"But," said another, "they may be let out safely now, for they are ready to give security; they will give bonds, and sign and seal any thing you please."- Hang it," exclaimed another, "but they can claw it to pieces as soon as they have signed it.""Sir," said one, "a gentleman has most unjustly reproached wild beasts as bloody and ferocious in their dispositions; I can disprove such assertions altogether, and put beyond doubt the fact, that all wild beasts have at times been generous, grateful, and honourable in proof of this universal characteristic in wild beasts, I will appeal to the story of Androcles in history, and to the fable of the Bear, who so carefully whisked the flies from his master's face while he was asleep."

"I'll tell you what," observed an honourable Member; "you had better let them all out directly; for they have grown so much stronger latterly than formerly, that, if you do not, they will soon force their way out without leave."

No one present seemed to think this argument worth answering, since all remembered our successful opposition to the French Revolution, and the glorious end of the battle of Waterloo. "I am for letting them out," said another, "because I am sure that we enjoy so much light, knowledge, and freedom, now, compared with what we did when England was covered with wolves, that people will not suffer themselves to be torn to pieces as they used to be formerly."

Another advocate for the claims, who had been conversant with many foreign menageries in the course of his life, appeared to think, that, so far from there being any real grounds for alarm, the wild beasts, when released, would, from the natural principles of gratitude and self-interest, be found among the most orthodox, pacific, and loyal, of all His Majesty's subjects, and even afford considerable assistance in keeping in order certain refractory animals, who, under the present system, were often show

Another Member affirmed, that "times were completely altered, and that therefore wild beasts and every thing else must be altered too.""Yes," said one, “but what has made the alteration? Has it not been the putting down the power of these ferocious animals? If you are sensible of the blessings of light, freedom, secarity, and peace, then keep them while you have them; and if so, you will continue those under control who have never allowed these blessings to other animals than those of their own fraternity." He also added, "Suppose you let them out, and they should begin their old tricks of tearing and devouring, how are you to get them in again?" He was, however, silenced by cries of "Order, Order! and a reprimand from the Chairman, that his expression, "old tricks," was unparliamentary, and that any reference to future evil could only be speculative.

The facts which had been brought forward were, however, deemed likely to have some effect on the minds of impartial hearers, and it was therefore considered advisable to divert them from close consideration: and, in order to effect this, I thought a lively little old man stepped forward as a volunteer with a violin under his arm, and said, "Mr. Chairman, I will sing you a song on this subject;" on which he began, and I thought I never heard a more musical voice than that of the old man. He skipped round and round like a bird on his perch, and brought such melodious sounds out of his violin as made all the people cry out, "Hear, hear!" and clap their hands with ecstacy. The following, I thought, was his song:

Blessed day when all are free!
Let them out, my friends, and see."

Now, I suppose, it will be allowed

that there was more sound than sense in all this, yet it had such an effect on the hearers, that they seemed indisposed to hear any one else, and there was a general cry of "Question, Question!" A Member indeed ventured to say, "Mr. Chairman, on a subject of this serious importance to us and to our children, is it to be supposed that we shall allow ourselves to be fiddled out of our old English understanding and common sense?" But, perceiving that he was against the question, they soon coughed him down; and only one more speaker would they listen to: this was a bald-headed man, who pleased them much by reminding them that there was once a lioness into her den whenever he pleased; who used to suffer her keeper to go from which circumstance he asserted it was proved that wild beasts were by nature friendly to mankind; and after dwelling most forcibly on this wondrous piece of disinterested hospitality, he added, "One good turn deserves another."

This was enough-They were now ripe for emancipation; and strangers being ordered to withdraw, I was most happy to find it possible to obey the command, lest I should feel the fraternal hug of so many lions, tigers, bears, and leopards. Just as I was passing Allhallows Barking, I thought some one had conveyed the joyful result of the meeting to the Tower; and the universal howl, growl, and scream, of exultation emitted from the dens of the various animals, terrified me so greatly, that I awoke, and behold it was a dream.

LIBERALITY.

ARISTOTLE being reproved for bestowing charity on an unworthy object, answered, "I gave it to the man in misery, and not to his manners."-Dr. Johnson acted in the same noble spirit, for having been a great friend to an author, whose character afterwards proved infamous, he observed in reply to one that expressed his wonder at his having been so long deceived; "They who look constantly upon the ground will see dirt, but I desire always to have higher objects."

many of our best authors, whose productions are deservedly admired, had little of this art; amongst whom was Addison, who, after having passed an evening with some literary characters, was, by one of them, Voltaire, rather invidiously compared to a moping country curate in a tie-wig.

Conversation, viewed as entertaining, rather than profound, would seem❘ to have its peculiar charm in grace or ease, shewing not so much in originality, or deep researches, as in a graceful and not trite representation, of common objects and occurrences. In considering conversation, as a medium through which we disseminate our opinions or sentiments, it is, perhaps, more successful than any other means of conveying them; for it is more insinuating than writing. The reason is plain; what comes from the heart may be more simple, and unadorned, but not less fervid or impressive.

Although it is not always the case, yet by a familiar interchange of sentiments, and a beautiful representation of the truth, we may win others from erroneous views or wrong conclusions, and be successful in this good cause, not so much from exposing the incongruous sentiments of our neighbour, as by shewing the superiority of our own; for though truth be like nature, "when least adorned, adorned the most," yet the best cause may be so clumsily defended, as rather to excite ridicule than produce convic

tion.

To illustrate the truth of this assertion, I am acquainted with two gentlemen, the one is a wag of the first water, and can crack his joke with the finest grace imaginable, but when once he attempts calmly to converse, and relate any circumstance, his manner is so stiff, and unaccommodating, that you are prejudiced against the man, and his subject, before he has half finished. The other is a wit, but one of the satirical kind,--one who seldom creates a laugh, but at the expense of some individual's feelings or reputation; but how disagreeable soever his witticisms are, his conversation is pleasing and alluring, and he has too often the dexterity of making "the worse appear the better Granting that what has been adduced, may be sufficient to prove, that conversation is not solely the attain

" reason."

ment of great minds, or always the concomitant of those who can jest with readiness and suavity; let us now preceed to take a review of some characters, whose conversation admirably develops the ruling propensities of their hearts and actions.

There is a certain class of men whose loquaciousness is so irksome, who are so continually taken up with the detailing of trifles, that it is impossible any man of sense could remain for the shortest time in their company, without being irritated out of all humour; and notwithstanding the good terms on which these prattlers live with the belles, one cannot help feeling a hearty contempt for those who speak, and those who are entertained with such interminable insignificance. If means cannot be invented to get rid of these annoyances, let such be classed under the genus of drivellers, or talkers of nonsense, creatures from whom nothing can be learned; and yet, with candour be it spoken, there is an art in speaking about nothing at all.

My friend, Bill Trimble, is a politician, and his vain babblings are so pestiferous and loud, that one would think his continual remonstrances were enough to silence every opinion opposed to the sapient deductions of his vain self. Such is the hatred and spleen with which Peter, of the old school, descants upon the degeneracy of modern manners, and the wickedness of the present generation, that the credulous, or easy to be imposed upon, might doubt whether he had not past his youth in the latter part of "that Golden Age which poets write of."

In conclusion, let it be remembered that a wise man once said, much study was a weariness to the flesh; so, much speaking is generally not a friend to the reputation: for he that talks much, must speak either of himself or others; by doing the former, he only shews his own emptiness and vanity; and by practising the latter, it is odds but he will, in some unguarded moment, say something amiss, and thereby expose himself to the ill-will of some one: and thus go on, irritating one after another, "till he has raised a swarm of wasps about his ears, and is half stung to death for his pains."

Aberdeen, 4th May, 1822.

JUVENIS.