self to a supper without being invited, so far from being placed on the last seat, he is pretty sure of being offered one of the first. Suetonius, has transmitted a curious letter to his daughter Julia; he sends her two hundred and fifty denarii, a sum which he had distributed to every one of the guests whom he had admitted to supper, that they might amuse themselves by playing at dice, or some other game during the repast. This anecdote, recals to our mind another, which may be reckoned a modern one, and will shew how changeable are the opinions of men, respecting delicacy, politeness, and pride. At the splendid festival, prepared by Fouquet, for Louis XIV. at his chateau De Baux. The steward was ordered to put into every courtiers room, a purse full of gold, to supply the wants of those who might be without money, or had but little for the royal gaming table. The gentlemen in the King's retinue, looked on this provident and generous attention of the master of the house, as a piece of gallantry and

munificence, and made use of the purses without the least scruple. Duclos, who relates the above anecdote, adds, that such marks of generosity and ostentation, were not uncommon in those days. The master of the mint, a little before that time, had given an instance of scandalous profusion at the end of a dinner. In 1640, when the first new Louis were coined in France, he had three large baskets full of the new coins, presented as part of the desert, to five of his guests, who were the Monarch's favourites, and invited them to partake of, and make free with whatever was placed befor them-the courtiers fell greedily on this new fruit, a golden rarity; filled their pockets, and hastened to their houses, without waiting for their carriages-the master smiled at the embarrassment of the five busy lords, and the difficulty they had in walking, or rather trotting so heavily laden.

Paraphrase of the 10th Ode of the
Second Book of Horace.

An even mind doth one condition keep,
Ne'er sinks with meanness, nor elated soars;
Nor tempts too far, the treacherous bound-
less deep,

Ne'er sails too closely by the dang'rous shores.

He who this happy medium can attain, Serene he looks on Famine's meagre face; Nor do his hopes aspire, or wish to gain The wealth or grandeur of the regal race.

The winds conspire against the loftiest pines,

The pile which high in air its head displays,

With its own weight to aid its fall combines,

And proudest hills meet first the light'ning's blaze.

The wise with joy their drooping spirits cheer,

Conscious that good and ill alternate sway; For tho' Jove forms the winter bleak and drear,

He brings the summer's tepid genial ray.

Tho' we're sometimes unhappy here below, Fate will not always thwart our fond desire;

Apollo does not always ply his bow; But sometimes wakes the msues sprightly lyre.

We, therefore, should exert a vig'rous mind,

When fate perplexes with an adverse gale; But when it more indulgent proves, and

Anecdote of an Italian Painter.

We talk in England of the fickleness of

other nations in respect to dress, without being conscious that we ourserves in this very instance, have excited ridicule in every part of Europe from the earliest periods of our history.

Lucas-de-Keer, an Italian painter, resided in England, in the reign of Elizabeth; he was ordered by that Princess, to characterise the English in respect to their dress. Being a person of considerable humour, he drew a man naked before him; on the ground, lay various pieces of cloth scattered about of divers colours; in his hand he held a pair of sheers; from his mouth, a lable was pendent, on which, these words were inscribed:

"I am an Englishman, and naked I stand here, "Musing in my mind, what garment I shall wear."

The Queen was delighted with his performance, commended his wit, and liberally rewarded him.