is nothing but the interest or popularity of the speaker.

What did you ever get by bad thoughts, bad words, bad passions, and bad actions? why, nothing—at least, nothing worth having; and many of the things which we now consider to be the most excellent in the world, will, by and by, be accounted nothing.

We are worldly, and simple, and weak, and unwise,
When our hope and our object are under the skies;
For all that the world has to give is a breath-

A bubble that bursts on the dark stream of death.

It would make quite a revolution in the affairs of the world, if the important nothings of this life were to be abolished; for how would the tradesman sell his goods? the quack vend his medicine? the lawyer cover his parchments? the poet write his preface? the critic compose his review? the courtier approach his sovereign?

or, indeed, how could I support my credit as a talker, if an edict were to go forth forbidding every one, on pain of immediate decapitation, to make much ado about nothing? I tell you, that it would produce a revolution. We should have no inventions, no fashions, no public speeches, no news, and no newspapers. We must begin life again, and upon a new plan; for how could we do anything, without nothing, in a world wherein nothing has so long been almost everything.

When we compare the performances of mankind with their promises, our deserts with our desires, and the things we have done with the things we intended to do, they are as nothing, and we may well blush at the result of our comparison.

The man who puts into the lottery expects

everything, and usually gets nothing: we all too much resemble him, for we encourage unreasonable desires, and unreasonable desires are sure to produce nothing. The miller who dug for hidden treasures brought down his mill upon his head; and when we leave the path of persevering industry for that of imaginary wealth, we bring disappointment on our hearts.

If I were to talk about nothing till I had nothing to say on the subject, I should lose sight of the old saying, "Too much of a good thing is good for nothing;" and that I would not willingly do. No! no! whatever may be the subject on which a great talker converses, he gains nothing by wearying those who listen to him. You have listened to me very patiently, but, after all, your patience is not so great as my disposition to talk. My tongue is a sort of per

petual motion: no matter whether the season be spring, summer, autumn, or winter, its activity is never destroyed. Perhaps I have for the present said enough, and if you should be of opinion that I have said too much, you will shew your good sense by keeping that opinion entirely to yourself, and saying nothing.

HALF A DOZEN THINGS.

"In the days of my youth," Father William replied,
"I remember'd that youth could not last;

I thought of the future, whatever I did,

That I never might grieve for the past."

SOUTHEY.

HAVING ten minutes to spare, I may as well fill up the time in saying something; let me give you a little good advice. Advice is very like a dose of physic, for it is a thing much more pleasant to give than to take; but as, on the present occasion, I have nothing at all to do with the taking of it, I will not trouble my head farther about the matter than merely to observe that good advice is not only the cheapest, but also one of the most valuable commodities in the world.