incomparably superior to those I have already referred to, and indeed to most of our modern scribblers, has nevertheless become dangerously infected by the effluvia evaporated from the would-be wits he has been almost constantly in company with. From them he has imbibed this cacoethes scribendi, which, for the benefit of the unlearned reader, we have vulgarly translated, the itch for scribbling; and we can easily account for the difference between his writings and those of the other persons I have spoken of, if we consider that nature has given him a good proportion of solid understanding, and that he has long been a companion, not only of the conceited wits of the times, but of men of sense.

But what more fully, and beyond all contradiction, proves this disorder to be contagious, is the case of the dog Cæsar, belonging to the gentleman just named, who, from only lying under the table where the wits usually meet, and by walking out with his friend B—, has become one of the most famous writers of the age, and has recently obtained the prize offered for the best tale, by a celebrated "newspaper for the million," in spite of nearly one hundred competitors of the most "popular" school of writers.

I must, for the present, leave this painful though curious subject to the consideration of the world, in the hope that some Esculapius may be incited to the discovery of a specific against this dangerous disorder. Though not a hydropathist, I have thus far, in my practice, found a liberal use of cold water to be the most efficacious mode of treatment.

GOOD AND BAD LUCK.

FROM H. W. BEECHER.

THERE are men who, supposing Providence to have an implacable spite against them, bemoan in the poverty of a wretched old age the misfortunes of their lives. Luck ran forever against them, and for others. One, with a good profession, lost his luck in the river, where he idled away his time a-fishing, when he should have been in the office. Another, with a good trade, perpetually burnt up his luck by his hot temper, which provoked all his employers to leave him. Another, with a lucrative business, lost his luck by amazing diligence at every thing but his business. Another, who steadily followed his business, as steadily followed his bottle. Another, who was honest and constant to his work, erred by perpetual misjudgments he lacked discretion. Hundreds lose their luck by endorsing, by sanguine speculations, by trusting fraudulent men, and by dishonest gains. A man never has good luck who has a bad wife. I never knew an earlyrising, hard-working, prudent man, careful of his earnings and strictly honest, who complained of bad luck. A good character, good habits, and iron industry, are impregnable to the assaults of all the ill luck that fools ever dreamed of. But when I see a tatterdemalion creeping out of a grocery late in the forenoon, with his hands stuck into his pockets, the rim of his hat turned up, and the crown knocked in, I know he has had bad luck; for the worst of all luck is to be a sluggard, a knave or a tippler.

THE TALKING BELLE.

WHEW! how she talks! - with science, art,
With mind, soul, raptures, fancy dealing-
Perpetual motion of the tongue,

Perpetual dearth of feeling!

Now Heaven preserve me from a maid,

While through my breast quick feelings shoot,

Whose rattling tongue forever goes,

Whose heart is always mute!

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

THE WAR WITH MEXICO. - War, viewed in its most favorable aspect, can only be justified, if at all, as a last resort, in cases of the most extreme necessity. The present invasion of Mexico, by our troops, appears to us in no better light than as a wanton violation of the rights of a nation too weak for selfdefence. Not only are the pretexts assumed for engaging in it insufficient for its justification, but, as it is well enough known, they were not the real motives. The plain statement of end, cause and effect, in the case, should read thus:- Slavery, Texas, War with Mexico. Texas was obtained by the efforts of the slaveholding interest. The free states did not want it. The same interest is now seeking to make the Mexican war a means of still further increase of territory, for the wider extension of the slave system. The expense to the nation, the inhumanity towards Mexico, the inconsistency of a war of conquest with our republican institutions-its injustice under any circumstances, all are looked upon as unworthy considerations, when the safety and progress of the " peculiar institution" are at stake.

LAND REFORM. -We are glad to see this topic, among others, becoming a matter of popular discussion. Its consideration brings up questions of vital importance, which have never yet been thoroughly discussed, on all sides. Whatever may be the fate of any particular schemes of land reform now agitated, the time must come, when it will be considered an indisputable principle, that a community is bound to see that every one of its members who is willing to do his share of labor, shall have the means of obtaining an honest and honorable subsistence, either from the land or otherwise; and when it will appear almost incredible, that such a heartless monopoly of the means of living as now beggars and starves the working people of

England, could ever have been tolerated in a Christian country. Though the freedom of the land from entailments has thus far prevented the realization of the same mischiefs in this country, the tendency has evidently been towards the concentration of property, and the wider separation between the wealthier and the poorer classes. We are glad to see an example of legislative action on this subject, in a state so near home as that of Connecticut, which has recently enacted a law exempting from attachment homesteads not exceeding in amount three hundred acres of land. This is a favorable indication of progress. However difficult it may be to understand how an evil can be removed, the attempt to remove it cannot be too soon made, when its existence has once become an acknowledged fact.

BARON HUMBOLDT.-Mr. Stevens, well known as the explorer of the Central American Ruins, has published an account of an interesting interview which he recently had with this remarkable man, whose name has been identified with the cause of science for more than half a century. He found him residing with the Prussian king, at Potsdam in feeble health, but full of interest in the great affairs of the world around him. Mr. Stephens having been brought to Germany by his connection with the Bremen mail steamer enterprise, an occasion was given for the Baron to express his gratification in witnessing the increasing intimacy growing up between this country and Germany. In Mexico he exhibited the deepest interest - showing himself familiar with all the particulars of our war with that nation, and giving the highest credit to the military character and skill of the American generals.

Though nearly eighty years of age, he does not appear overcome with the burden of years; but retains his intellectual vigor unimpaired. He is rather below the middle stature; his face is broad, and his eye remarkable for expression. He dresses with the utmost simplicity. In principle, he is a firm believer in progress and improvement, and sympathizes with that class who are aiming at the elevation of the masses of mankind. He is regarded not only as one of the most profound philosophers, but one of the soundest statesmen.