ulties, which discern, compare and reason; and which, by the force of their inherent nature, explore the unseen regions of thought, truth and science. He has perceptive powers, which look out upon the external world, and appreciate the architecture of all created things, in their localities, uses, and array of native beauty. He is blessed with sentiments which exalt, dignify and refine his wants and wishes; and is swayed by those elements of passion, which, though they sometimes impel him to do the work of war and desolation, impart energy to will, firmness to his consciousness of duty, and promptness to action. Placed, as he ever has been and ever will be, in the diversified relations of power, possession and want, of enjoyment and suffering, of hope and fear, of wealth and indigence, of industry and indolence, of skill and inefficiency, of prudence and prodigality, of success and failure, of justice and cupidity, of integrity and faithlessness, of patriotism and treason, -man is influenced, on the one hand, by countless motives to do right; and, on the other, he is beset by innumerable temptations to do wrong. He is saved either by the wisdom of experience, or by the love which he bears to goodness, for the sake of its blessings. He is lost either by a reckless indulgence in passion which invites temptation that he cannot withstand, or falls by neglecting the means of knowledge, and the teachings of experience. To fail in duty, implies ignorance of moral causes ; to fail of success in enterprise, implies a want of practical knowledge.

It is a common error to suppose that biography is useful only when applied to extraordinary men. We refer to men such as Washington, Franklin, Newton, Napoleon, Cuvier, La Place, Kant, Luther, Calvin, Huss, who may be denominated the representative men of nations, of reforms, of revolutions. They make up a portion of the world's history; and all their genius and strength have been applied either to the momentous affairs of government, to reforms, or to the sublime developments of science. They have mastered, in their time, the great subjects which involved the interests of an age, or of a generation; but, in the duties incumbent upon a citizen in all the walks of private life, or in the higher demands of public duty, they have furnished no more examples to be noted for the study of posterity than can be found scattered throughout the civilized world, in every society, in every class, profession and condition.

In this view of the subject we are confirmed by the strongly expressed opinions of that giant thinker, Dr. Johnson, who says:

"I have often thought that there has rarely passed a life of which a judicious and faithful narrative would not be useful. For, not only every man has, in the mighty mass of the world, great numbers, in the same condition with himself, to whom his mistakes and miscarriages, escapes and expedients, would be of immediate and apparent use; but there is such a uniformity in the state of man, considered apart from adventitious and separable decorations and disguises, that there is scarce any possi

bility of good or ill but is common to human kind. A great part of those who are placed at the greatest distance by fortune or by temper must unavoidably pass in the same manner; and though, when the claims of nature are satisfied, caprice, and vanity, and accident, begin to produce discriminations and peculiarities, yet the eye is not very heedful or quick which cannot discover the same causes still terminating their influence in the same effects, though sometimes accelerated, sometimes retarded, or perplexed by multiplied combinations. We are

prompted by the same motives, all deceived by the same fallacies, all animated by hope, obstructed by danger, entangled by desire, and seduced by pleasure.

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"It is frequently objected to relations of particular lives, that they are not distinguished by any striking or wonderful vicissitudes. The scholar, who passed his life among his books, the merchant, who conducted his own affairs, the priest, whose sphere of action was not extended beyond that of his duty, - are considered as no proper objects of public regard, however they might have excelled in their several stations, whatever might have been their learning, integrity and piety. But this notion arises from false measures of excellence and dignity; and must be eradicated by considering that, in the esteem of uncorrupted reason, what is of most use is of most value."

All must be deeply impressed with the truthfulness of this language. Whatever is of the most use must be of the most value. But few men can enjoy the special privileges of genius, of patriotism; for many generations are

permitted to pass without signal opportunities for men to distinguish themselves, either as philosophers or as patriots. Humanity does not afford to every generation a brilliant genius to astonish the world; nor is it the lot of nations to be made the subjects of revolution so frequently as to give birth, by opportunity, to a numerous band of heroes. Great events transpire but seldom; and however full of interest they may be regarded, they are unquestionably of less consequence, and convey less instruction, to the great masses of the people, than the ordinary occurrences which fall within the circle of every year, of every season.

HESIOD, in his distribution of mankind, divides them into three orders of intellect. "The first place," says he, "belongs to him that can by his own powers discern what is right and fit, and penetrate to the remoter motives of action. The second is claimed by him who is willing to hear instruction, and can perceive right and wrong when they are shown him by another; but he who has neither acuteness nor docility—who can neither find the way by himself, nor will be led by others- is a wretch without use or value."

Perhaps but few would make any exception to the distribution of HESIOD, unless it were to the dismission of the third class to utter oblivion. However numerous may be the classes, it will appear obvious, we think, that the differences are those of degree rather than of kind, as applied both to power and knowledge.

To blend sentiment with intellect, or propensity with

sentiment, is certainly an error which leads to much confusion. A man may know the right theoretically, and yet have no conscience practically to deter him from the wrong. He may have strong aspirations for duty, and yet too little judgment and resolution to protect him from the influence of evil counsellors. He may have sufficient intellect to favor the highest demands of the soul, but not enough for the prompt and successful execution of its purposes. Mind without motive, motive without energy, or propensity without intellect or sentiment, are defective conditions, and, properly speaking, cannot be regarded as in harmony with the natural laws. We would rather dwell upon that harmonious adjustment of the mental faculties which is favorable to the manifestations of plain common sense. The true standard is the medium standard of the world. In this respect, what is true of happiness proves true of character. "The maxim of Cleobulus the Lindian, that mediocrity is best," says Dr. Johnson, "has been considered as a universal principle, extended through the whole compass of life and nature." This is no position of mere logic,-it is one of fact. The wants of men are similar and common. They are supplied by ordinary and obvious means, within the reach of all. What is vitally important, all have an interest in understanding. Whoever has participated most in the common affairs of life, whoever has done the most to meet the wants of the many, and to point out the numerous sources of comfort and success, whoever has averted and relieved the most suffering, prevented the