not even make the attempt-in the manner, at least, which Archimedes was able to oppose. Translation of JAMES HAMPTON. sesses a fine library, a tolerably complete philosophical apparatus and a museum, which is yet rather incomplete, but will, no doubt, soon be improved. The whole instruction is apparently managed on very good prin BOSTON AT THE CLOSE OF THE LAST ciples. The funds assigned for its support CENTURY. FROM THE FRENCH OF DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT'S "TRAVELS" FROM 1795 To 1797. THE HE State levies a tax for the support of government, amounting to forty thousand pounds sterling, or one hundred and fifty-three thousand three hundred and thirty-three dollars. The quota of each contributing inhabitant toward this tax, as well as the county and parish rates, is very trifling, though more considerable than in the States of New York and Pennsylvania. Property, both personal and real, is taxed, and such parts of it as are not evident are rated by commissioners, against whom bitter complaints are preferred at Boston relative to the arbitrary manner in which they frequently proceed. Out of the parish rates, among other articles, the schools are supported, of which, according to the laws of the State, a certain number must be kept in each township, proportionate to its extent and population. In addition to these schools, many colleges have been instituted in this State, which are scattered through its whole extent for the convenience of those who possess sufficient property and wish to pursue their studies beyond the instruction which common schools can afford. university at Cambridge offers also ample means for acquiring extensive erudition. This university, which is modelled after the English universities, has professorships for every branch of the sciences. The It pos not being sufficiently considerable to instruct the scholars gratis, they are obliged to pay quarterly the moderate sum of sixteen dollars. They also pay six dollars a month for their board, and are admitted after a previous examination by the professors. They remain here four years; if they desire to continue longer for the purpose of taking a degree, they pay no longer the above sixteen dollars, but merely for their lodgings. Mr. Willard, president of the university, from whom I learned these particulars, is a man of uncommon merit, versed in all the sciences. which are taught here. The town of Boston, seated on two or three eminences and in the small intervening vales, is but of little compass. It has no regular streets, but is nevertheless very pleasant. The houses are neat and cleanly; a great number have gardens adjoining to them, and all afford delightful prospects. The manners of the inhabitants are mild and hospitable; they are much like the English. The opulent inhabitants have, most of them, country-seats at some distance from the town, where they reside in summer. A foreigner easily obtains an extensive acquaintance, and is everywhere invited in a manner so extremely obliging as to preclude all doubts of the sincerity of the invitation. My state of health, which was but slowly recovering, prevented me from accepting the invitations I received. I must mention in this place that in the vicinity of Boston I found again Mr. Adams, | place in his class, of the prizes at the end Vice-President of the United States, a man of the year, of the honors to be given at of such uncommon merits, abilities and tal- college. ents that he has few equals in America, and is not everywhere sufficiently esteemed. He is one of the most respectable men in the United States. No one contributed more to the American Revolution, from the beginning to the end, than he. The agents of the British ministry entertain, therefore, much illwill against him, although he has defended the English constitution in a book full of profound researches, which he entitled A Defence of the Government of the United States. John Adams resides with his lady, remote from all intrigues, in a small house fifteen miles from Boston, which no Paris advocate of the lowest rank would choose for his country-seat. Here he spends all the time which his situation as Vice-President allows him to pass from Philadelphia, in reading and agricultural employments. He sces but little company, since the very moderate fortune he possesses prevents him from receiving many visitors at his house. He is generally respected; his conversation is extremely agreeable, and tinged with a sort of sarcastic yet courteous wit which renders it highly pleasing. Translation of H. NEUMAN. LIFE IS AN EDUCATION. LIFE These are not the true incentives to knowledge; such incentives are not the highest-they are even mean and partially injurious; yet these mean incentives stimulate and lead on, from day to day and from year to year, by a process the principle of which the boy himself is not aware of. So does God lead on through life's unsatisfying and false reward, ever educating— Canaan first, then the hope of a Redeemer, then the millennial glory. Now, what is remarkable in this is that the delusion continued to the last: they all died in faith, not having received the promises; all were hoping up to the very last, and all died in faith, not in realization; for thus God has constituted the human heart. It never will be believed that this world is unreal. God has mercifully so arranged it that the idea of delusion is incredible. You may tell the boy or girl, as you will, that life is a disappointment; yet, however you may persuade them to adopt your tone and catch the language of your sentiment, they are both looking forward to some bright distant hope -the rapture of the next vacation or the unknown joys of the next season-and throwing into it an energy of expectation which a whole eternity is only worth. You may tell the man who has received the heart-shock from which in this world he will not recover that life has nothing left, yet the stubborn heart still hopes on, ever near the prize Iwealthiest when most undone." He has reaped the whirlwind, but he will go on still, till life is over, sowing the wind. FREDERICK W. ROBERTSON. CREATION. OU ask us why the soil the | Kind to the marble rocks, you ne'er complain thistle breeds, Why its spontaneous birth are thorns and weeds, Why for the harvest it the harrow needs? The Author might a nobler world have made, In brighter dress the hills and vales arrayed, in flowery scenes dis And all its face played; The glebe untilled might plenteous crops have borne pain No perfect statue yield, no basse-relieve You may the world of more defect upbraid And brought forth spicy groves instead of Had Nature's hand these various works pre spared! Rich fruit and flowers, without the gar- What thoughful care, what labor, had been dener's pains, Might every hill have crowned, have honored But then no realm would one great master This Nature might have boasted had the No Phidias Greece, and Rome no Angelo. But can the objector no convenience find The mighty frame that else would be dis- Do not those heaps the raging tide restrain SHE SIR RICHARD BLACKMORE. SHE LOOKED FOR HIM. Alone no more by morning tide GEORGE LEDLie. HOW THE MAIDENS OF CIRCÈ AT- FROM THE GREEK OF HOMER'S "ODYSSEY."* Four diligent maidens ministered within And sacred rivers flowing to the sea. One spread the thrones with gorgeous cov- HE looked for him. Long years had Above was purple arras, and beneath Since Edwin was to Anna wed, She looked for him. With bearing bold Were linen webs; another, setting forth. Brought water from the fountain and be- A massive tripod kindled a great fire And warmed the water. When it boiled within The shining brass, she led me to the bath And shoulders pleasantly she shed the streams That from my members took away the sense * Published by James R. Osgood & Co. 1 |