ascendancy, and that, in fact, the higher powers would, in one respect, be made subservient to them. Education, by which I understand every thing capable of drawing out the higher powers at the expence of the lower, would, of course, greatly modify the result. It must not be forgotten, however, in this place, that the organs of the propensities are at all times larger than those of either intellect or morality. It would be well if it were otherwise, as in such a case the moral and intellectual conditions of the world would be found more supreme, and the condition of man, therefore, considerably improved. The truth of this position is borne out by experience; for we discover, amidst all the wreck of morals and mind, even in the best and most talented of men, that man is most capable of filling those relations which he bears to society with the greatest advantages, and to the most successful and useful end, when his brain is well developed. Experience also proves that, in proportion as the faculties are exercised, the organs thereof become enlarged; and since the larger organs have in their manifestations the greatest authority over the bent of mind, we must discover an essential utility attaching itself to that which has the effect of exercising the best of faculties, and hence enlarging the best organs. COLLOQUY XIV. AMONG the watering places on the coast of Devon, Teignmouth ranks deservedly high. Its open sea and excellent sands, its towering cliffs and beautiful river, its charming vallies and shady groves, will always render the place attractive. There is one walk in the neighbourhood which deserves to be especially noticed. It has a most appropriate name, Love-lane. It runs by the side of the sea immediately on the edge of the high cliffs, yet is bounded in parts on either side by a hedge-row which intercepts the sight, occasional breaks existing, that the eye may be ravished with a view of the ocean, which here appears in all its magnificence. In tempests it presents all the rough grandeur of the storm, the tide below beating against the sands and fallen crags with a hollow roar-the swelling waves, tipped with their white foam, riding proudly towards the perpendicular rocks, which, Like some cleft castle, with calm disdain, The close of a sunny and calm day brings with it a seaview here which has often drawn my attention. The sun in the west behind allows the dark cliffs to throw their shadows on the waters, which, on being contrasted with the glassy surface to which the rays of light are yet admitted, and from which they are reflected, gives a pleasing and varied effect that will never fail to attract the observant mind. Nor will the morning break here upon the early riser without presenting a scene of considerable attraction. The sun in the east gradually rises as though the deep and fathomless waters had contained her during the night, and were now sending her forth to animate the spirits of the earth, and dissipate the gloom of dawn. The feeble rays scattered upon the still waters, and the sun rising in gorgeous splendour, are seldom seen with greater effect than from some parts of this romantic walk. An east sea-view at dawn of day, the sun as it were breaking through the watery element, never ceases to interest us. It is, perhaps, in some measure, on account of the quietude of the thoughts at this period, the night having partially absolved the spell which bound us to trouble, or thrown into oblivion the feelings of the preceding day. We are never better prepared for intercourse with Nature-never so alive to her magical influences over the heart-never so suited to notice the simplest incident, and recognise the varied beauties and solemn grandeur which she presents, as when the mind is undisturbed, unruffled, by intercourse with man, in his everaspiring, ever-craving lust for power, ease, and luxury. In the morning these desires are for a time subdued; though we no sooner again enter upon our daily course, exchanging what are called civilities, and carrying on business communications, than the calm of thought which mingled with the beam of the morning, and centred in nature rather than man, is broken, and succeeded by feelings of less innocence and delight. The dawn of a summer's day, when the world has not yet thrown off its slumbers-when the refreshing breeze whispers peace, and nature yet lives in silence, save the noise of the foaming surge, is the most enviable of all seasons, and should, not only for the quiet it yields to the turbulent mind of man, but for the health it brings, be sought with avidity. Then, in truth, should we be often enabled to say with Chatterton, in all the elegance, and beauty, and harmony, and simplicity of poetry, : The morn begins along the east to shine; The flitting lights upon the waters play; Oh, sweet retirement amidst groves and hedges, cottages and sea!. Talk not of art, says an elegant moral writer I love the forms of nature: they are simple, fair, and beautiful. How lovely is the landscape! how balmy the air! how sweet the silence of the sequestered spot, broken by the melody of the rejoicing birds! Such a walk as this revives the spirits, and bids the heart offer up its thanksgivings to Him who has clothed, as with a garment, the heavens and the earth with beauty. Talk of painting! What think you of the cottage with the thin blue smoke rising up amidst the trees of the coppice ?— the winding brook in the valley, and the peaked mountains in the distance, far as the eye can reach? What of the glorious sunset, the sky of molten gold? nature, simplicity, beauty, colouring, and life, Rembrandts, the Raffaelles, and the Rubens of the day cannot touch or approach. The glowing tints of the skies of Claude Lorraine are nought compared to the heavens rich with the beams of the setting sun. What, again, is music in comparison with the song of birds; or the full-toned voice of the saint pronouncing the dreadful judgments of the everlasting God, singing the praises and mercy of the Redeemer !-or, what compared with the poetry of Scripture is the poetry of man? What is all Here is that the the guilty homage of inflated rhyme paid to meretricious beauty and vain-glorious heroism? What all the wild idolatry that is offered up to imaginary beings and fabled deities? In Scripture there are high and holy thoughts, in flowing strains, directed to a high and holy purpose. Homer, Virgil, and Milton may beguile us with their song; but the songs of the Royal Psalmist purify while they raise the heart-elevate while they sooth the affections. They are more than poetry-they are words which human art could not invent or conceive. Gaining the summit of the gradually rising ground, we command a peculiarly striking view. From a single spot are seen the much-frequented watering place, Exmouth, standing proudly forward on the beacon, together with the mouth of its river, and the long line of coast before and beyond it; while in an immediately opposite direction are presented part of the town of Teignmouth, the mouth of its river, the high and cultivated land behind, a bold headland called the Ness, not unlike the Shakspeare Cliff at Dover in form, grouped with the romantic and far-famed village of Babicomb and its bay. I do not think it possible for a much more sublime and picturesque prospect than the sea and land present here, to exist in Europe. By continuing this path the pedestrian meets the road leading to Dawlish, a watering place that has enjoyed some celebrity. It is not like some others, rendered disagreeable from the resident gentry, persons of no distinction and of limited incomes, assuming an authority and importance which are not the lawful privileges of any order of men, and certainly never affected by the nobler, wiser, and better part. Human pride is never so deserving of censure as when we see combined with it littleness and meanness. It is, perhaps, then, too offensive to deserve any thing but contempt and silence. |