are more expansive; healthiest, because they give exercise to the physical powers; most independent because less exposed to the whims and caprice of public opinion. The two great professions, Law and Physic, are fearfully overstocked at the present time, and, melancholy as is the fact, parents are pushing their sons into this accumulating torrent, covered with floating wrecks, as indiscriminately as the Hindoos do their children into the Ganges. It is a sad mistake, an injury to the son, and to our common country. But a small portion succeed well, a few more make a mere living, but by far the largest portion struggle awhile with disappointment and poverty, and then go at some other business, or, what is more lamentable, become dissipated and ruined. Every boy should be taught some manual occupation, and every girl housewifery-no matter how rich the parents, or for what profession designed. Riches can be taken from us-our trade or occupation-never while we live. A profession may fail-we then know how to labor. I would especially caution parents against putting their sons to the profession of the Law. people grow wiser and better, lawyers will be less needed. Physic has also lost much of its mystery-people are becoming their own physicians more and more. In the early history of our race, we read of neither lawyers or doctors, a strong hint that none were needed then if the number of the former was now reduced three fourths, and that of the other one half, and the young flood dammed up for ten years, it would greatly increase individual happiness and the prosperity of our country. ་ As OFFICE SEEKERS. HAD not office seeking become a kind of professional business, based upon impudence, and the rank and file monopolized by many who are void of true patriotism -men in leading strings-slaves of party leaders and reckless demagogues-some sympathy should be extended to the disappointed thousands, who swell the multitude at the seat of government. It would be but charitable to sympathize with those who are ignorant of the political machinery of party politics-and have been led there by the promise of some member for whom they voted a promise, probably made to scores of others, for the purpose of obtaining their votes. Office seeking and office promising, are among the cankerworms that are preying on our body politic, and are causing serious mischief. The aspiring candidate, who thinks more of self than the glory and good of his country, obtains many votes, by selecting a number of pliant, plausible men in his district; and promising each a slice from the wheat loaf, should he be elected. If he succeeds, they are encouraged to make a journey to head quarters-where they go, only to be disappointed, often spend the last dollar they can raise, and leave their families to suffer for bread. Scenes of distress, arising from such reckless promises, are of common occurrence, the authors of which, cannot be too severely censured. Office seeking has become a game, in which the applicants are the pack, demagogues the players, and government, alias, the dear sovereign people, the table played upon. The secret of true wisdom consists in keep ing out of the pack, l'ving in sweet communion with your family, friends, and with the Author of all good. When virtue and geruine patriotism predominate, offices will seek good ard competent men, who should answer the call, as a matter of duty, not of pleasure or profit. If corruption, intrigue, and duplicity, are the order of the day, it is useless for good men to enter the arena of applicants-they will be jostled out-have their names traduced, and their feelings mortified. Let them rather aid in clearing out the Augean stable, as the only means of safety, for themselves and our country. OPINION. 'Tis with our judgments as our watches-none IF Pope wrote truly of the people at the time he penned the above lines, they were composed of different materials from those of the present day. A large portion of our people, in matters of high importance, especially political and religious, either carry dumb watches, do not wind them up, do not trust to them, or force them to run alike. Some big clock governs the mass around it. As it clicks, so they click-as it points the hour, the minute, the second, so do they. If the big clocks were all true to time, and all alike, there would be some sense and comfort in being governed by them as it is, it would be well for us to look a little to our own timepieces, exercise our own judgments, and learn to think and act for ourselves. This would have a tendency to regulate the big clocks, put a check on demagogues, and allay the heat of party spirit. In religious matters, let the Bible be the standard, and let us set our watches to it by actual inspection, and no: depend upon another to give us the time; much less, upon those who go by a dial, governed by the moon, instead of the Sun of Righteousness. Although our time may then agree with the big clock, it will be for the reason that it is correctly set to the same standard. It is very agreeable to go with the multitude if rightbetter be alone than wrong, or to wrangle with those who differ in opinion, and believe they are right. Let every one be persuaded in his own mind, is the injunction. By these remarks, I mean not, that one man shall treat those with contempt or indifference, who differ with him in opinion—but the reverse-they should be respected because they have an independence of mind, without which man is a mere automaton. Nor do I undervalue the opinions of others. This would be to repress, not encourage investigation, and would be an assumption of infallibility, which belongs only to God. Let opinion be free as mountain air, and not be confined by demagogues or priests, by metaphysicians or dogmatists, by kings or popes, but based on Reason and Revelation. Nor do I mean any disrespect to those who are worthy and competent to lead-for leaders there must be. I only wish to prompt men to use the noble powers of their immortal minds for themselves, that they may better benefit others; and neither let them rust out, or be worn out, to forward the selfish designs of intriguing and ambitious aspirants. Discussion in the mental, like a thunder storm in the natural world, purifies the atmosphere, and when the clouds are cleared away by the action that produced the commo tron, the sunbeams of truth in the former, as the fountain of light in the latter, shine upon all around. Be not over anxious to know the opinions of others concerning yourself. If they are favorable, it may increase that rank weed, pride—if the reverse, it may sour your temper and destroy your happiness. To be cursed with this kind of curiosity, is worse than corns on the toes or gout in the head. Cultivate an independence of mind, deserve the good opinion of others—then run your boat in the middle channel-be neither too anxious, nor yet indifferent of what others think of you. Keep a conscience void of offence, act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before God and man. PARTY SPIRIT. "I had learned that, when a matter becomes a party matter, it is vain to argue against it, or to argue upon it."-Webster's Speech on the Mexican War. FOR years, my voice and pen have been arrayed against this foul spirit, nor shall my humble efforts relax, until the purple current ceases to flow from my heart, or the enemy is subdued. Its history is red with blood -its career has been marked with desolation and ruin, often riding on the whirlwind of faction, and the tornado of fanaticism. It has blotted kingdoms and empires from the map of the world-its burning lava has consumed nations, blighted the fairest portions of creation, and sacrificed millions upon its sanguinary altar. Its motive power is wild ambition-its fuel, too often, fell revenge-its object, illegitimate power. I refer to its past history, from which we are to draw lessons for the present and future. Human nature is the same-like circumstances will produce the same results. Although this Bohon Upas has not attained a towering height in our |