of divination resorted to by Theodotus, the Gothic King of Italy, A.D. 540. Trembling behind the walls of Rome at the approaching downfall of his power, this unworthy descendant of a race of heroes, in his superstitious terror, submitted to an ignominious expedient for enquiring into futurity which was suggested to him by a Jewish name-wizard. By his advice, given no doubt in secret mockery of the Gentile combatants, thirty hogs were for a time shut up together: ten were named by the Gothic King after his own people, to ten others were given Greek names, and to the remaining ten were assigned Roman names. The time of probation ended, of the first-named almost all were found to be dead; of the second, all were alive; of the third half were dead and half much injured. Strange to say, the ridiculous experiment was typical of the actual result of the conflict of the three nations.

Let us turn to a nobler aspect of the power of

names.

In days of chivalry-ay, farther back, before the word chivalry was known-the name of a hero was ever as a standard to which all men flocked, and where its loved sound floated in the air there was victory! Drawn by its potent spell, as if inspired, men pressed forward to the thickest of the fight, where like a trumpet-call rang out on high, above the clash of spears and the hurtling of arrows, the NAMES of the leaders

NAMES OF POWER.

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they loved best-'A Talbot!' 'A Percy!' or the joint names of king, country, and patron saint.

Upon this charge

Cry God for Harry, England, and St. George.

Henry V.

Or hark to a war-cry more ancient far in the Song of Deborah, and in the Prophet Hosea, who bids cornet and trumpet sound and the war-cry of the brave Benjamites be raised: ' After thee, O Benjamin!' To and fro the tide of battle rolled, its mighty thunder following in the wake of the triumphant shoutings of those names of power.

And those who bend a reverent ear still catch the echoes of those priceless names haunting the fields where their imperishable glory was won: names of power are they not with us yet? Our old heroic names-and they are many in our lion-hearted race†-are with us still, and to those that bear them they are a heritage more precious than lands or gold, because imperishable inalienable pledges of honour none dare gainsay.

Could a Sydney do a dishonourable act? Could a Desmond be other than brave?

* Names as significant of power:—

'Our battle is more full of names than yours.'

+

Shakspeare's Henry IV.

.... Our names

Familiar in their mouths as household words.'

Henry V.

But, while some names have in them the ring of trusty metal, the true steel of a gallant warrior's sword, there are others that tinkle yet more musically in the ears of some-ay, even with the sound of silver and gold.

Amongst our princely merchants there are simple names 'good' for the ransom of kings and kingdoms. Countries on the verge of bankruptcy have been rescued by a word, when that word was a name known far and wide as a trustworthy 'promise to pay.'

But while I write the words 'princely merchants,' do not my readers' hearts swell like my own with fervent gratitude to him who, some months past, in a few words of almost childish simplicity, and with all a child's exquisite purity of motive, bestowed on the poor of our metropolis the munificent gift of 150,000l. ?

Apicius of old devoted his enormous wealth to the pampering of his body—that body which by his own act was given, while yet in manhood's prime, to be food for worms. The names of such men pass into by-words and jests, but the name of Peabody, homely as its sound may be, will long be as music in the ear of England's poor. Wafted to heaven on their prayers, it will be dear to the hearts of us all, so long as those sweet words are remembered—'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me.'

But we linger too long, perhaps, on the thres

ADVANTAGES TO BE DERIVED.

15

We cannot at will

hold of our express theme. None deny the preciousness of honourable surnames; but they, like talents, riches, and beauty of face, are not of our own choosing, nor can they be chosen for us by those to whom we are dear. Our family names are appointed for us. be Sydneys, Talbots, Barings, or Rothschilds.* But amongst Christian names parents are free to choose. Names of noblest significance are open to all, suitable to all, princes and peers. Of individual names already bestowed on us there can scarcely be one in which may not be discovered some germ of thought, which, if cherished, will surely be suggestive of some one good word or work, of some high aim, some ennobling influence.

Therefore is a small voice now lovingly raised, earnestly asking for Christian names some attention and regard from their possessors. Remembering to what a vast portion of the human race the subject appeals, is it not within probability that even so low a voice may win its way to the hearts of some? The whisperings of 'Picciola,'

* These lines were written before the ridiculous fashion commenced of people exchanging their real names for others of better sound, but to which they had not the slightest claim. We hope the example of Norfolk Howard, alias Bug, has been too much laughed at for it to gain many followers. When a new name is assumed, surely one may be selected out of family connections, or, better still, the Christian name of father or mother be adapted to a surname. With a little ingenuity a new form may be given to one of these names, and the original composition thus afford a pleasant feeling of ownership in the new name assumed.

the prison flower, were listened to by one who had been deaf to the teachings of wise men.

may

This individual right of ours, small and insignificant as it may at the first glance appear to be, should, if only in one respect, deserve some notice it is inalienable. May we not venture to say that it is the only inalienable individual property that men, women, and children throughout wide Christendom do possess? All other properties take to themselves wings and fly away. What earthly treasure is there beyond the power of mishap? Our fair ancestral homes, our bags of gold, our possessions of every kind-intellectual superiority, beauty of form, strength, and skill— not one of all these is inalienable. Nay, if a long life be granted to us, the infirmities of age must deprive us of all personal gifts. The clearest intellect must be obscured, the brightest eyes grow dim-the most skilful hands, the most powerful frame, be paralysed before the numbing influence of approaching death.

How closely do men resemble the time-pieces, the making of which is one of the chief triumphs of their handiwork!

Beneath the gathering dust of successive years and the moisture of the atmosphere, which is as tears, the brilliancy of the fair dial-plate is effaced, while within the once busy wheels begin to lag as the gathering rust grows over them, and the life-like springs lose their elasticity-more and more languidly the hands revolve-fainter and