her, was quite natural. "Ah! c'etoit le bon tems! j'etois bien "malheureuse" No colours are so gay as those reflected by the clouds that have passed away.

It cannot be denied that our warmest emotions, though subjecting us to innumerable temptations, have many countervailing benefits. Though all the passions are subtle sophists and ever justify themselves, yet they are not without their use in our mental improvement, since, probably more prejudices are removed by passion than by philosophy. Temper too, even ill-temper, is more frank and honest than a calm, calculating self-love; or, at least, it puts others on their guard, by exhibiting the character plainly, as an insect shown in a microscope.

Of the generous impulses, it is needless to point out the merits. They are, luckily, felt in all condi

tions of life. Admiration, for instance, is found in all, especially in unspoiled youth and in the unambitious common people. What a simultaneous burst of applause from pit, box, and gallery, instantly follows a magnanimous deed or sentiment! "Les

grandes pensées viennent du cœur" says a most discerning, self-taught, man of the world.

In the voluptuous and self-indulgent vices, there is often some mixture of kindness, some little regard to others; but the vain, too commonly, and the ambitious, always, are purely selfish, admitting of no partners in success, and hating their dearest friends, should such, unfortunately, happen to be their competitors for fame and power. She must be an antiquated beauty who can hear with perfect pleasure a compliment paid to her own daughter's rival charms and no aspiring public man can "bear a

"brother near the throne "

All solitary enjoyments quickly pall, or become painful, so that, perhaps, no more insufferable misery can be conceived than that which must follow incommunicable privileges. Only imagine a human being

condemned to perpetual youth, while all around him decay and die! Oh! how sincerely would he call upon death for deliverance! No means of suicide would be left unattempted.

What, then, is to be done? Are we to struggle against all our desires? Luckily we should strive in

vain

; or, could we succeed, we should be fools for our pains. To strangle a natural feeling is a partial suicide; but there is no need to extinguish the fertility of the soil, lest the harvest should be unwholesome. Is it not better, far, to root up the weeds, and to plant fruits and flowers instead? Were but a tithe of the time and the thought, usually spent in learning the commonest accomplishments, bestowed upon regulating our lives, how many evils would be avoided or lessened! how many pleasures would be created or increased!

ON SELF-CONTROUL.

MADAME De Lambert said to her son "Mon ami, ne vous permettez que les sottises qui vous feront "un grand plaisir" and the advice is often needed. It is surprising how much trouble is sometimes taken by the weak and wicked to defeat their own purposes in wrong-doing. He that seeks too impetuously his own sensual gratification, forgetting that moderation is the indispensable condition of enjoyment, often blunts or altogether destroys the appetite itself, or finds it to be the source of pain instead of pleasure. An inordinate lover of money gets pilloried in the gazette as a bankrupt. An ambitious man, thirsting for power, becomes a mere slave to constituents or to ministers, and a vain man, sighing for applause, and even willing to be envied, makes himself so ridiculous as to be laughed at, instead of being admired.