both parties become inflamed, and temporary alienation is the consequence. How many dinners and suppers have been untasted, or tasteless, on this account, and how many evenings been spent in silence, and by the wife, in tears! And yet from such worthless trifles, proceed pains and sorrows, so much to be lamented. Let me caution young couples especially, never to commence these dangerous experiments: their consequences may be lasting as life; and to their peace, unless corrected, they will be death. Let them remember these suggestions on their anniversaries; let them review them carefully, and resolve that they shall not be repeated. I am not now supposing that either of the parties indulges in any open habits which tarnish the moral character in society; I aim only at those follies, imprudences and faults, which mar the peace of the family circle, and pour in poison to the bowl of joy. Leave debates to Congress. Nine-tenths of those we hear in that honorable body, prove their own uselessness and irritating tendency.* Such anniversaries as I am recommending, if wisely improved, would in a few years become days of jubilee. They would have a benign influence on the minds of young children. They are constantly looking to their parents and to their examples; and they naturally presume that such examples may be safely followed, until they begin to perceive their pernicious tendency and consequences. Alas! how many of them have such tendency, when not early corrected! But on the contrary, when all is harmony between those who preside in the domestic circle, similar harmony will generally be found among the children. The immense responsibility of parents in this particular, is not suitably regarded. Gentleness usually meets with gentleness in return. Urbanity and courtesy are the essentials of politeness; and where can these be more happily exercised, than by those who, from the nature of their union, must soon become intimately acquainted with each other's peculiar tastes, habits, modes of thinking and reasoning, failings, and propensities? It is a mark of true politeness, in view of these things, to show a spirit of accommodation, as far as it can be done with innocence; and more especially is it necessary, where the affections of the heart are intimately concerned, as they are, in the preservation of domestic purity and peace. How many houses have been consumed by shavings! — and merely because they were not removed in season, and placed where they could not be inflamed; or because, if inflamed by some imprudence, they were not immediately extinguished by the joint efforts of those who would be the greatest sufferers by their own neglect. According to the common course of events, every succeeding anniversary celebration will present some new subjects of review, pleasant or unpleasant. The parties may find themselves in some new situation; calling for the exercise of new powers and new virtues, and opening to their view new sources of comfort, which they might have enjoyed, had they been duly attentive to their own dearest in POSSIBLY this testimony, from one long a member of the National Legislature, may hereafter prevent some mouthing congressional orator from occupying more than four days of the people's time in the delivery of a stupid speech, for home consumption. EDS. KNICKERBOCKER. terests. In such circumstances, the careful review of the past will secure blessings in future. 'Prima virtus est vitio carere.' The first step toward amendment, is to leave the path of error. Each past year should be read and studied, as a book full of instruction and animating encouragement. It may also be considered as a mirror, in which our married pair may see not only themselves, but their imprudences; their faults, their passions, their improvements, and increased happiness. Again, each anniversary may be compared to a mount, from which they can look back and see the course they have been travelling, through the year that has bidden them farewell; whether it has been a direct or a crooked one; whether through useless wilds and dangerous passages, or through fields abounding in blessings, and over peaceful plains, and under a healthy climate; or, in a word, whether they have availed themselves of the advantages they enjoyed, by a judicious and thankful use of them, or wasted their moral health and real blessings, by indulging in mutual complaints, or cold indifference. I cannot persuade myself that a careful attention to these suggestions, with a sincere desire to derive instruction from the annual commemoration of our wedding-days, in thanking heaven for what we enjoy, and reviewing the various scenes in which we have been placed during the preceding year, would not be attended with visible and substantial advantages. It would teach us self-examination and self-correction; make us better acquainted with ourselves, and more deserving of the respect and esteem of the good and praiseworthy, and increase our own happiness. Every one is bound, on all occasions, to regulate his temper, by a consideration of the train of unpleasant and often pernicious effects which are caused by its improper indulgence; as every soldier is under the obligations imposed upon him, in consequence of his station, to be respectful and obedient to his commander. But the married pair, on the anniversaries of their wedding-day, should consider themselves as a soldier does, when standing on duty as a sentinel, bound to a more strict observance of approaching danger, by a careful and critical attention, from whatever quarter it might present itself. To conclude: Home, in all cases, is the spot where the young passions and affections first display themselves. Here too often, in consequence of mismanagement, these passions are indulged and inflamed, and these affections are corrupted and debased, by bad examples, and dangerous counsels. Thus these passions gain strength, by freedom from restraint, and running riot in society, they produce crime and devastation. And home, 'sweet home,' of the sweet song, when under proper discipline, and the mild administration of virtuous domestic rulers, is the garden where such passions and affections, thus planted in a genial soil, are cherished with tenderness and care; and, under the guidance of parental instruction and example, are ripened into virtues and graces, and steady principles of morality and religion, which adorn and bless the community. this garden, there are flowers and fruits, which, though they may sometimes seem to be chilled by the atmosphere of this world, yet will survive even the cold night of death, and flourish in immortal bloom, beyond the winter of the grave. SENEX. LETTERS OF LUCIUS M. PISO, FROM ROME, TO FAUSTA, THE DAUGHTER OF GRACCHUS, AT PALMYRA, BY THE AUTHOR OF THE PALMYRA LETTERS." LETTER TWO. You need not, dear Fausta, concern yourself on our behalf. I cannot think that your apprehensions will be realized. Rome never was more calm than now, nor apparently has there ever a better temper possessed its people. The number of those who are sufficiently enlightened to know that the mind ought not to be in bondage to man, but be held answerable to God alone for its thoughts and opinions, is becoming too great for the violences and cruelties of former ages to be again put in practice against us. And Aurelian, although stern in his nature, and superstitious beyond others, will not, I am persuaded, lend himself either to priests or people to annoy us. If no principle of humanity prevented him, or generosity of sentiment, he would be restrained, I think, by his attachments to so many who bear the hated name. And this opinion I maintain, notwithstanding a recent act on the part of the emperor, which some construe into the expression of unfavorable sentiments toward us. I allude to the appointment of Fronto, Niquidius Fronto, to be chief priest of the temple to the Sun, which has these several years been building, and is now just completed. This man signalized himself, both under Decius and Valerian, for his bitter hatred of the Christians, and his untiring zeal in the work of their destruction. The tales which are told of his ferocious barbarity, would be incredible, did we not know so well what the hard Roman heart is capable of. It is reported of him, that he informed against his own sisters, who had embraced the Christian faith, was with those who hunted them with blood-hounds from their place of concealment, and stood by, a witness and an executioner, while they were torn limb from limb, and devoured. I doubt not the truth of the story. And from that day to this, has he made it his sole office to see that all the laws that bear hard upon the sect, and deprive them of privileges and immunities, are not permitted to become a dead letter. It is this man, drunk with blood, whom Aurelian has put in chief authority in his new temple, and made him, in effect, the head of religion in the city. He is, however, not only this. He possesses other traits, which with reason might commend him to the regard of the emperor. He is an accomplished man, of an ancient family, and withal no mean scholar. He is a Roman, who for Rome's honor or greatness, as he would on the one hand sacrifice father, mother, daughter, so would he also himself. And Rome, he believes, lives but in her religion; it is the life blood of the state. It is these traits, I doubt not, that have recommended him to Aurelian, rather than the others. He is a person eminently fitted for the post to which he is exalted; and you well know that it is the circumstance of fitness, that Aurelian alone considers, in appointing his own or the servants of the state. Probus thinks differently. And although he sees no cause to apprehend immediate violence, confesses his fears for the future. He places less reliance than I do upon the generosity and friendship of Aurelian. It is his conviction, that superstition is the reigning power of his nature, and will sooner or later assert its supremacy. It may be so. Probus is an acute observer, and occupies a position more favorable to impartial estimates, and the formation of a dispassionate judgment, than I. This reminds me, that you asked for news of Probus, my Christian pedagogue,' as you are wont to name him. He is here, adorning, by a life of severe simplicity and divine benevolence, the doctrine he has espoused. He is a frequent inmate of our house, and Julia, not less than myself, ever greets him with affectionate reverence, as both friend and instructor. He holds the chief place in the hearts of the Roman Christians; for even those of the sect who differ from him in doctrine and in life, cannot but acknowledge that never an apostle presented to the love and imitation of his followers an example of rarer virtue. Yet he is not, in the outward rank which he holds, at the head of the Christian body. Their chiefs are, as you know, the bishops, and Felix is bishop of Rome, a man every way inferior to Probus. But he has the good or ill fortune to represent more popular opinions, in matters both of doctrine and practice, than the other, and of course easily rides into the posts of trust and honor. He represents those among the Christians - for alas! there are such even among them - who in seeking the elevation and extension of Christianity, do not hesitate to accommodate both doctrine and manner to the prejudices and tastes of both Pagan and Jew. They seek converts, not by raising them to the height of Christian principle and virtue, but by lowering these to the level of their grosser conceptions. Thus it is easy to see, that in the hands of such professors, the Christian doctrine is undergoing a rapid process of deterioration. Probus, and those who are on his part, see this, are alarmed, and oppose it; but numbers are against them, and consequently, power and authority. Already, strange as it may seem, when you compare such things with the institution of Christianity, as effected by its founder, do the bishops, both in Rome and the provinces, begin to assume the state and bearing of nobility. Such is the number and wealth of the Christian community, that the trea-suries of the churches are full, and from this source, the pride and ambition of their rulers are luxuriously fed. If, as you walk through the street which crosses from the Quirinal to the Arch of Titus, lined with private dwellings of unusual magnificence, you ask whose is that with a portico, that for beauty and costliness rather exceeds the rest, you are told, That is the dwelling of Felix, the Bishop of Rome;' and if it chance to be a Christian who answers the question, it is done with ill-suppressed pride, or shame, according to the party to which he belongs. This Felix is the very man, through the easiness of his dispositions, and his proneness to all the arts of selfindulgence, and the imposing graciousness of his carriage, to keep the favor of the people, and at the same time sink them, without suspicion on their part, lower and lower toward the sensual superstitions, from which, through so much suffering, and by so many labors, they have but just escaped, and accomplish an adulterous and |