As the fabled cup of the poet was said to be productive of good or evil, according to the lip that pressed it, so is prosperity productive of virtue or vice, according to the nature of him who possesses it. FLATTERY. Strabo asserts that a species of honey was produced at Pontus, which, owing to the bees having fed on aconite and hemlock, was poisonous. May we not liken flattery to this poison—sweet, but destructive? FAULTS. No human being is exempt from faults nor destitute of virtues. The wicked, who are many, will quickly detect the first, and the good, who are but few, will alone discern the second. Hence men’s faults will always be more known than their virtues. BELIEF IN GOODNESS. We give credit to others for just as much goodness as we ourselves possess. MERE MORTALS. There are some mortals whose bodies are but as the sepulchres of their dead hearts. POETS AND ASTRONOMERS. Poets view nature as a book, in which they read a language unknown to common minds, as astronomers regard the heavens and therein discover objects that escape the vulgar ken. GRIEF. Grief is our natural state, and joy but comes Like gleams of sunshine in a wint’ry day, Showing the darkness of the low’ring clouds That threaten to obscure its waning lustre. Grief shares our pillow, colours even our dreams, Awakens when we wake, and through the day Sits by us, calling Mem’ry to her aid, That she, by whisp’ring of the happy past, May make the gloomy present still more dark. PHILOSOPHERS. Men who expect little enjoyment in life, and who are therefore not disappointed. MONEY. Money is the direct or indirect cause of nearly all crimes: by the possession of it the rich are enabled to commit them, and through the want of it the poor are excited into the adoption of a similar course. VIRTUE. Horne Tooke said of intellectual philosophy, that he had become better acquainted with it, as with the country, though having sometimes lost his way. May not the same be said of virtue? for never is it so truly known or appreciated as by those who, having strayed from its path, have at length regained it. QUALITIES. Those who are poor in good qualities, assume their appearance; as persons who are not sufficiently rich to buy jewels, procure false ones. PEACE OF MIND.