be more explicit. In reading of any remarkable event or discovery, it is very useful to observe how long it was before or after another remarkable event or discovery, and thus to form some idea, either of the intermediate state of society, or of the progress of the human mind. For instance, the discovery of America, and the subjugation of the native inhabitants, could not have been effected without the mariner's compass and gunpowder; and it is very interesting to observe the exact length of time that these had been in use before Columbus set out upon his voyage. The revival of learning in Europe, and the invention of printing, are events that take an increased interest from being viewed in connection with the epoch of the Reformation. The age of remarkable individuals at the time of particular events is often a source of interest; but I have said enough to exemplify what I meant, and enough, I hope also, to induce you to act on the advice given.

Since writing a former letter, I have seen Arrowsmith's Atlases, and I wish to mention, that for clearness, fulness, and correctness, I prefer them to any that I know. Where further details than a general atlas commonly affords are required, the maps which are published by the Society for the Promotion of Useful Knowledge are easily procured, and very good. I know from excellent authority, that that society's maps of France are the best maps of that country which have been published in England. It may appear inconsistent to speak of a society which limits the application of the term useful knowledge' to a species of knowledge useful in this world only, leaving beyond the bound that which makethwise to salvation;' but you will per

ceive that I speak of its maps, not its general publications.

If a book is your own property, it is well to mark with a pencil the passages which you consider most striking and useful, so that, on a re-perusal, (and every book which is worth reading once is worth reading twice,) they may meet your eye with readiness.

I recommended to you most strongly (I have found the habit invaluable) to keep a kind of common-place book, in which to enter an abstract of every valuable work that you read, with the date of reading it, and your own remarks upon it. Bishop Jewell, a man of deep and vast erudition, used to say that Men acquire more knowledge by the frequent use of their pens, than by reading many books.'

You will say that in the way in which I advise you to read, it will be impossible for you to read many books. This is the conclusion to which I wished you to come. 'I fear,' Erasmus used to say,' the man of one book.' You are aware that I consider the acquisition of knowledge as a subordinate point in mental cultivation; but even that is to be aimed at, not so much by deluging your mind with a vast variety of books, as by feeding on the pith of a few good and well-selected ones; and to console you under the plan I recommend,—if you read, really read a few good books, you will be enabled to know, by a very cursory perusal, the contents of a great number. The original thinkers in this world are, comparatively speaking, very, very few: the bookmakers are many, and the consequence is, that the vast majority of books which issue from the press are mere compilations from preceding publications, literally verifying the saying, that 'There is nothing new under the sun.'

In addition to writing down your reminiscences, it will be very useful to converse on what you have read, or are reading, with a well-informed friend, one capable of directing your mind and forming your judgment. Besides many other advantages, this will give you a facility of expressing yourself on rational subjects, and it will increase your power of rendering your knowledge available. Lord Bacon's sentiments on this subject have always appeared to me extremely judicious. Reading maketh a full man, speaking maketh a ready man, writing maketh an exact man. Therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he speak little, he had need have a ready wit; and if he read little, he had need have a great deal of cunning, to seem to know that which he doth not.'

I had almost forgotten another piece of advice. Many books will be recommended to you, and in the ardent thirst for knowledge we are sometimes

tempted to read all that fall in our way. Self-denial must be exercised in this as in other things. After ascertaining as well as you can what branches of knowledge are likely to bear on your daily duties, make out a list of books, or ask some judicious friend to make out one for you, from your plans of study, and keep to them. Read one valuable work quite through in the way that I have recommended, before beginning another. Arrange your knowledge as compendiously and conveniently as you can. Method is one of the principal divisions of logic, and logic is, you know, defined to be the right use of reason.

No one will, I believe, accuse me of under-valuing intellectual power; but to some I may appear to over-value it. I hope, however, that this is not the

case. Truth, in ordinary cases, does not lie in the extremes, but in the middle; and while I would cast from me every word that would appear to make religion a plea for mental indolence, I would equally guard against fostering pride of intellect, or an undue exaltation of human reason. Beset with snares on every side, the only way for safety is to cast ourselves at the feet of our Saviour, and entreat of him to be our Teacher and our Guide. Study can be begun with right motives, and carried on in a right spirit, only when it is closely joined with a spirit of prayer; so that while the mind is acquiring increase of power, the soul may be daily growing in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.'

My dear Fanny, I have named the Master whose I am, and whom I desire to serve; and I cannot close my series of papers without tenderly and affectionately entreating you to seek entire devotedness to his service. See that nothing separate between you and your God. He gave himself wholly for you; yield yourself then wholly up to him, to be employed as shall be most for his glory, where he will, when he will, as he will. Rely simply on his merits and intercession; seek daily and hourly grace and strength from him, and endeavour (the words are Dr. Owen's) 'to do all things in the strength of your Saviour, for the love of your Saviour.'

I could not feel happy without saying thus much; and may the Lord, who can send even a little word to the heart, bless what has been attempted to be said with a view, I humbly trust, to his glory!

In closing my series of papers, I change my initials to my signature.

M. A. STODart.

THE POOR SOLDIER.

THE following letter was read from the platform of Exeter Hall, by J. Hardy, Esq. on the recent anniversary meeting of the Protestant Association. We have been favoured with it by the friend who supplied Mr. Hardy with the copy; and now present it to our readers, assuring them that it is a simple statement of the event, just as it occurred.

MR. (rector of a large parish in Ulster) was informed about the end of last January, that a man who had just returned from the army was lying sick in the house of his father, who, with all his family, were bigotted Roman Catholics, and, against his wishes, had brought the priest to him. Mr. goes on to state, 'My informant was a pensioner's wife, who said the poor man in question was a pious man. I immediately set out with my curate for the house, which is in a Roman Catholic neighbourhood. Finding the door open, we entered, went straight into the sick man's room, and inquired of two women who were there, Whether the sick soldier was within? They said, Yes, and pointed to his bed in the corner of his apartment, where I found him lying, exceedingly weak. On talking with him, I found he had been colour-serjeant in the 93d. (Colonel McGregor's regiment), and that he had been in the habit of teaching the children of the regiment to read the scriptures;