Nelson at the battle of Trafalgar, where that hero unfortunately fell; or not, perhaps, unfortunately for himself, as it was in the midst of victory, and crowned with glory. Had he died immediately after his unsuccessful attempt on the coast of France, or on his expedition to Denmark, he would have left his fame somewhat diminished, which by his last brilliant action was again mounted to the stars: for the victory at the Nile was not less brilliant than that off Trafalgar. Either of them would have been sufficient to immortalise his

name.

Ne è quovis Ligno Mercurius fiat.

A statue of Mercury may not be made from every kind of wood. All dispositions and capacities are not adapted to the higher walks of literature. It is incumbent on parents to educate their children, but they should give them such instruction, as is suited to their talents. Artificers are careful to make choice of materials fit for the work they have in hand, whether metal, stone, or wood; using the

coarser

coarser sort for rough and common articles, the finer for those that require to be more exquisitely finished. "You cannot make," we say, "a silken purse of a sow's ear," or "a horn of a pig's tail," or "a good coat," the Spaniards. say, "of coarse or bad wool." "De ruyn paño nunca buen sayo."

Ne Gladium tollas Mulier.

Women should not attempt to wield a sword, for which they are incompetent. Employ in every business means adapted and adequate to the purpose; also take care not to irritate any one whom you are not able to stand. against, or oppose successfully. Brutus observed, that Cicero should not have railed against, and provoked Marc Anthony, who was much more powerful than himself. In the end, this imprudence cost Cicero his life. What, however, shall we say of those heroines, Judith in sacred, and Joan of Arc in modern history, or of the Amazons, who wielded this forbidden weapon with such advantage against their enemies, in defiance of this adage?

Exiguum Malum, ingens Bonum.

"Ill luck is good for something." From a small evil, to extract a considerable advantage, is the property of a sound and prudent mind. It is next to profiting by the errors and mischances of others, to take warning by some check we may meet with in our progress, and thence to alter our course. "El hombre mancebo perdiendo gana seso," a young man by losing, gains knowledge. If persons, who are living more expensively than their income permits, would be warned by the first difficulty or disgrace they suffer, and would institute modes of living more suitable to their circumstances, they would soon recover what by their improvidence they had wasted. But pride, a fear of shewing to their companions they are not so wealthy as they had boasted, or had appeared to be, prevents their following this salutary counsel, and they go on until their fall becomes inevitable. "Si quid feceris honestum cum labore, labor abit, honestum manet. Si quid feceris turpe cum voluptate, voluptas abit, turpitudo manet," which may be thus ren

dered:

dered if by labour and difficulty you have procured to yourself an advantage, the benefit will remain, when the labour with which it was acquired will be forgotten. But if in pursuit of pleasure you have degraded yourself, the disgrace will remain, while no traces of the pleasure will be retained in your memory.

Ipse semet canit.

"Is your trumpeter dead, that you are obliged to praise yourself?" This may be considered as a caution against vain boasting. Act so as to be deserving of commendation; and though you should not meet with all the applause you may deserve, you will have the testimony of your own mind, which will be abundantly satisfactory. Hear, O ye Venetians, and I will tell ye which is the best thing in the world: "To contemn it." Sebastian Foscarius, sometime Duke of Venice, ordered this to be inscribed on his tomb.

Teipsum non alens, Canes alis.

b

P

Not having sufficient for your own support,

do you pretend to keep dogs? This was used to be applied to persons whose income, insufficient to supply them with necessaries, was laid out in superfluities; in keeping servants and horses, or in an ostentatious use of gaudy clothes, furniture, or other articles of luxury, unbecoming their circumstances. "Los que

cabras no tienen, y cabritos venden, de donde lo vienen?" those who, having no goats, yet sell kids, whence do they get them? is said by the Spaniards, of persons who, having no estates, or known income, yet contrive to live at a great expense.

Cantilenam eandem canis.

To be always singing the same tune, or telling the same stories, which, though at the first they might be interesting and pleasant, at length become, by repetition, tiresome and disgusting. "Dieu nous garde d'un homme qui n'a qu'une affaire;" God keep us, the French say, from a man who is only acquainted with one subject, on which he is capable of conversing; he will introduce it on all occa