SMOKING. Smoking is indecent, filthy, and rude, and to many individuals highly offensive. When first introduced into Europe, in the 16th century, its use was prohibited under very severe penalties, which in some countries amounted even to cutting off the nose. And how much better is the practice of voluntarily burning up our noses, by making a chimney of them? The German physiologists compute, that of twenty deaths, between eighteen and thirty-five years, ten originate in the waste of the constitution by smoking. This is indeed a horrid picture; but when it is considered that the best estimates which can be made concur in showing that tobacco to the amount of sixteen millions of dollars, is consumed in the United States annually, and that by far the greater part of this is in smoking cigars, there is certainly room for gloomy apprehensions. What though we do not use the dirty pipe of the Dutch and Germans? No parent ever teaches his child the use of tobacco, or even encourages it, except by his example. Thus the smoker virtually condemns himself in the very "thing which he alloweth." Tobacco is one of the most powerful poisons in nature. Even the physician, some of whose medicines are so active that a few grains, or a few drops, will destroy life at once, finds tobacco too powerful for his use; and in those cases where it is clearly required, only makes it a last resort. Its daily use, in any form, deranges, and sometimes destroys the stomach and nerves, produces weakness, low spirits, dyspepsy, vertigo, and many other complaints. These are its immediate effects. It dries Its remoter effects are scarcely less dreadful. the mouth and nostrils, and probably the brain; benumbs the senses of smell and taste, impairs the hearing, and ultimately the eye-sight. Germany, a smoking nation, is at the same time, a spectacled nation. More than all this; it dries the blood; creates thirst and loss of appetite; and in this and other ways, often lays the foundation of intemperance. In fact, not a few persons are made drunkards by this very means. In addition to all this, it has often been observed that in fevers and other diseases, "medicines never operate well in constitutions which have been accustomed to the use of tobacco. Of the expense which the use of it involves, I have already spoken. Of the sixteen millions of dollars, thus expended, nine millions are supposed to be for smoking Spanish cigars; six millions, five hundred thousand for smoking American tobacco, and for chewing it; and five hundred thousand, for snuff. TAKING SNuff. I have seen many individuals who would not, on any account whatever, use spirits, or chew tobacco; but who would not hesitate to dry up their nasal membranes, injure their speech, induce catarrhal affections, and besmear their face, clothes, books, &c., with snuff. This, however common, appears to me ridiculous. Almost all the serious evils which result from smoking and chewing, follow the practice of snuffing powdered tobacco into the nose. Naturalists say there is one species of maggot fly that mistakes the odor of some kinds of snuff for that of putrid substances, and deposits its eggs in it. In warm weather therefore, it must be dangerous to take snuff which has been exposed to these insects; for the eggs sometimes hatch in two hours, and the most tremendous consequence might follow. And it is not impossible but that some of the most painful diseases to which the human race are liable, may have been occasionally produced by this or a similar cause. The tic douloreux is an example. A very common disease in sheep is known to be produced by worms in cavities which communicate with the nose. Only a litttle acquaintance with the human structure would show that there are a number of cavities in the bones of the face and head, some of which will hold half an ounce each, which communicate with the nose, and into which substances received into this organ occasionally fall, but cannot escape as easily as they enter. Add to this that this dirty practice seems to be entirely unnatural; for had the Creator intended our nose for a dust hole, he would not have turned it upside down. OPPROBRIOUS WORDS TO BE AVOIDED. We read of a captain who had acquired the very ungentlemanly habit of uttering upon every occasion, whilst engaged in conversation, very unbecoming words. Differ ent were the expedients he tried to overcome this ill bred propensity. All attempts proved unsuccessful. At last he hit upon an expedient, which produced the desired effect. He determined, every day he should discover himself pronouncing an unbecoming word, to drink nothing at all that day but water. A few days of this severe penance, which he had the resolution to continue, made him so extremely guarded in his expressions, that in a short time he found himself completely cured.-Though experience and holy scripture prove the great difficulty of correcting a wicked tongue, still, were a person enslaved to this failing, to bind himself to say every time he relapsed, "O God forgive me!" to give a small alms, or to repeat some short prayer, these his good and persevering endeavors, joined to the all-powerful grace of God, would infallibly enable him to lay aside this abominable and justly reprobated practice. Parents and masters should be earnest in correcting the first dispositions to this vice, always mindful of the doctrine of the holy scripture, the man that is accustomed to opprobrious words, will never be corrected all the days of his life. Eccles. 20. A holy man instructing his flock how to check the faults of the tongue, bids them to consider the insult they offer to God, in defiling that mouth with unbecoming words, which has been opened to receive its Lord, which has been sanctified and purpled with the blood of the Lord. "How frequently do you observe persons," exclaims the holy doctor, showing their respect to this material temple, either by stooping down to kiss the vestibule, or by first touching it with their hand, and then applying that hand to their mouth! And shall less respect be shown to the living temples of the Holy Ghost, to the door or gate through which Christ has entered, and through which he comes to us as often as we communicate! Believe me, it is no common honor done to our mouth, when it is permitted to receive our divine Lord. Hear ye this and tremble and blush, as many as utter indecent, unbecoming words, considering the honor and privileges of that mouth, which is so shamefully polluted." MAN CONSIDERED IN HIS SOUL. THE Corporeal perfection of the human frame is certainly very great, but what is this if compared with man considered as an intelligent being! Man is endowed with reason: he can form ideas, compare them, judge of their relations and oppositions, and act in consequence of his judgment. Possessed with the gift of speech he can clothe his ideas with terms of arbitrary signs, and by this admirable prerogative communicate his thoughts and perfect all his faculties. By this means, he can arrive at a degree of proficiency in the different arts and sciences, enlarge the boundaries of the human mind, and make all nature tributary to his wisdom and power. The excellency and powers of the human mind shine forth with fresh splendor in the establishment of learned societies, and well regulated colleges and universities, where the industry and talents of the enlightened are perseveringly employed in the same pursuits, and their united lights, concentrated into a focus, make daily new and astonishing discoveries. But a prerogative infinitely superior to all this, is the establishing a commerce with his Creator by means of religion. Shut up in the thickest darkness, animals are ignorant of the hand that formed them. They enjoy life, without being able to ascend to the author of their existence. Man alone ascends to this divine principle, where, prostrate before the throne of Being by excellence, he adores with the sentiments of the most lively gratitude, the ineffable goodness which has been pleased to create him. By a succession of eminent faculties, God deigns to reveal himself to him, and to lead him, as it were, by the hand in the road to happiness. The different laws, which he has received from the supreme Wisdom are the great lights placed at different distances on the way which leads from time to eternity. Illumined by this celestial light, he advances in the career of glory, which is opened to him; he seems to seize the crown of life, and press it on his immortal brows. Such is man in the highest degree of terrestrial perfection. Considered under this point of view, he has no connexion whatever with the rest of animals. In effect, the breath of life which animates him, this intelligent soul, which he has received from heaven, makes him a distinct being. Nevertheless this soul only acts here below by means of corporeal organs. Man is a mixed being; and this union of soul with an organized body, is the source of the most fertile and most wonderful harmony in nature. A substance which thinks, and which has in itself a principle of action, is combined with a substance which thinks not, and which of its own nature is indifferent to motion or rest. From this surprising union there arises between the two substances a reciprocal commerce, a kind of action and re-action, which is the life of mixed beings, and which is so deserving our attention and serious consideration, since it constitutes our own nature, and shows us new and still more wonderful effects of God's power, wisdom, goodness, and love. These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, Thus wounderous fair: Thyself how wondrous then, To us invisible or dimly seen In these thy lowest works; yet these declare INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL EDUCATON OF THE WHEN We speak here of intellectual education, we would not suggest that our citizens are all to become able linguists, or profound mathematicians. This, at least for the present, is not practicable; it certainly is not necessary. The object at which we now aim will be attained, when every man is familiarly acquainted with what are now considered the ordinary branches of an English education. The intellectual stores of one language are then open before him; a language in which he may find all the knowledge that he will ever need to form his opinions upon any subjects on which it will be his duty to decide. A man who cannot read, let us always remember, is a being not contemplated by the genius of our constitution. Where the right of suffrage is extended to all, he is certainly a dangerous member of the community, who has not qualified himself to exercise it. But on this part of |