resolute, fostered in their children that disregard of death, that daring intrepidity, which eventually rendered them the masters of the world. Enthusiastic in their love for their country, they sank the Mother's feelings in the citizen's devotion to the republic and the laws.

The stern virtues that signalized the Roman legislators, and the heroic courage that animated their warriors, were shared by wives, and cherished by Mothers, with whom compassion was considered a weakness, and humanity little less than a crime. But the

pro

found learning, the studious habits, and that severe mental discipline which formed the basis of the undying fame of the sages of Greece and the philosophers of Rome, are in few instances to be traced to maternal influence.

Cornelia, whom Rome honoured with a

statue, simply inscribed "Cornelia the Mother of the Gracchi," and Aurelia the Mother of Julius Cæsar, whose lofty spirit induced the ambition that so early led her son to aspire to the office of Pontiff, and whose anxiety for his success made him exclaim in embracing her— "You shall this day see me either chief pontiff, or an exile,”—have always been renowned for the services which they rendered their country.

But their offspring were warriors, patriots, and conquerors, whilst our attention must be confined to those who have attained distinction, and benefited their race by the peaceful pursuits of literature; and where can our thoughts be so satisfactorily directed as to our own country-to our native land? There we find, together with sages, and philosophers, heroes great as in the ancient time, in martial glory, and far greater in moral virtues,

since their conduct was regulated by the chastening influence of revealed Religion.

It remained for Christian England to boast of Mothers, who, while they inculcated on their children the courage and dauntless energy of the ancient rulers of the world, also infused into their young minds those sentiments of piety, gentleness, and virtue-that mental rectitude, strict principle, and high sense of honour, which have procured for Great Britain universal respect, admiration, and confidence.

Both Greece and imperial Rome vanquished but to enslave and degrade: their dominion could only be purchased by subduing every moral and social feeling in the victims of their insatiable ambition.

England conquers that she may confer the precious boon of freedom upon all who are persecuted and oppressed. She shelters the alien, protects the exile, unshackles the slave;

and while dispensing her charity, imparts the holy treasures of the gospel, and the blessings of civilization to the farthest extremity of the globe.

It is not the prostrate enemy, nor the victor's spoils that gladden the hearts of the Mothers of England; they rejoice in household affection, in deeds of mercy, in acts of self-denialand glory in their allotted sphere of domestic peace and love. In accordance with this they early animate their infant progeny with those feelings of religion, loyalty and duty,—so emphatically conveyed in the sacred text, "Fear God and honour the King," which have produced for Great Britain her brightest scholars, her most prudent legislators, and her wisest statesmen.

1

And what may we ask has produced this union of the good and great, that forms so marked a feature in England's sons? There

11 St. Peter, ii. 17.

can be little hesitation respecting the answer. It has its source in the softening effects of true religion on the heart, and springs from the enlightening of the mind consequent on the extension of learning and the increase of knowledge in a free-born and Christian land. And this reply leads us at once to the consideration of "THE OBLIGATIONS OF LITERATURE TO THE MOTHERS OF ENGLAND."

What scope for reflection does the inquiry present! Many are the paths which might be separately chosen as affording facts for retrospection full of interest and advantage; but it is proposed to confine the present remarks under four principal heads:-viz.

I. RELIGION, as connected with the establishment of Christianity.

II. THE STATE, as regards the wisdom of many of her legislators.

III. SCIENCE, from the philosophers whose