It may justly be demanded of the essayist that he shall give some small thought to the question of corporal punishment by means of the “cat,” and “ground-ash.” We have given the subject the most elaborate attention; we have written page after page upon it. Day and night we have toiled and perspired over that distressing problem. Through Summer’s sun and Winter’s snow, with all unfaltering purpose, we have strung miles of ink upon acres of paper, weaving wisdom into eloquence with the tireless industry of a silkworm fashioning his cocoon. We have refused food, scorned sleep, and endured thirst to see our work grow beneath our cunning hand. The more we wrote the wiser we became; the opinions of one day were rejected the next; the blind surmising of yesterday ripened into the full knowledge of to-day, and this matured into the superhuman omniscience of this evening. We have finally got so infernally clever that we have abandoned the original design of our great work, and determined to make it a compendium of everything that is accurately known up to date, and the bearing of this upon flogging in general. To other, and inferior, writers it is most fortunate that our design has taken so wide a scope. These can go on with their perennial wrangle over the petty question of penal and educational flagellation, while we grapple with the higher problem, and unfold the broader philosophy of an universal walloping. Reflections upon the Beneficent Influence of the Press _Reflection 1._—The beneficent influence of the Press is most talked about by the Press. _Reflection 2._—If the Press were less evenly divided upon all social, political, and moral questions the influence of its beneficence would be greater than it is. _Reflection 3._—The beneficence of its influence would be more marked. _Reflection 4._—If the Press were more wise and righteous than it is, it might escape the reproach of being more foolish and wicked than it should be. _Reflection 5._—The foregoing Reflection is _not_ an identical proposition. _Reflection 6._—(_a_) The beneficent influence of the Press cannot be purchased for money. (_b_) It can if you have enough money. Charity Charity is certain to bring its reward—if judiciously bestowed. The Anglo-Saxons are the most charitable race in the world—and the most judicious. The right hand should never know of the charity that the left hand giveth. There is, however, no objection to putting it in the papers. Charity is usually represented with a babe in her arms—going to place it benevolently upon a rich man’s doorstep. The Study of Human Nature