The animation of labour gives a sense of enjoyment to the virtuous poor; and the pleasures of thought, and the acquisitions of knowledge, relieve the intelligent man of leisure from the oppressiveness of nothing to do, or to expect.

4. At any time of life those who possess much command of time will be miserable if they neglect to cultivate their own minds, or to promote the happiness of others. Having done, at all times, all that we can by forbearance or active exertion, to please those about us, and to serve them, it becomes our privilege and our duty, if we have opportunities, to acquire some elegant accomplishments. Music, drawing, and reading, the acquirement of easy sciences, and the study of different languages, afford agreeable employments to the mind all these pursuits are inexhaustible, and always, in their progress, new.

5. It is frequently asked, of what use is the knowledge of Botany, experimental Chymistry, and the acquirement of languages to persons engaged in no profession, and surrounded only by those who speak English alone?-The pursuit of all knowledge is useful. Every vein opened in the mine of truth, affords that wisdom whose "revenue is better than silver." Knowledge furnishes agreeable occupations, and saves us from frivolous tastes and low vices. We cannot love mean things and high things at the same time. We shall not be backbiters, suspicious, envious, regardless of truth, and destitute of honour, if we seek what is useful and elegant, and virtuous, and "think on those things."-Our moral tastes and preferences take their character from the subjects which employ our habitual reflections.

The Spartans were an extraordinary people, but there is little in their institutions or character that deserves imitation in the present state of the world. What is worthy in them is inculcated in us by Christianity. The love of parents, respect for old age, moderate indulgence of the senses, patience and fortitude under bodily pain and all unavoidable sufferings, were the Spartan virtues. But the warlike spirit of the Spartans excited them to carry their arms into every country whither they had any pretence to go; they permitted themselves to be hired as mercenaries in the service of foreign princes; and they treated their neighbours, the Messinians, and their slaves, the Helotes, with the most unrelenting cruelty during a long period of time

To do as we would have others do to us is a law of the same obligation to governments as to single individuals. It was as unjust for the Spartan armies to ravage the fields of Messenia, to burn the houses, and to carry off the flocks, as it would be for us, upon any provocation, to take or destroy the property of our neighbours of the same city or street. The former is called War, the latter Robbery.

Laconic.-A common word, signifying a brief mode of speech. The people of Laconia used this simple language, and we still call it laconic, from its supposed origin.

MESSINIA.

Messina was surrounded by Elis, Arcadia, Laconia, and the sea; it is chiefly remembered for misfortunes,-for wars with Sparta, for the cruel treatment inflicted by its conquerors, and for the miserable exile of many of its inhabitants, who were driven forth to strange countries through fear of the Spartans. Pylos, the city of Nestor, was in Messinia. Nestor, the benevolent and wise old warrior of the Iliad, is known to all the readers of Homer.

ARGOLIS.

This country lay to the east of Arcadia, which it joined. At the eastern extremity Argolis stretched out into a peninsula between the Argolic and Saronic Gulfs. In this province, were Mycenae and Argos, the kingdom of Agamemnon, who is calied in the Iliad, the "king of kings," and the "king of men." The city of Argos was regarded as next in the antiquity of its origin to Sicyon. Argolis was a land of fable, and concerning many of its heroes and heroines very affecting stories are related. Those of the fifty daughters of Danaus, of Danæ, and of Iphigenia are among the most interesting.

2. Argos was so celebrated that the appellation

of its inhabitants, the Argives, was frequently extended to all the Greeks, they are often spoken of collectively by Homer as the Argives. Argos was governed by a king in the early ages of Greece, but that government was afterwards abolished, and a democracy was substituted, which did not administer public affairs more peaceably than in the other states.

3 The Argives cultivated music, architecture, and sculpture, but they neglected the sciences generally, though the best medical practice is said to have begun in Argolis.-Their literature was inferior. Among their statues and temples were some of considerable merit, but they were less celebrated than those of Athens. The walls of the more ancient of their cities were composed of such immense stones, that they were fabled to have been constructed by the Cyclops or Giants.

4. Esculapius, the most ancient of physicians, was honoured as a god in Argolis, and had a temple at Epidaurus. He was probably a skilful and humane man. The cures he affected were inscribed upon pillars near his temple, and as there were no books then upon medical science, it is very probable that the history of his cases, and of his mode of treating diseases was very useful.

5. The Argives entirely destroyed the neighbouring city of Mycenae, and drove out the inhabitants. They who survived were all sent forth upor. the mercy of the other states. These cruel emigrations were but too common consequences of the wars which prevailed among the Grecian

states.

Illustration.

"In those days," says the book of Genesis, speaking of some of the first men, "there were giants in the earth." These giants were only very stout and strong men. At a time when the mechanic powers were not known, and when human hands performed the work which machines now perform, it would appear that providence furnished men with powers suited to the peculiarities of their situation. This law of nature which adapts the physical constitution of man to his necessities, may be seen every where and at all times. In our cities, labouring men who are obliged to lift heavy weights, and compelled to other exertions of strength, really possess more strength or muscular power, than persons delicately educated, and employed in sedentary occupations.

ARCADIA.

Arcadia occupied the centre of Peloponnesus, and is often mentioned in common conversation as eminent for rural beauty, and for the happy and innocent lives of its inhabitants. It is not very easy for us at the present time to determine how much more happy or more refined these dwellers of the inland country were, than the more warlike or more commercial of the Greeks. It is related