As a recompense for these disadvantages produced by lotteries some great public good ought to be effect

with themselves, rising above me- [of restraining this immoral abuse diocrity by a successful ticket, find of it. what a pretty thing it is to gain money without trouble, and from becoming disappointed candidates for the highest prize, place dollared by their means. Against such after dollar upon the hazard of the die. Gaming is the first of a series of vices. It always brings others in its train.

a mass of evils some great benefit must be found to balance the scales. Still however it will remain a question, whenever a lottery is proposed, whether virtue should be bartered for wealth, the morals and manners of the community at large staked against the convenience or benefit of some private institution.

SELECTED FOR THE EMERALD.

E.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF

LORD THURLOW.

CONCLUDED.

Among the public evils resulting from frequent lotteries should be reckoned their liability to abuse. The abuses of any system are not commonly a fair argument against it but they become so as it respects a lottery, from the impracticability of preventing them. To be sure a plain and positive law will serve as a check, but its provisions cannot always be adapted to the case.The ingenuity of avarice will outrun the wisdom of legislation and make the laws rather serve to prevent a repetition of mischief than se- AT once haughty and indolent by cure the citizens from the original nature; attached to a party, and disinjury. But even plain and posi-tracted by politics; with a mind fittive law will be sometimes contemn- ted to discountenance, abuse and aped. The present consideration of this subject was pressed on the Wanderer by a recent advertisement in our public prints, directly controverting the regulations (feeble as they are) which have been prescribed by government for the regulation of lotteries within this Commonwealth. It was his intention to have cautioned his readers against being duped by a scheme as deceptive as illegal, when it was announcedthat theplan was abandoned. He will now pass it over in silence, charitably disposed to accept the excuse, notwithstanding the maxim Ignorantia legis neminem excusat.

pal oppression, Lord Thurlow disappointed their expectations; and, by his conduct forcibly illustrated that great legal axiom, that the du ties of the Woolsack and the Chancery are incompatible.

A change of ministry taking place the chancellor was suddenly dismis sed; and the man who had risen with the approbation of mankind, retired amidst the clamours of the nation.

Restored to his high office by another change, as sudden as his dismission had been precipitated, if his inactivity had been still the same yet his personal conduct seemed to be greatly altered. Exiled from power, he had been taught by re

The insurance of tickets seems not to have gone a great way in public favour, as it is equally per-tirement what other men have not ricious, deceptive and gambling as the one above referred to. The authorizing a lottery imposes a duty

learned by adversity; and his present attention to business, and politeness to the gentlemen at the bar,

afforded a happy contrast to his former behaviour.

The character of the chancellor seems to be developed in his countenance, by an outline at once bold, Like haughty, and commanding. Hale, he is negligent of his person; like Yorke, he has swerved from his party; but like himself alone, he has ever remained true to his own principles.

As a legislator, he has as yet acquired no reputation; and notwithstanding a voluntary proffer of his services, has made no alteration in the laws respecting the imprisonment of insolvent debtors, whom he has treated with a violence that savours of the rigour of justice rather than the mildness of humanity.

His enemies, who hate him with rancour rather than enmity, dare not As an orator, his manner is dig-question his integrity, nor can they nified, his periods are short, and his charge him with any action deservvoice at once sonorous and com- ing of reproach. His friends, who manding. More nervous than love him from esteem rather than Camden, more eloquent than Rich-affection, avow the greatness of his mond, more masculine than Sidney, he is the sole support of the minister in the house of peers. Like an insulated rock, he opposes his sullen and rugged front to the storm of debate, and remains unshaken by the whirlwind of opposition.

deserts, yet find it difficult to fix his particular merits. In fine, his character is still negative and undetermined: with powers fitted for any thing he has as yet done nothing, and although he seems the wonder of the present age, will, perhaps, scarce meet with the notice of

Better acquainted with books than with men, as a politician, his knowl-posterity. edge of foreign affairs is narrow and confined; he is, however, well informed of the domestic and immediate concerns of the empire. Warmly attached to the preroga-fare of their fellow-citizens. tive, he brands reform with the name of innovation; and is fond of urging the wholesome regulations of our ancient laws, in opposition to the improvements of modern projectors.

His great predecessors have erected the noblest monuments to their fame, by attention to the happiness, the interests, and the wel

Lord Chancellor Hardwicke planned the bill for abolishing the heritable juris dictions in Scotland! Lord Keeper Guildford had a principal hand it the statute of frauds and perjuris of which the Lord Nottingham cb His attachment to his Sovereign served, That every line was worth is personal, and at least equals his a subsidy.' Lord Chancellor S> attachment to prerogative. Take mers projected the act of union be his own words on a recent and im-twixt England and Scotland, and: portant occasion:-When I forget my king (says he) may God forget me!' The sentiment was strongly expressive of the feelings of gratitude. It did honour to his heart, and certainly will not injure his preferment.

As a judge, his researches are deep, and his decisions are confessedly impartial: none of them however, have procured him celebrity.

bill to correct some proceedings both in common law and equi that were dilatory and chargable

These were services that at ere claimed and secured immortality. The life, however, of the prese Chancellor, if it is destitute of e gium, is yet not without its mora as his success will naturally stim late the exertions of industry, invigorate the efforts of geni

But let this character teach those | importunate, and has parted with all it possessed, before the diffident and unobtrusive candidate has a chance for its honours.

who dare to consider successful ambition, not as the end but as the road only to true greatness, that nothing but active worth can form the good. citizen, and the great lawyer.

For the Emerald.

There is in that independent boldness which asserts its own rights and claims their reward, something of nobility which invariably attracts popular favour. He who has no hesitation to expose his actions to the public; he who throws his character into the open plain to be taken

tizan is desirous of the task, discovers a fearlessness of reproach and a consciousness of virtue, which many are willing to consider as a proof of greatness, and all estimate as an evidence of courage.

It is in a struggle for popular favour as in a contest on the field of battle. That confidence which never calculates on danger nor anticipates defeat generally adds extrinsic vigor to native strength, and doubles the real powers of the man. With the enthusiasm it inspires, it makes itself a path for the attainment of its object, and with the glow of animation takes possession of its prize without supposing the struggle was even in proportion to its

OBEDIENCE is often regulated by the manner of command. Bold re-up and examined by whatever parquisitions exact compliance as a right, simple requests obtain it as a favour, and humble entreaties,with no force to support them, are refused without civility and perhaps with contempt. This indeed may not be applicable to the social intercourse of mankind, where authority bends to politeness, and the character of the gentleman is rather displayed by elegance of manners than inflexibility of genius; but there are communications with the world that justify the remark; there are continual claims on its gratitude and its justice, and continual attempts to deceive the one and impose upon the other. Merit attracts envy; and rewards before they are bestowed are generally impaired by the jeal-powers. ousy of rivalship. He, who trusts to the unassisted splendor of his own fame will find its rays diverged in the clouds of prejudice,or scattered and perhaps concealed by the mists of ignorance and folly; but he who enforces the merit of his actions by his eloquence will seem to command as well by present labour as past services; he intimidates opposition and bears off the prize.

Success is rendered glorious by the manner of the victory, and defeat is even respectable from the nobleness of the contest.

What then-Is confidence to pass for merit, and a man to be estimated by his importunity more than by the history of his life. Is he who sounds the clarion of his own praise to drown the notes of his rivals and alone be regarded? Far otherwise. The confidence we speak of must be supported by some nobleness of nature, or it will excite disgust, and by some energy of character, or it will be ridiculed and despised.

The world is seldom just in its estimate of retiring merit. Forgetful that modesty is compatible with virtue, and estimating the value of actions more by show than intrinsic worth it generally is prodigal Merit, the most solid and respectof its favours to those who are mostable, may be passed over in the

But pomp (says Dr. Johnson) is

shades of retirement, but confidence must be the mean of disgrace unless not the only merit of this play. The meek sorrows and virtuous distress of Catherine have furnished some scenes which may justly be reckoned among the finest efforts of tragedy, but the genius of Shakespeare comes in and goes out with Catherine; every other part may be easily conceived and easily written.

it is founded on the most durable virtues and the noblest of actions. Mankind tolerate pride, only when the causes whereby it is generated are necessary for their own security. The gratitude which a great man is entitled to receive is generally mixed with envy, and enemies enough are found to pick out every thread in his garments whenever they have an opportunity of examining them. He then who makes confidence a substitute for merit will be ridiculed as well for his van ity as his folly. Great actions are the only title to great praise and the consciousness of merit the only security for confidence.

But although a man may be censured for the confidence of his deportment, he perhaps escapes by that means the lash that would fall on a tenderer part. A celebrated Athenian had the art to divert popular attention from himself to his dog, and some of our modern Machiavels have drawn on the errors of their manners and their trifling aberrations from dignity, the reproach which would more seriously have affected their reputation and honour. It may however be assumed as a general truth, that a man never loses any thing by a full confidence in his own capacity. A doubt in his own mind will weaken the expectations of his friends but a reliance on his own powers will defeat the calculations of his enemies. EMILIUS.

For the Emerald. DESULTORY SELECTIONS,

AND ORIGINAL REMARKS.

=

SHAKESPEARE'S HENRY VIII. would make a fine exhibition on a stage which could exhibit its pomp to advantage.

If a writer without prescriptive fame had made this declaration, he would be treated without mercy by the admirers of the English Bard. What is the melting eloquence of Buckingham, and the accurate and able delineation of Wolsey? The dialogue between this minister and Cromwell has all the nice touches of the painter of the passions and all the impressive morality of a Christian professor.

....O Cromwell, Cromwell,
Had I but served my God with half the zeal
That I have served my king, he would not
Thus have left me.

GARRICK AND BARRY.

contested the prize of merit for the
These two celebrated tragedians
able representation of Lear. It is
needless to say that both played in a
of Garrick is neatly expressed in
masterly manner. The superiority
the following lines:

The town has found out different ways.
To Barry it gives loud huzzas,
To praise its different Lears:

To Garrick only tears.

Again in a still more forcible and
laconic manner.

A king? Aye, every inch a king-
Such Barry doth appear :
But Garrick's quite another thing:
He's ev'ry inch King Lear.

MR. BACKHOUSE.

A Fellow of a College, whose name was Backhouse (sounded Bacchus) unfortunately, once found a young gentleman on his staircase, sprawling at full length, being fuller

Dr. Brewster was put out of comoccasion he wrote the following epmons for missing chapel; on which igram :

To fast and pray, we are by Heaven
O, could I practise either as I ought!
taught:
In both, alas! I err; my frailty's such,
I pray too little, and I fast too much!
This epigram procured his imme
diate restoration.

The French, in their allowances of merit to the English nation, raise it by a studied gradation above the level of all others, and just to a single degree below their own an instance of this, among many, is that of military courage, which, in their opinion, they possess in the most eminent degree.

The celebrated Dictionary of the English language, to which is prefixed the name of Dr. Johnson, did not originate with him. He has indeed the credit of it, but it is rather an ascribed credit, than a merited one. The hint came first from Lord Chesterfield, who communicated it to Mr. R. Dodsley (the bookseller) and explained his ideas of giving the different significations of words, by quotations from the best authors arranged in the order of time.Dodsley approved of the hint, and mentioned it to Dr. Campbell, author of the Lives of the Admirals, &c. But Campbell could not be brought to taste of it, and therefore declined to undertake it. Dodsley afterwards mentioned it to Mr. Garrick, by accident. Garrick liked the thought very much, and recom- The following occurrence, incredible mended his friend Johnson to execute as it may appear, is nevertheless true : it. Johnson at first was rather slug. A rat was detected in a kitchen in town gish about it; but Garrick pressed it in the very act of carrying off a silver warmly to him, and promised to give table spoon, which upon search was him his utmost assistance. At length found concealed in the rat's apartment, Johnson undertook it. Mr. Garrick together with two other spoons, formerwas faithful to his promise he fur- ly lost (the value of which had been nished him with all or most of his dra- paid by the servant who had the charge matic quotations. Lord Chesterfield of them) a purse with money, and other furnished him with almost every thing valuable articles. The astonished masfrom polite literature. Mr. Melmoth ter immediately sent for the servant, "(translator of Pliny) did the same. Mr. repaid the money, and rewarded the Moore, author of the Fables for the person who recovered the property.-Ladies; Mr. Richard Owen Cam-N. B. The thief made his escape. bridge, Mr. Soame Jenyns, Mr. Horace Walpole, &c. &c. all contributed, So that Johnson was very ably and amply supplied, although no acknow. ledgment was ever made of these assist

ants.

Edinburgh Journal.

FOOTE.

FOOTE, who was ever in the extremes of fortune, now at the top, now at the bottom of her wheel, happened to be in