pable of valuing the dignity of truth, honesty, and laborious independence?—It is monstrous to suppose it!"

"Right!" cried Stacey, carried away by Mr. Moore's warmth; "we must no longer allow them to quote the hackneyed Video melior' and so on, as an excuse for their inconsistency; and though it will never be as easy to do, as to know what were good to do, it will, indeed, be a grand victory, to sweep away this cobweb which entangles the judgment and obscures the moral perceptions of so many."

'Yes; and to return to your quotation

' though I can easier teach twenty what were good to be done, than be one of the twenty to follow my own teaching,' let these master spirits, henceforth, no more neutralize the good effects of their lessons, by the bad effects of their example."

"But how often does it fortunately happen, that this evil example has little or no influence, from the ignorance which so commonly prevails, as to all that personally relates to authors," remarked Stacey.

"I grant that, but only in part; the author, let him be as personally unknown as you please, knows and feels the effects himself; and so, unhappily, do all who are connected

with him; and this, alone, ought to be motive sufficient to make us expose this fallacy; but when he is not unknown, but courted, sought after, imitated, then no one can be insensible to the danger of his example. Besides, unknown as he may be during his life, in this biographical and autobiographical age, he is lucky, who escapes being disinterred and dragged before the public, either through his own vanity, the folly of friends, or the cupidity of a publisher; only think, what encouragement folly and extravagance then receive. They take refuge under one name of literary celebrity, and indulge in habits of destructive intoxication; under another, meanly take from honest industry to support their pampered and luxurious habits; under a third, for conduct still more disreputable; and so, under cover of one name of note or another, they play off pranks at which the angels weep,' but which they, and the foolish public, call vagaries of intellect, eccentricities of genius; as if intellect and genius did not pay the penalty of folly and crime. But you will think me a hot-headed old fellow, perhaps a soured one; only take these packets home, read them carefully, and before you judge me unfavourably, remember that, if I speak warmly, it is because I feel warmly and kindly towards these

VOL. III.

F

children of genius, who, in so many cases, never cease to be children. Ah! why should reason and poetry be antagonists?-why should common sense and talent so often pursue different paths? And now, adieu !—will you dine with me tête-à-tête this day week, and prove to me that I have not scared you?"

Pleased, interested, touched, and roused, Stacey pursued his way home; and finding, when he reached the Heath, that he had still food for meditation, he walked and sauntered about for a full hour, thinking over all he had heard; and so deeply were both judgment and imagination at work, that, before he entered his own house, he had collected from memory, and occasional glimpses at the papers he carried, materials for his introductory chaptersfor the individual whose memoirs he had undertaken to write, was one whose name, for good and evil, had, during his life, and long after his death, attracted public attention; and was even now often quoted, as a proof that talent, without principle, is a curse.

CHAPTER VI.

"O' my word, the father's son-I'll swear 'tis a very pretty boy."-Coriolanus.

MERRILY and cheerily rang out the bells at Hurstwood, and told in their musical tones and laughing voices, that an heir is born to the Lord and Lady there. Busy figures flit about, and important faces are met here, there, and every where, announcing that no common every-day occurrence has taken place-smiling looks and happy voices report, that my lady is doing as well as can be expected, and that the baby is the finest that ever was seen—“ the very model of my noble master," said the dignified nurse; and Lady Grantham goes about with a more stately step than usual, oppressed, perhaps, with the weight of her newly-blown honour in being grandmother to a Lord.

"Its a very grand thing to be mother-in-law
To a very magnificent three-tail'd Bashaw."
But Lord Hurstwood!-never was a man

more elated-his wife was safe, and to do him justice, that was his first thought—the child, oh! climax of joy, the child is a boy!

Already he began to doubt whether he had done quite wisely in having so decidedly retired from public life-he had certainly been rash and premature; at his age, it was rather absurd to suppose that his country could not benefit by his wisdom and experience-and he comforted himself with the reflexion, that statesmen, like other celebrated performers, may have more than one positively last ap

pearance.

He commanded the steward to have the usual rejoicings and festivities arranged on a larger scale than ever; so that directly her Ladyship could appear to receive congratulations, every mark of respect should be ready prepared and he presented Lady Grantham with a splendid copy of Cecilia's portrait, which had lately been added to the family picture gallery.

And when he was admitted to see his lady and their firstborn, his expressions of joy and gratitude were so reiterated and sincere, as to make her threaten him with banishment, if he did not moderate his transports-though she privately told Lady Grantham, that that would be punishing herself, as it really gratified her