the critic and the eulogist parted with, no doubt, a decreased respect for each other's taste and critical acumen.

The verses in question, were those anonymous lines on Sir John Moore's funeral, which Lord Byron was not sorry to have considered to be his; written, as has since been proved, by Charles Wolfe, an Irish clergyman; lines which forced their way out of obscurity into fame by their own power and beauty; and which, now that they have received the meed of universal praise, are no doubt read by the critic above-mentioned, and admitted to be first-rate.

Alas! that a wreath of laurel so bright and beautiful never bloomed around the brows of him who earned it, and can only ornament his tomb.

But the consciousness of his pious worth, is a far more precious memorial of him to his surviving friends; and as his character as a christian gives them assurance of his being removed into a state of enduring felicity, they may find a sweet consolation in twining the palm with his laurels, and rejoice that he is where, instead of the fleeting voice of earthly fame, he is hearing and joining in the choral hymns of the redeemed and the blest.

When I had written thus far concerning first-rates, I walked out; but as my mind was full of my subject, I continued to muse on it, till I reached the place of destination, a neighbouring nursery ground.

After choosing some plants, I asked

M

nursery-man if he could procure for me some roots of the " Forget me not.

He said he "It is but a

did not know of such a flower. field flower," I replied; describing it and its beauties with great minuteness.

While I stood awaiting an answer, and the person addressed was rubbing his forehead, and trying to recollect the flower, I worked myself up into the expectation of hearing him answer, "Excuse me, madam, I can not assist you. This is only a field flower, you say, and I deal in nothing but first-rates, such as the Camellia Japonica, and Daphne Odora;" but my unpretending companion simply replied, "I am sorry to say, that as I do not know the plant I can not procure it."

Now to apply this trifling anecdote to my purpose: by being wholly devoted to the care of first-rate plants, my nursery-man was ignorant even of the existence of one of the most beautiful little flowers in the creation; and I doubt not but, on the same principle, professed critics may, if they choose to acquaint themselves with first-rates only, remain ignorant of many works both in painting and poetry, and other branches of art, which are capable of affording them no inconsiderable delight. There are field flowers on the Parnassian Mount, as well as those of a more lofty description; and the real lovers of the simple beauties of nature will stoop to admire and gather them, even in the presence of prouder productions of the soil.

Often have I gathered and demanded admi

ration for the "Forget me not," from those who were admiring the flowers of the garden; and I feel inclined to make a similar appeal to the fastidious and high-minded, who profess to disdain every thing not first-rate, in behalf of those humbler works, in all branches of the arts which may be called their field flowers: The blue stars of the scorpion grass are as finely formed as the large compact flower of the Camellia Japonica-yet, to be consistent, the lover of first-rates only should turn away from the simple "Forget me not," and only desire to gaze on the cultivated rose of Japan. Circumstances, interesting to myself alone, have made this little flower particularly dear to me; I have therefore chosen it to illustrate the foregoing position.

But it has for me a charm, independent of its blue and starry beauty. "Forget me not," the name it bears in Germany, makes it a fit flower to deck a burial ground, and I intend that it shall bloom on the grave of the being whom I loved best, and I am desirous that it should also bloom upon my grave beside him.*

* The Botanical name of this oft mistaken flower, the real "Forget me not," is twofold. The large sort is the Myosotis Palustur; the larger is Myorotis Arvensis, or mouse-eared Scorpion Grass; the one grows in marshes, the other in fields. It has five bright sky blue petals, with a bright yellow middle; some of the buds are of a pink hue. The larger sort of this plant, flowers and grows in such great abundance on the banks of the Wye and the Thames, that it forms masses of blue; and were it capable of growing in the soil of a garden, it would be one of its most beautiful ornaments.

I have endeavoured to prove, in this long division of my subject, that GOSSIPS, though not the worst of detractors, must be the most incorrigible, because by letting down their minds, by idle habits, they are become incapable of improvement.

That TALKERS-OVER are the most numerous of detractors, because in them are included one's own and every body's acquaintance.

That LAUGHERS-AT are nearly related to those that "sit in the seat of the scornful."

That the eye of the laugher-at seems always full of satirical laughter, which is not always kept in till its object is out of hearing.

That where there are many brothers and sisters in a family, a habit of laughing at others is often only too easily acquired.

That habitual satirical laughter in woman is likely to interfere with her prospects in life. That QUIZZERS may be of the family of banterers, but that quizzing itself is so vulgar and disagreeable, that I shall not give a definition

of it.

That BANTERERS begin with good-humoured jokes, but end commonly with making a but of some one in company; and then their raillery becomes offensive.

That the banterer is sometimes met by another banterer, and conquered, and then woe to the banterer; as the bantered, who had been the victim of the first banterer, have no mercy on him..

That NICKNAMERS are prominent detractors, but more amusing and less offensive than some

others. But that nicknaming is a vulgar habit and proceeds from a satirical spirit.

That by STINGERS I mean, those who inflict as sudden stings on the mind and feelings, as a little fly called a midge, inflicts on the body, especially if the objects of their attack have mortified their self-love, by having been in successful competition with themselves, or any of their connections.

That SCORNERS are necessarily and always detractors. That they have no respect for any abilities but their own. That in secret, however, they probably are envious of the successful talents which they seem to despise. That scorners are, from their appearance of ineffable conceit, the most ungraceful and offensive of detractors.

That the SNEERER does not disgust like the scorner, by a sense of his own worth, but by an expressed conviction of the defects of others. That he has an habitual pleasure in detracting. That irony is a favourite weapon of the sneerer, and that ironical praise is one of the most difficult things to bear as one ought.

That for any one to say, "I can only bear what is FIRST-RATE, "looks like excessive conceit and arrogant pretensions; and that for one's own sake and comfort, as well as of others, we ought to cultivate a capability of being pleased with what is not first-rate.

And I conclude with an anecdote relative to myself, to illustrate the latter position.