supposed handsome, would turn with contempt. I see through his disguise, as I should the hand of a great master through the smear of varnish. Be thou to me blessed, noble stranger. The things which are despised hath God chosen.

I draw near to the favourite of heaven. I question him concerning what I do, and what I do not, wish to know, that I may hear the voice of the soul, proceeding from the mouth; and, viewing him nearer, see all the obliquities of distortion vanish. I ask him concerning his occupation, his family, his place of residence. I enquire the road thither. I come unexpectedly upon him, into his house, into his workshop; he rises, I oblige him to be seated, to continue his labour; I see his children, his wife, and am delighted. He knows not what I want, nor do I know myself, yet am I pleased with him, and he with me. I purchase something, or nothing, as it happens. I enquire, particularly after his friends. "You have

but few, but those few are faithful." He stands astonished, smiles, or weeps, in the innocence and goodness of his heart, which he wishes to conceal, but which is open as day. He gains my affection; our emotions are reciprocally expanded and strengthened; we separate reluctantly, and I know I

have entered a house which is entered by the angels of God.

Oh! how gratefully, how highly, is he rewarded for his labours who travels, interested in behalf of humanity, and with the eyes of a man, to collect, in the spirit, the children of God, who are scattered over the world! This appears to me to be the supreme bliss of man, as it must be of angels.

If I meet him not, I have no resource but in society. Here I hear him most who speaks least, mildest, and most unaffectedly.

Wherever I meet the smile of self-sufficiency, or the oblique look of envy, I turn away, and seek him who remains oppressed by the loud voice of confidence.

I set myself rather beside the answerer than the man of clamorous loquacity; and still rather beside the humble enquirer than the voluble solver of all difficulties.

He who hastens too fast, or lags behind, is no companion of mine. I rather seek him who walks with a free, firm, and even step; who looks but little about him; who neither carries his head aloft nor contemplates his legs and feet. If the hand of affliction be heavy upon him, I seat myself by his side, take his hand, and with a glance, infuse conviction to his soul that God is love.

I fix in my memory the simple outlines of

the loud, and the silent, the laugher and the smiler, of him who gives the key, and him who takes. I then commit them to paper: my collection increases. I compare, arrange, judge, and am astonished. I every where find similarity of traits, similarity of character; the same humanity every where, and every where the same tokens. How must my knowledge of men increase, at each step, and how must this produce certainty and joy, wisdom and love and happiness, to myself and my brethren!

XVI.

A WORD TO PRINCES AND JUDGES.

How willingly would I write a treatise for your use, most important of men!

Who so much as you need a perfect knowledge of man, free from cabal, or the intervention of self-interest! Suffer me to approach your throne, and present my petition.

Keep in your most secret common-place book an index to each class of character among men, taken from, at least, ten of the most accurate proofs; not at a distance, not among foreigners; but seek, at home, for the wisest and the best of your own subjects. Wherever a wise and good prince governs, there are excellent subjects. Such a prince believes that he has such subjects, although at the moment he should be unacquainted with them; or, at least, that he has subjects capable of wisdom and goodness. Whereever one good person is, there, certainly, are two; as certainly as where the female is there will the male be. Ask for wisdom to perceive what is, then will you not need be anxious to affirm what is not, or what cannot be. Suffer me, princes, consecrated as you

are among men, to intreat you, for the honour of humanity, principally to study, to seek for and to seize on excellence. Judge not too suddenly, nor by mere appearances. That which a prince once approves it may afterward be difficult, or dangerous to reject. Depend not on the testimony of others, which, to princes especially, is ever exaggerated, either in praise or blame; but examine the countenance, which, though it may dissemble to a prince, or rather, to the dignity of a prince, cannot deceive him as a man. Having once discovered wisdom and goodness in a subject, honour such a subject as the best blessing which heaven can, in this world, bestow upon its favourites. Seek features that are strong, but not forbidding; gentle, yet not effeminate; positive, without turbulence; natural, not arrogant; with open eyes, clear aspects, strong noses, near the forehead, and with such let your thrones be surrounded. Entrust your secrets to proportionate and parallel drawn countenances; to horizontal, firm, compressed eyebrows; to channeled, not too rigorously closed, red, active, but not relaxed or withered, lips. Yet I will forbear to delineate, and again only intreat that the countenance may be sacred to you for the sake of goodness