all deserve a particular description: but, that I may not tire the patience of my reader, I will here conclude; assuring him that, at some future period, I shall again take up my pen to describe, not only these formidable beings, but also various others, unknown, or but imperfectly characterized. I am, Sir, your humble servant, A NATURALIST.

MY PORTFOLIO;

Or, ORIGINAL HINTS, SKETCHES, and ANECDOTES.

"A thing of shreds and patches."

No. 7.-COMPARISON OF SATAN.

IN the second book of Paradise Lost, Satan holds conference with Chaos, "the anarch old," after which he proceeds on his journey to the newly-created world. Milton beautifully describes him as springing

"upward, like a pyramid of fire,

Into the wide expanse."

The commentators have made various remarks on this passage; but I do not remember that any one of them has noticed that the simile was probably drawn by the poet from the flight of a rocket. The brilliancy, the figure, the suddenness and rapidity of motion of an ignited rocket, are all admirably depicted in the passage which I have quoted. I know of no other luminous body so well calculated as a large rocket, to form an object of comparison with the rushing ascent of the arch fiend, into the gloomy void around him. The rising of a common flame, to which some of the commentators have alluded, has neither grandeur nor swiftness enough.

MEMORIALS OF FRIENDS.

THE ingenuity of mankind has, in almost all ages, heen exercised in finding the means of preserving from total decay the whole, or at least some part, of those who were beloved while living. Hence mummies, embalmed bodies, funeral urns containing the ashes of

case of needles, or a pair of scissars; and that a family of husbandmen might be converted into a spade or a ploughshare, for the use of their descendants. To the plan of the French philosophers there appears to be no serious objection. Some persons would, perhaps, prefer the glass toys of Becher to the iron medals of the two French philosophers, as being in a more elegant taste. At the same time, it cannot be denied that, with respect to certain classes of people, there is undoubtedly something "more germain to the matter" in the proposal of Messrs. Parmentier and Deyeux. Iron would be an admirable symbolical memorial of conquerors, tyrants, misers, lawyers, hard-hearted damsels, and termagant wives; and, in providing suitable inscriptions to the medals, a wide field would be opened, in which to exercise the talent of the wits and the poets. **D.

APHORISMS, BY LAVATER.

SAGACITY in selecting the good, and courage to honour it, according to its degree, determines your own degree of goodness.

Call him wise, whose actions, words, and steps, are all a clear because, to a clear why?

He who has genius and eloquence sufficient either to cover or to excuse his errors, yet extenuates not, but rather accuses himself, and unequivocally confesses guilt, approaches the circle of immortals, whom human language has dignified with the appellation of gods and saints.

There are rapid moments of joy and of grief; moments which every one has, at least once in his life, that illuminate his character at once.

Who crawlingly receives, will give superciliously. Who in certain moments can entirely lose himself in another, and, in the midst of the greatest action, think of no observer, is a jewel in the crown of human nature. Who can look quietly at nothing, will never do any thing worthy of imitation.

All finery is a sign of littleness.

The wrangler, the puzzler, and the word-hunter, are incapable of great thoughts and actions.

F

Who, in receiving a benefit, estimates its value more closely than in conferring one, shall be a citizen of a better world.

Imitate him whose observation passes not even the most minute, while it follows only the higher objects: the seeds of grandeur lie already in himself, he gives his own turn to every thing, and borrows less than seizes with one immediate glance: such an one never stops, his flight is that of the eagle, who, like an arrow, wings the mid air, while his pinions appear motionless.

Know, that the great art to love your enemy consists of never losing sight of man in him: humanity has power over all that is human; the most inhuman man still remains man, and never can throw off all taste for what becomes a man---but you must learn to wait.

He who is always in want of something cannot be very rich! "Tis a poor wight who lives by borrowing the words, decisions, mien, invention, and actions, of others.

The more there is of mind in your solitary employments, the more dignity there is in your character.

He, who can at all times sacrifice pleasure to duty, approaches sublimity.

Let the four and twenty elders in heaven rise before him who, from motives of humanity, can totally sup press an arch, pointed, but offensive bon mot.

Call him saint who can forget his own sufferings in the minute griefs of others.

Trust him little who praises all, him less who censures all, and him least who is indifferent about all.

He who is master of the fittest moment to crush his enemy, and magnanimously neglects it, is born to be a conqueror.

Where there is much pretension, much has been borrowed---Nature never pretends.

Truth, wisdom, love, seck reasons: malice seeks only

causes.

Save me from him who is inexhaustible in evasions when called upon to do a good thing, and teems with excuses when he has done a bad one.

Receive no satisfaction for premeditated impertinence-forget it, forgive it but keep him inexorably at a distance who offered it,