his Father with questions about the name, the quality, and the nature of every plant he met with.” Being so very young, the names of plants he found it most difficult to retain, so that his Father, submitting to far more than any instructor in natural history ever would, had to tell at many a call "the story ten times told." At last, in return for his informing his child of the name of any plant or flower, the Father exacted from him a promise that he would endeavour to remember it; and thus did he lay the foundation of that eminence to which his son arrived, who, whatever were his failings, certainly proved the most enthusiastic lover of nature, and the most indefatigable inquirer into her productions, that perhaps ever adorned the annals of that science.* PASCAL. Pascal is generally regarded as an extraordinary character, inheriting from nature all the powers of genius. "He was a geometrician of the first rank, a profound reasoner, a sublime and elegant writer." Though oppressed by continual infirmities; not having passed a day without pain during twentyone years of the thirty-nine that he lived; if we consider that he invented a curious arithmetical machine, the elements of the calculation of chances, and the methods of resolving various problems respecting the cycloid; that he fixed the wavering opinions of the learned respecting the weight of the atmosphere; that he wrote one of the most perfect works existing * See Triumphs of Genius and Perseverance, by Eliz. Strutt, 1826; and Pulteney's View of the Writings of Linnæus, with Life, by Dr Maton, 1805. 6 in the French language; and that in his Thoughts' there are passages, the depth and beauty of which are incomparable; we can hardly believe that a greater genius ever existed in any age or nation. All those who had occasion to be with him in the ordinary commerce of the world, acknowledged his superiority; but it excited no envy against him, as he was never fond of shewing it. His conversation instructed, without exciting, in those who heard it, a mortifying sense of their own inferiority; and he was remarkably indulgent towards the faults of others; excepting, that, as he was particularly careful to repress in himself the passion of self-love, he could with difficulty observe the marks of it in others without reproving them. On this subject he used to declare, "that a worthy man should avoid naming himself; that Christian piety annihilates the worldly me; and that worldly civility hides and suppresses it."* Now, as Pascal was the subject of such delicacy and disease, and lost his Mother when he was only three years old, we might never have heard of him, or read his writings, but for his amiable and judicious Father. This Father, an excellent scholar and able mathematician, who, during the short period of his married life, had been assisted by his amiable wife in the duties of educating their family, upon her decease determined to take upon himself the whole charge of his son's education, and that of two sisters, one older, and the other two years younger, than Pascal. In pursuance of this design, the duties of a public station, first President of the Court of Aids, * Bossu. he resigned in favour of his brother, and in 1631 removed to Paris. Books of every description being here easily procured, he determined that his son should enjoy every advantage which these could afford. He sent him to no college; but, at home, himself, instructed him in logic, natural philosophy, and other branches. When young Pascal had reached his 24th year, though his passion for mathematics remained, and would shew itself occasionally, his attention was drawn to the subject of religion during the time, or immediately after an attack of paralysis, which deprived him for three months of the use of both his limbs. In process of time his impressions and researches terminating in an assured persuasion of the truth of Christianity, as revealed in Scripture, the last eight or ten years of his short life were spent in studying the sacred volume with profound delight. Some of the peculiarities of his church, as a Catholic, he might carry with him to the grave; but his "Thoughts on Religion" will continue to be read with pleasure and profit too by Christians of every denomination. Little did his Father think, when removing to Paris, and afterwards watching over the education of his son with such laudable assiduity, that this son would one day more than repay him for all his kindness; but so it was. The influence of Pascal's religious principles and character was very powerful. It prevailed with many, and was most affectingly acknowledged even by his beloved Parent. That same Father, who had been so bent on unfolding to his Child the ample field of literary and scientific knowledge, at last overcome by the still more power ful influence which divine truth had produced on the soul of his Child, was to be seen sitting at the feet of the very youth he had himself alone educated. Living consistently too, he at last died a truly Christian death, about eleven years before this extraordinary man, his son, fell asleep in Jesus. COWPER.-Although beneficial influence on the public mind were not allowed to constitute one proof of a great and good man, fond partiality, arising out of great personal obligation to his writings, will not allow me to omit one other individual, by far the most useful of our poets, whether ancient or modern, -the amiable and immortal Cowper. Seldom has the power of maternal tenderness been so illustrated as in his experience. Little did his Mother imagine, when wrapping up her Child in his little scarlet mantle, and sending him off so carefully to school, or when paying her nightly visits to his chamber, to see him safe and warmly laid, that all this would be remembered distinctly, and so celebrated, at the distance of more than half a century: little did she imagine, that her very countenance, her manners, and treatment, would make impressions, such as all the dark scenes and mental depressions of many years should not be able to efface! But what says the Poet? "'Tis now become a hist❜ry little known, Still outlives many a storm that has effaced A thousand other themes less deeply traced. Thy nightly visits to my chamber made, That thou might'st know me safe and warmly laid; Thy morning bounties ere I left my home, The fragrant waters on my cheeks bestow'd By thy own hand, till fresh they shone and glow'd : Thy constant flow of love, that knew no fall; Perhaps a frail memorial, but sincere, Not scorn'd in heav'n, though little noticed here." This interesting woman, his Mother, was descended through the families of Hippesley of Throughly, in Sussex, and Pellet of Bolney, in the same county, from the several noble houses of West, Knollys, Carey, Buller, Howard, and Mowbray; and so by four different lines from Henry the Third, king of England. Distinctions of this nature can shed no additional lustre on the memory of Cowper; they are mentioned merely with a view to the introduction of the following lines, from the same poem: "My boast is not, that I deduce my birth Before obtaining his Mother's picture, the occasion, it is well known, of these beautiful lines, Cowper used to dwell with great pleasure on her memory, and, immediately after receiving it, he addressed a letter to the donor, his cousin, Mrs Bodham, in which he says "The world could not have furnished you with a present so acceptable to me as the picture you have so kindly sent me. I received |