might become one of the greatest of all burdens and curses, rather than what, with our present powers of enjoyment, we are disposed to believe it -the unfailing source of overflowing happiness. And lastly, it must not be forgotten, that if our wish for a further view of the works and ways of God, than that which is already granted to us were vouchsafed, there is yet no end that could be assigned to the extent of our wishes-for at any future moment that could be fixed on, the same desire, prompted by the same notions, might be expected to be renewed-and thus, if our wish were to be gratified to the full extent in which it was felt, we must "live always." But all nature is progressive and changing-and we, as parts of that nature, must find our happiness, not in perpetuating our existence beyond its assigned and proper limits, but in fulfilling well the part given us, during our temporary abode on earth, to perform-and in cheerfully meeting the conclusion of our day, when its labours have been completed— and its pleasures and enjoyments have been tasted with moderation. Any thing beyond that would unquestionably not add to our happiness—as it also would be inconsistent with the plan of Providence in regard to us--but would, by being in opposition to his appointments, assuredly become one of the

heaviest curses that could be passed upon our

nature.

It is but a poor immortality that can be achieved by the greatest even of the works which the ingenuity or the labour of man can execute—the whole period of their duration, compared with the vast extent of ages destined for the duration of the race itself, being reduced to a point which almost escapes observation—and if the views we have ventured to unfold respecting the advances yet to be made by the human family in all knowledge and art and social establishments be well founded, there is reason to believe that the chances of a prolonged and distinguished reputation will be diminished as the progress of science and of art is advanced-and in proportion to the generality of their cultivators, and the multitude of the worshippers who will then be found at their shrines. Hitherto the chief objects of the continued applauses or admiration of mankind, have been either conquerors who have ravaged the infant establishments of the species—or discoverers of arts and sciences, who have thus laid the mere foundations of that knowledge on which the future superstructure of human knowledge is to be built-but when the superstructure has been reared, at least to some degree beyond the mere foundations of the building-and when little re

mains to be achieved in the way of mere new discovery, less admiration will be awakened by success---while the multitude of the labourers employed, and the constant succession of novel methods, will soon rob any particular aspirant of the fame to which he had previously attained. But though individual glory will thus be reduced in value, the good fortune of the race will proceed with augmented speed-and a better and happier, as well as more healthy spirit will be diffused among men, when it is better understood that it is not fame, but the fulfilment of duty, that constitutes true happiness-that we have each our allotted portion of work in the vineyard, with our appointed day for the accomplishment of our taskthat there lies our duty at once and our happiness --and that having fulfilled the work which has been given us to do, our privilege is to retire quietly and thankfully, and with full trust in the benevolence of Providence, to the "rest that has been prepared for us." Others will come forth to accomplish as hirelings their day—and as our labours are no longer needed for the progress of the work, neither would our continuance in the task be at all conducive to our real happiness.

R

Adieu then-an affectionate and heartfelt, but submissive and resigned adieu, not only to my "Old House"-but to all else that I have known and loved on Earth-not only my grey and aged home-but the Tower that has stood for ageshas witnessed many revolutions—and seen many sights of grandeur and of horror-and the aged trees too, which have waved their branches over the graves of many generations, must all pass away--and within a period which, to the entire duration of the earth, is as nothing, they will have left not a trace of having once adorned or rendered venerable the places which they now occupy. The plough may pass over their foundations-or primeval forests may again fill the solitude of the valley-or human life, in varied aspects of enjoyment and of suffering, may exist in it, under forms different from those in which I have ever yet seen it-or all of these things may happen in succession --and future generations have no notice of all that we have done--or enjoyed-or suffered. But still the grand purposes of Divine Providence will continue their course—a far brighter noon awaits the maturity of our race, than the events alone of its

opening years would have led us to anticipate-and when the long ages of its history have closed, and the voice of Omnipotence has pronounced the doom, that time, as we have known it, shall be no more, even from the tomb of nature, a brighter order of things shall arise—and there shall open a

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new heaven and a new earth," to beings fitted for enjoying them--and who having speculated, it may be, over the vanished condition of those who preceded them in existence-and fulfilled the part they were called into being to perform—shall, in their turn, be succeeded by other and higher races, who, in a succession inappreciable by man, shall maintain the eternal youth of nature--and carry forward the ever advancing purposes to which all things are conspiring.

Even on a scale far less extensive than thisand confined merely to the history of our own world-the prospect is delightful--and that mind must, indeed, be far from its best conceivable condition, that is not disposed to triumph in the thought-that though we all must speedily pass away-and the homes which we have loved---and in which our chief portion of earthly enjoyment has been tasted, must crumble into dust-still, the ever-enduring plan of Providence will know no