These reflections are all just and natural enough; but they are, perhaps, a little too vague and indefinite. At least, they do not strike me as quite true to the text. For the word “watch” here does not mean simply _protect_, but rather _witness_, and Laban’s idea when he said “Mispah,” was, “may the Lord stand witness, and look out to guard against any infraction of the covenant which has just been made between us.” So the author wanders a little from the point of the thing. And he does so again when he proceeds to ask, “And whose was the hand that fixed this stamp of piety on this winged messenger of love—of love that grows more ardent and more holy as it is distant and long away from its object? The first post-mark was Quebec, and the letter was directed to a quarter-master in London. Was it then, from a wife to a husband? or from a sister to a brother? or what was the relation?” Obviously, such a seal could be used with strict propriety only by one who either was, or was engaged to be, married, to the writ_ee_, and who might very nicely use it at once to assure and remind the absent partner of that conjugal, or connubial fidelity which they had vowed before God. At any rate, it must be felt, I think, by every one, that it would have a peculiar charm when used by a person who might happen to be in such a predicament. And taking the thing in this light, and putting myself for a moment in the shoes of the fair young _fiancée_ who has just set the seal to her letter, I would expound or explain the motto upon it, something in this way: O what can sooth the sorrow, love, This anxious absence brings, But to reflect that one above, With overshadowing wings, The witness of our plighted troth, Will hear, and help, and keep us both? O may he still our guardian be, As he hath ever been! And watch, my love, o’er me and thee, While ocean rolls between! And bring thee back, all perils past, To make our bonds more sweetly fast! Q. CHARACTER OF CORIOLANUS.