the place, rather than he would discover it. The youth were taught in their conversation a keen, yet polite and pleasant, kind of wit, with a concise and comprehensive mode of expression. Lycurgus himself was in discourse very short and sententious, if we may judge by what we find related of him! as in that answer which he made to one who advised him to establish a popular goverment at Lacedæmon. "Begin, friend," said he, " and make trial of it in thy own family." To another, who asked him why he allowed of such mean and cheap sacrifices to the gods? he replied, "that we may always have something."

For the Monthly Visitor.

SECOND ESSAY,

In Answer to the Question given in No. 58.

HROUGH the wide extent of nature, that lies

TH open to our view, and been the subject of re

search, this fact is demonstrated with precision, that the Deity has linked causes and effects in closest union with each other. Newton, with sagacious eye, explored the recesses of the universe; and where obscurity before had wrapt the laws of nature in the gloom of night, meridian splendors darted and laid open all the mazy and intricate wheels by which the mighty whole was managed. Descending from the grand phenomena of nature to the works of man, we find a consanguineous tie of causes and effects unite the civilized world. One class of men may be, with justice, termed the vast intellectual eye of all the rest, and that through them, whatever adds to the private good or public wealth, is felt and seen. I do not hesitate affirm

ing, that philosophy is more advantageous to the community than all the most unwearied diligence the man of business can display. From this prolific source the main and only spring of commerce owes its origin for were mechanics utterly unknown, our situation would resemble the uncultivated nations of the earth, where arts and sciences have never penetrated through the fogs of ignorance, and taught the savage what enjoyments they afford to polish and refine the mind-embellish life with all that pleases and improves-awakes our wonderanimates our zeal or recompences our fatigues.

Trade can never rise to any eminence if the assistance of philosophy is not to be obtained-for we need but cast our eyes around, and states will meet our gaze, where barter of the natural products of the country constitutes the sum and substance of their traffic. Our adventurous merchants plough the foaming deep, and brave the fickleness of squally winds, to visit the remotest quarters of the glob, and bring from thence the rude unmanufactured produce of those climes. In this high favoured country, philosophical enquiries are pursued with vidity, and every day is witness to some new invent ion, or elucidation of a subject which promotes the welfare of mankind. Some centuries back, when superstition had enveloped the mind, and ignorance contracted human intellect, our commerce was a mere nonentity; and when the celebrated Roger Bacon pierced through the gloom of bigotry, and laid the firm foundation of our present knowledge, calumny, with bitter acrimony, represented his sublime discoveries as the base com munications of the devil. Others in succeeding ages perfected what he begun, and every year saw trade increase, its limits and ability in just proportion with the strengthening lights of rational philosophy. The map of Europe offers us a picture

painted with a great variety of colours, and each state is appositely marked with a due degree of light and shade, according to the patronage bestowed on Philosophers. Some are fast approaching to the zenith of perfection, in the ratio of time-while others scarcely have emerged from the twilight of obscurity, and past the bounds of the horizon.England long has been distinguished among the nations for the number, excellence, and great utility of its respective goods and manufactories.

But here the query presses for solution, and demands imperiously, if the discoveries of Philosophers have tended more than the assiduous industry of Tradesmen to advance the interests of society? Can the effect be greater than its cause-or that produced greater than the thing producing? Let us then survey the provinces of both, and see if the inventor and improver of machines promotes the public welfare more than he, who, through their aid, exhibits the productions of the globe in an innumerous group of modes and forms. What would Great Britain at this day have been, if the invaluable science of mechanics never had engaged the attention of her sons. Instead of Sheffield, Norwich, Birmingham, and Manchester, with many other seats of equal knowledge, being celebrated as the great emporiums of scientific skill, their names and praise to millions would have been unknown, and all their wealth and grandeur never seen. The firmness and superior worth of all our manufactnred goods, originate in that profound ability with which the engines are contrived. The industrious mer

chant traverses his own and other countries for materials to supply their large demands, but is constrained to acknowledge that it is from the discoveries of philosophy alone, he is empowered to produce what is the ultimatum of his own ard others good. Nay, even when he longs to sa

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through watery worlds, philosophy invented his ship-proportions every part-adjusts its load-and steers it in its liquid way. The man of business may, by his activity, transmit his various stock to places ignorant of their utility, and destitute of a supply, with the benevolent design of teaching them their use, convenience, and profit. He may spend his time and fortune in erecting edifices of great national importance, and employing hundreds in conducting with appropriate ingenuity his wonderful machines, from which their families may gain the comforts of an easy competence, while the community at large receive a portion of the benefit. In this one instance, we, however, must confess the wheel that moves the whole owes its existence to the labours of Philosophers, and without their assistance never would have had a being. From the single science of mechanics, the community apparently derive a more essential good than the most vigorous exertions the man of business can produce, Having strove to shew the great advantages resulting from this single branch, we now proceed to mention a few others, and the relative connection that subsists between their cultivation and our profit and delight. Navigation is an art replete with gain to individuals and the public, and enhances greatly the prosperity of all who wisely make a due improvement of the privileges it possesses. By its aid the Poles hold intercourse together, and exchange their several products for each others goods. The merchant, emulous of wealth, leaves the favourite spot on which he first drew breath-the partner of his life and cares-his children, relatives and friends, and eagerly embarks with a rich cargo from his native land to seek a market in the most inhospitable climes. Not the loud roar of tempests, or the rocks of treacherous seas-the daring pirates -bloody crew-or the assassin's dagger in a foreign

shore, can damp the ardour of his soul, or change his steady purpose. Loaden with the wealth of Afia, or the gold of Afric-the inestimable diamonds of Golconda, or the produce of the western isles, he turns his stately vessel towards his long left country, crouds his sails and courts the winds to waft him through the trackless ocean to the haven of his wishes. There upon the strand he disembarks his treasures, and invites his countrymen to taste the fruitful earnings of his toil.

In intimate connection with the useful art of navigation, is a knowledge of the virtues of the magnet a discovery incalculably beneficial to commercial nations. Unacquainted with it, navigators would be destitute of every certain guide through the tempestuous realms of Neptune to their place of destination. By the compass they determine, with the greatest nicety, the situation of the countries they explore, and leave to all that follow, an invaluable legacy of information.

Near allied to this is the instructive science of geography-a science admirably suited to the interests of man, and pleasing to the curious mind. From hence we gain intelligence of all that passeson the globe-the longitudes and latitudes-extent, divisions, metals, produce, manners, manufactories and commerce of the kingdoms underneath the torrid, temperate, and frigid zones.Here the feet of industry may find an ample field in which to roam, and opportunities in quick succession crouding on the sight, alluring by their richess, and deserving notice for their durability. While others brave the rigours of an equatorial sun, we sit with placid eye and chearful countenance, amid the peaceful and domestic circle, feasting on the delicacies they have brought, without the glare of danger, or the struggles of fatigue embittering our minds.-'Tis here the analyzer of the vegetable, animal, and fossil