The idea had long been familiarly entertained among other religious sects, and we find it in the Hebrew Scriptures, in the more advanced stages of the Jewish government; but it formed no part of the civil policy of Moses, who was a pupil of the priests of Egypt, or, according to the words of his biographer, 'expert in all the learning of the Egyptians.' His laws and institutions are political and ceremonial only; they are admirably suited to keep his followers as a distinct, widely-removed people from the surrounding nations, and to enforce the impressive doctrines of the form of religious worship which he instituted: but I repeat, confidently, that they do not assume to be a rule of action, or to regulate conduct, or destiny beyond the present life. The Sadducees were the sect who adhered to the square text of the Pentateuch."

LETTER XIX.

"I AM going to call on a friend this morning," said L, "you shall go with me; I think you will see something worth your notice."

Accordingly we walked to a house in the neighbourhood, and were ushered up stairs. We found the lady of the house reading: near the window sat a young girl at needle-work, in the extreme of youth and loveliness; we advanced and paid our respects to the mother, and then L--presented me to the daughter. The latter had started up involuntarily at our entrance, and instantly resumed her seat; an hectic flush had for a moment tinged her cheek, and left it ashy pale. While L was addressing her as a friend, in his usual accent of kindness, I saw a listlessness in her whole demeanour; she replied hesitatingly, and even with effort: the sunny beam of gaiety played not on her brow, it was shadowy as the moonbeam. I felt my attention irresistibly turned towards her; a curiosity I could not account for several times, though unconscious of my rude notice, she looked up, and gazed on va

cancy, and at length dropped her work: the mother, who was covertly watching, observed this, and tartly remarked, "she did not seem to know quite what she was about." The tears gushed in her eyes, and she hastily quitted the apartment: my friend took not the slightest notice, and presently after we took leave.

The door had scarcely closed on us before I eagerly demanded an explanation: "What is the matter," said I, "what can cause trouble already, to one so young and beautiful, and apparently so amiable?"-"Oh Lord!" said he, "a mere trifle, a very common case; she is in love. "In love," said I, said I, "what do you mean?"-"I mean," said L

"what I say; that her heart is no longer her own, she has entwined her soul with that of him who is to her 'perfection;' in whom she views herself reflected as in a mirror."—"But why," said I, who had never before thought of such fondness, "why has she done all this?" "What a question!" said L, "why because she could not help it, to be sure; do you imagine love is weighed out in squares, by weight and scale?"-" Well, but," said I, "of course she will be united to the man she loves; why not?"-Ha, ha," said he, with a laugh that startled me with its wildness, "of course she will do no such thing: — Oh, my friend!”

he continued, "you are yet exceedingly raw, you have yet much to learn. You ask me, 'why not,' because the natural justice of your unwarped mind suggests, that in reason, and from natural dictates, she should be so; and yet it is equally certain, she will not: the reason 'why' is, because like ten thousand other companions in misery, she cannot, from the influence, the prevalence of our present blessed system. Her story is soon told.

"The father of her lover and her own, are well known to each other; the families had met at the table of a third person, a common friend; their young hearts were exchanged almost at the first glance. He soon found time to tell the tale of love, which his eyes had before spoken still more eloquently; she artlessly confessed reciprocal emotion, so new, so delightful, nothing remained but to mention the affair to her father. He heard in silence; said 'It was a matter of consequence and needed consideration, great consideration indeed.' The fact was, the patriarchal demon lurked and whispered, they have dared to love without your leave, punish them.' He caught the idea which shot across his brain, winged with mischief and rancour. 'Young man,' said he, the next time they met, how do you intend to maintain my daughter in the

sphere in which I have brought her up, for so must he do who marries her?' The youth replied, he was in an honourable situation, though not very lucrative, but which he trusted would support them reputably; and besides that, he was certain she would prefer him in comparative poverty, to being united to another, however wealthy, which last qualification she regarded not.'—'Very fine! vastly fine, upon my word!' said the governor-general, 'but answer me; can your father advance with you, a sum equal to what I intend to give to her?' 'No, Sir,' said the other, 'that I am certain he cannot, without injustice to the rest of his family, for you are aware, I am one of several brothers, while your daughter is your only child.'— 'Then,' said this worthy gentleman, 'you cannot have my consent; do not come to my house again, I forbid her to think of you more:' and he did so. Tears and entreaties followed of course: 'She would live with him on bread and water, would follow him into exile.'-'It is useless,' said her Sire, 'to oppose me; I have made up my mind, and that's enough; besides, I have said No, to him, and to recede now, would be to compromise my dignity. Had you asked my leave ere you so undutifully began to throw yourself away on that beggar, it might have been dif