a pottle of strawberries, of which we commence by picking out the best and finish by eating them all. BOILEAU DESPréaux.—A (275.) member of the French Academy, and one of the most celebrated poets of the age of Louis XIV. He is the Juvenal of the French, and in his satires far superior to the Roman writer in point of1 delicacy and chasteness of style. His productions gained him great reputation, particularly his "Art of Poetry," his "Epistles," and his " Lutrin." No French poet has been so correct in his style, and few equal him in strength and harmony. He has written some "Odes," but they are inferior to those of J.-B. Rousseau. It has been said of him, that his verses will be read even when the language is obsolete3, and will be the last ruins of it. CRÉBILLON.-Although inferior to his great dramatic rivals Corneille, Racine, and Voltaire, he opened a new path', in which he succeeded well. Corneille had astonished the mind by the sublimity of his thoughts, Racine had moved the heart, and Crébillon struck it with terror. When Crébillon was received at the French Academy, they applauded, in his discourse on the occasion, the truth of the following line: "Aucun fiel n'a jamais empoisonné ma plume." MADAME DESHOULIÈRES.-Three French poets have distinguished themselves in pastoral poetry; Deshoulières, Segrais, and Fontenelle. The last-mentioned, however, did not possess the simplicity so natural to that style; and Segrais, with more poetical talent, had not so pure a diction as Madame Deshoulières. Among her "Idyls," there are some of the greatest merit. DESTOUCHES.-This dramatic writer ranks far below1 the favourite of Thalia, the keen2 and witty Molière; yet one of his comedies, "Le Glorieux," would do honour to that great writer himself, and is looked upon as one of the best plays in the French language. ROLLIN.-Rector of the University of Paris, he caused letters to flourish under his administration, and revived the study of the Greek. His principal works are, "A Treatise on the manner of studying and teaching the Belles-lettres," and an "Ancient History." They have obtained universal approbation, and are translated into several languages. MARMONTEL.-Secretary to the French Academy, well known by the variety of his literary productions, and admired for the vigour and delicacy of his genius. He wrote the " Literary Observer," the "Charms of Study," the "Elements of Literature," a French translation of Lucan's Pharsalia1, and several tragedies; but his fame rests principally upon his "Moral Tales" and "Belisarius." Never has wisdom appeared more amiable than in these charming productions. Marmontel died in the year 1799. Three years before his death, being nominated to the Legislature, he went to the Electoral Assembly, and, thanking his fellow-citizens for this mark of respect, he said to them, "You behold, my friends, a body enfeebled by age, but the heart of an honest man never grows old3. THOMAS.-A (275.) member of the French Academy: he is known by various1 works, but more particularly by his Eulogies, the subject of which is taken from all nations. His "Eulogy of Marshal Saxe" was crowned by the French Academy. His style has been much criticised, but among his productions there are some of the greatest merit. LA HARPE. He was an author of varied talents, an (273.) orator, critic, poet, and dramatic writer. His dramatic pieces have considerable merit; his poems gained1 several prizes from different Academies: his Eulogies of Fénelon, Racine, and Charles the Fifth have Deen much admired; but his principal work is a Complete Course of Literature." 66 VOLTAIRE. This author is considered the most extraordinary genius that France ever produced; he has written, both in verse and prose, on almost every subject, and generally with great success. From his earliest youth he showed' proofs of the acuteness of his wit and brilliant imagination; such was the precocity of his genius, that at twelve years of age his poetical essays would have done honour to his riper age3. His tragedies are masterpieces: although below Molière in the comic style, his comedies are replete with wit. His histories of Charles XII. and Peter the Great are models of historical composition. His "Henriade" is a fine epic poem, in which all the characters are well supported, the passions skilfully laid open*, the descriptions striking, and accompanied with all the enthusiasm of fine poetry: the subject, however, was ill chosen, being too near our age; it shackled his creative imagination, and destroyed the illusion we indulge in when reading Tasso, Ariosto, Homer, and Virgil7. The most perfect of his writings is his fugitive poetry, in which he has no rival. BARTHÉLEMY.-He is the author of the "Travels of Anacharsis" in Greece, a (275.) classical work, in which he has displayed vast erudition; it is the fruit of thirty years' labour, and will immortalize his memory. He was a (273.) member of many distinguished academies, and he united to profound learning, modesty, simplicity and amiability of temper. LA BRUYÈRE. He has displayed1 the follies of mankind and the manners of his age in his Caractères, after the manner of Theophrastus. Their success was very great when they appeared, these characters being not always imaginary, but drawn after nature, and from known persons. They will always be read with pleasure. FENELON. He preached with success from the age of nineteen, and wrote many works which are admired for their beauty of style; but that which has gained him1 the greatest reputation is his "Telemachus," where he has displayed all the riches of the French language. No work had ever a greater reputation; it is written in a lively, simple, natural and elegant manner; its fictions are well imagined, the moral sublime, and the political maxims it contains all tend to the happiness of mankind. FLORIAN. Although this author is principally known by his novels, his style is so elegant, and the moral in his writings so pure, that we do not hesitate in recommending their perusal. He has written some comedies with a great deal of success; his fables are inferior only to those of La Fontaine ; his "Estelle" is a pastoral equal to "Galatea"; and his "Gonzalvo of Cordova" and "Numa Pompilius" are highly esteemed. MASSILLON.-This divine is justly considered one of the best and most eloquent of French preachers. Louis XIV. once said to him, "When I hear other orators I am pleased with them; but after having heard you I am displeased with myself." It is impossible to read his sermons without becoming better. His style is mild and elegant, and the effect of his declamation was irresistible. MONTESQUIEU. His first literary production is entitled "Persian Letters," and gave proofs of a fine genius. His greatest work, the "Spirit of Laws," was much criticised, but has placed its author in the first rank among political writers. Montesquieu has examined his subject with so much clearness and judgment, that his book ought rather to have been named1 the Code of the Laws of Nations. His "Considerations on the Causes of the Rise and Fall of the Romans" is an excellent work. BERQUIN. This author should be particularly recommended to youth. In his "Ami des enfants" he offers the most important lessons under the most attractive form. His works have been translated into all the languages of the civilized world. Thoughts, Maxims, and other miscellaneous selections. Love God who made thee with all thy strength. Do good to all, that thou mayst keep thy friends and gain thy enemies. It is right to be content with what we have, not with what we are : the exact reverse is the case with most men. What cannot courage and power do when guided by wisdom? Ostentation and taste are irreconcilable enemies. Life is a heavy burden for every man who does not know how to employ himself. Judgment and imagination are rarely united. In the path of life, we have the brilliant meteor of hope to dazzle us, and behind us truth. The descent of the Normans is mentioned as a fact well known. There are foolish things well arranged, as there are fools well dressed. The safest asylum is the bosom of a mother. Where can one be happier than in the bosom of one's family? An honourable life is the best legacy a father can leave to his children. The slanderer's tongue is a poisoned dagger. Life is divided into three terms: that which was, which is, and which will be. Let us learn from the past to profit by the present, aud from the present to live better for the future. Alexander often said: "I am not more indebted to Philip my father than to Aristotle my preceptor. If I owe to the one my life, I am indebted to the other for virtue." Homer is considered the father of epic poetry; Æschylus, of tragedy; Æsop, of apologue; Pindar, of lyric poetry; and Theocritus, of pastoral poetry. Molière has taken from Aristophanes, the comic; from Plautus, fire and activity; from Terence, the picture of manners. The majestic eloquence of Bossuet is like a river, which carries everything along in its rapid course. It has been said of the Telemachus of the virtuous Fénelon, that it is the most useful present the Muses have made to mankind; for could the happiness of man be produced by a poem, it would be by that. He was a wise legislator, who, having given to his countrymen laws calculated to make them good and happy, made them swear not to violate any of those laws during his absence: after which, he went away, exiled himself from his country, and died poor in a foreign land. A beautiful precept. An all-wise Creator has ordained that, as parents watch over the helpless infancy of their children, so the children are to nurse the declining days of their parents, support the tottering steps, and administer to the weakness of second childhood in those who administered to their wants. The happy man. The happy man is not he whose happiness is his only care, but he who, with perfect resignation, leaves the care of his happiness to HIM who made him, while he pursues with ardour the road of his duty.-DR. REID. The study of Nature. The observation of the calm, energetic regularity of nature, the immense scale of her operations, and the certainty with which her ends are attained, tend irresistibly to tranquillize the mind, and render it less accessible to repining, selfish and turbulent emotions.W. HERSCHel. Do good for the sake of good. The horse, when he has run his course; the bee, when it has made its honey; and the good man, when he has done good to others, do not make a noisy boast about it, but go on to repeat the action, as the vine, in its season, produces new clusters again.—CALDWELL. Equality of man's destiny. The different ranks and orders of mankind may be compared to so many streams and rivers of running water. All proceed from an original small and obscure; some spread wider, travel over more countries, and make more noise in their passage than others; but all tend alike to an ocean, where distinction ceases, and where the largest and most celebrated rivers are equally lost and absorbed with the smallest and most unknown streams.-BISHOP HORNE. Early habits. Early habits of virtue, like new clothes upon a young and comely body, sit very gracefully upon a straight and well-shaped mind, and do mightily become it.-WORDSWorth. Conduct in life. Be rather careful of what thou dost than of what thou hast; for what thou hast is none of thine, and will leave thee at thy death;— but what thou dost is thine, and will follow thee to thy grave, and will plead for thee, or against thee, at the day of judgment. At that day it will be what we have done for others, rather than for ourselves, that will most avail us.-CALdwell. Gratitude. The famous Oriental philosopher Lockman, while a slave, being presented by his master with a bitter melon, immediately ate it all. "How was it possible," said his master, "for you to eat so nauseous a fruit?" Lockman replied: "I have received so many favours from you, that it is no wonder I should once in my life eat a bitter melon from your hand." This generous answer of the slave struck the master to such a degree that he immediately gave him his liberty. With such sentiments should man receive his portion of sufferings at the hand of God.-BISHOP HORNE. God seen in his works. The Sidonian servants agreed amongst themselves to choose him to be their king who that morning should first see the sun. Whilst all others were gazing on the east, one alone looked on the west; some |