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him a commission to examine the fossil productions of Vesuvius, and send him specimens. Gagliani, who delights in these researches, but who would have been too poor to have undertaken the tour for his own amusement, was glad enough of the commission. He soon formed a most beautiful and rare collection; and arranging it in the most elegant and scientific order, he sent it to the pope with a note. The prelate, on opening the seal, only found this line," Dic ut lapides isti panes fiant,' ("Command that these stones be made bread.") The pope, who is a great lover of wit, notwithstanding his piety, immediately enclosed an order for a very considerable pension in return, with a note, which in allusion to Gagliani's suspected heresy, is as follows: "The pope is rejoiced that the Abbé Gagliani seems at length convinced that to the successors of St. Peter belongs the exclusive prerogative of seizing the true spirit of Scripture. His holiness never gave any explanation with greater pleasure, since he is

fully convinced that the interpretation herewith sent will perfectly satisfy the Abbé Gagliani's remaining doubts as to his infallibility."

M. d'Alêt looked rather grave when he heard this anecdote, and said,—“ I could be well satisfied if we had a pontiff of less wit, and more reverence for God's revealed word."

Notwithstanding M. d'Alêt's extreme age, he is equally remarkable for his humility, attentive politeness, and an amiable temper.

There are several hamlets belonging to the village of Alêt, which are both remote and difficult of access. A poor woman who was exceedingly ill, desired her husband to go to the curate, and request him to come. and to administer the sacrament immediately. It was very late in the evening, and quite dark. As the roads. were besides covered with snow, and exceedingly dangerous, the curate did not like to go at such an hour. "My good friend," said he, "perhaps your wife may not be so ill

as you imagine. You see the weather; besides at this late hour consider the imminent danger of falling over the precipices. I will wait on your wife early to-morrow, but it is out of the question to night.

The poor man, almost in despair, ran to the episcopal palace, and stated his case. M. d'Alêt was gone to bed. He, however, immediately rose. On looking out of the window, and seeing that the weather was really bad, he ordered the torches to be lighted, and prepared to go himself. The grand vicar, astonished, asked if he had not better order the curate to go, and do what was in fact his duty. "No," said the Bishop, "not for this once; a Bishop, a Christian overseer at the head of his flock, like Cæsar at the head of his legions, should, if he mean to succeed, oftener say venite (come) than ite (go).

The Bishop possesses a very happy way of explaining himself in a few words.

A person who had long practised many austerities, without finding any comfort or change of heart, was once complaining

to the bishop, "Alas!" said he, "self-will and self-righteousness follow me every where; only tell me when you think I shall learn to leave self. Will it be in discipline, in study, in prayer, or in good works?" "I think," replied the prelate, "that the place where you will lose self, will be that where you find your Saviour." Another person pleading in behalf of uniting worldly acquaintance with religious profession, said, "Believers are called to be the salt of the earth." "Yes," said M. d'Alêt," and yet if salt be cast into the ocean from which it was originally drawn, it will melt away and vanish entirely."

A person once excusing his non-attendance at public worship, by pleading the disagreeable appearance and manner of the minister, "Let us look more at our Saviour, and less at the instruments," said M. d'Alêt: Elijah was as well nourished, when the bread from heaven was brought by a raven, as Ishmael, when the spring of water was revealed to him by an angel. Whether then we are fed immediately from God, as

the Israelites, with manna in the wilderness, or by the glorious instrumentality of those who may seem to us as angels, or by the base one of those who seem to us contemptible, let us be content and thankful, if they are but appointed of God, and if it be the bread and water of life they bring."

M. d'Alêt's own manners are uncommonly sweet and prepossessing, and he strongly recommends Christian politeness to others; as a constant exercise of love, patience, humility, and self-denial. I believe he looks as constantly to Christ in little things, as in great. Nevertheless, nobody bears with greater kindness the entire want of these things in others; or is more united in heart to them where they are so with Christ. My dear friends," says he to his flock, "never forget it is your glorious privilege to be a chosen generation; an holy nation; a peculiar people; and a royal priesthood. Let us then resemble the highpriest, who when he was anointed with that sacred unction; let the oil run down to the very hems and fringes of his garment, that

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