--

this, that it is a thing which can be communicated to, and made use of by, all men who are endowed with an adequate share of mere intellect. The philosophy of moral feeling must always, on the other hand, approach nearer to the nature of poetry, whose influence varies according as it is perused by individuals of this or that character, or taste. The finest opening to any book of psycology and ethics in the world, is that of Wordsworth's Excursion. That great poet, who is undoubtedly the greatest master that has for a long time appeared in the walks of the highest philosophy in England, has better notions than any Scotch metaphysician is likely to have, of the true sources, as well as the true effects, of the knowledge of man.

Thy guidance, or a greater muse, if such
Descend to earth, or dwell in highest Heaven!
For I must tread on shadowy ground, must sink
Deep-and, aloft ascending, breathe in worlds,
To which the Heaven of Heavens is but a veil.-
All strength-all terror, single or in bands,
That ever was put forth in personal form ;
Jehovah with his thunder, and the choir
Of shouting angels, and the empyreal thrones,
pass them, unalarmed. Not Chaos, not

I

The darkest pit of lowest Erebus,

Nor aught of blinder vacancy scooped out
By help of dreams, can breed such fear and awe
As fall upon us often, when we look

Into our Minds-into the Mind of Man,

My haunt, and the main region of my song."

After such words as these, I durst not ven

ture upon anything of a lowlier kind.

Farewell,

P. M.

LETTER XV.

TO THE SAME.

** NEXT day I went to hear Professor P―'s lecture. I found him already engaged in addressing his class when I entered, but took my seat close by the door, so quietly as not to attract any notice from him. It was a very pleasing thing to see this fine old Archimedes with his reposed demeanour―(such as I have already described it to you)-standing beside his table covered with models, which he was making use of in some demonstrations relative to mechanical forces. There is something in the certainty and precision of the exact sciences, which communicates a stillness to the mind, and which, by calling in our thoughts from their own giddy