In this latter Time, which boasts itself enlightened, almost every family has its literary man or men. Printed sheets fly abroad like Autumn leaves, on which he who runs may read decay. A timid man might be frightened, and fear that all truth is about to be buried beneath the whirling mass, did he not get relief from consideration of its perishable nature. One thing is certainly desirable; that science should produce some plan for making books without the somewhat tiresome manual labor now requisite. The most expert ready writer cannot make a volume of common size in less than a month; surely a great waste of time! which is every day becoming more precious; for how can one spend so much time in writing who is desirous of the reputation of being well read in modern literature? Few things are more amusing than the perplexed condition of a well-meaning young man in the present literary world. He has heard that there are Suns in the firmament and he would fain look at them: but, day after day, he is engaged at some Pickwick Club, and Nicholas Nicklebys meet him every where he would like to voyage with some able navigator, but lo, a Phantom Ship and thousand phantom cockle-boats!

which however shall be all of a size when they have sailed off beyond the present horizon. Be of good cheer, sorely afflicted brother; your children, or your chil dren's children, shall fare better than you. Cheer up, I

say, and write a book better or worse as you have ability : it is at this present time clearly the duty of every man, woman and child. When an evil becomes monstrous it is always near its end; make it monstrous then with all convenient despatch and so get rid of it.

In this latter Time, I said, almost every family has its literary man. The Harding family is not behind the age; in this respect it is not entirely wanting. One of us is quite bookish: too much so, for he has neglected what is called the main chance, and indeed more or less all other chances; he has given his time and faculties to the reading of books. His friends look doubtingly upon him ; he lacks all immediately utilitarian talent; he has no enterprise, no ambition, and unless by some god-send he can never be rich. Reproachful looks and upbraiding words are given him, and he has become somewhat shy and reserved. He has, however, inherited a portion of the old Harding obstinacy, and will go through the slough of modern literature: indeed, he thinks he has got partly through the mud and can see firm land beyond: Heaven speed him! Like every man who gets a glimpse of something new and strange he would call his fellow-men to see it too; therefore he wrote the piece which stands in the next chapter and sent it to one of our Reviews for publication to the World. The Editors, in their wisdom, thought "it would not comport with the general objects and purposes of their journal," and sent it home again. The Editors were doubtless right: nevertheless, as I love the author and do not consider the World in

any special degree under my care, it shall be published. In truth one must tell truth now and then in truth, it was while listening to the author's lamentations that I first conceived the idea of making a book, almost for the sole purpose of sending him abroad; for he stays too much at home and grows conceited. Indeed, there is no folly so dangerous as that which one keeps locked up in his own bosom. How can he know what it is so long as it lies hidden there? kept too long it becomes a rotten egg and taints his whole being: let him then, if he have natural heat, hatch it; when it gets wings and flies abroad it shall be known for a Turkey Buzzard or a Tomtit, and even boys may pelt it.

The sub-biography of Patrick Henry, which follows the piece I have made such ado about, is the handiwork of the same man; but is not a rejected article having never been a-begging. The conceitedness and self-sufficiency which characterize the former piece are also visible enough in this, and shall have the punishment such things deserve. Thus much, by way of censure, I have thought it right to say; for I am an older, I trust also a wiser man than the author, and he will take a word of reproof better from me than from another.

CHAPTER IX.

A REJECTED ARTICLE.

(The Elements of Moral Science, by Francis Wayland, D. D., President of Brown University and Professor of Moral Philosophy. 4th edition. Boston:

Gould, Kendall, & Lincoln.)

*

We thought to make a collection of the titles of books, treating logically of man's nature and man's duties, and place it at the head of this article: but when we considered the number of such, and the pamphlet size of this, the absurdity of our thought stared us in the face and drove us to a quite opposite course. We have, therefore being by usage obliged to take somethingtaken only one one of the latest: one which we suppose to be among the best of its kind. So good indeed is it that our general remarks, if they have force, will apply more forcibly to others than to this. We do not remember our earliest readings in these books, but we know that when we attained to those years called years of discretion, we found them very unsatisfactory; and sought no more in them for that which is not there; Light.

This book of President Wayland's, however, having taken it for a text (a pretext for speaking) we felt bound

to read; and so, in part, have done. Having found in it some things worthy of note we shew them here. In the very candid preface we marked this. "When it became my duty to instruct in Moral Philosophy, in Brown's University, the text-book in use was the work of Dr. Paley. From many of his principles, I found myself compelled to dissent, and, at first, I contented myself with stating to my classes my objections to the author, and offering my views in the form of familiar conversations upon several of the topics which he discusses. These views, for my own convenience, I soon committed to paper and delivered in the form of lectures. In a few years, these lectures had become so far extended, that to my surprise they contained, by themselves, the elements of a different system from that of the text-book which I was teaching. To avoid the inconvenience of teaching two different systems, I undertook to reduce them to order, and to make such additions, as to render the work in some measure complete within itself. thus relinquished the work of Dr. Paley, and for some time, have been in the habit of instructing solely by lecture. The success of the attempt exceeded my expectations, and encouraged me to hope that the publication of what I had delivered to my classes might, in some small degree, facilitate the study of moral science."

I

We forbear all comment on this honest confession, save this that by and by some sagacious man, using Dr. Wayland's book as he used Dr. Paley's will, in a similar way, make another book containing other different Elements of Moral Science. Should that man have Dr. Wayland's degree of honesty he will probably also say something like this. "When I commenced the undertaking, I attempted to read extensively, but soon found it