1

to pay his respects to the First National Assembly of France, shivered with cold in the middle of the dog-days, when he was not near a good fire. The National Assembly directed him to sit with his on, in order to defend his head from the cold.

hat

The

65 Segnius irritant animos demissa per aurem,
Quam quae sunt oculis subjecta fidelibus,"

of Horace, notwithstanding his knowledge of human nature, is not of universal application. Impressions made upon the ears of old people excite sensation and reflection much quicker than when they are made upon their eyes.

The appetite for food is generally increased in old age. The famous Parr, who died at 152, ate heartily in the last week of his life. The kindness of nature, in providing this last portion of earthly enjoyments for old people, deserves to be noticed. It is remarkable, that they have, like children, a frequent recurrence of appetite, and sustain, with great uneasiness, the intervals of regular meals. The observation, therefore, made by Hippocrates, that middle-aged people are more affected by abstinence than those who are old, is

not true.

Old men tread upon the whole base of their feet at once in walking. This is, perhaps, one reason why they wear out fewer shoes, under the

same circumstances of constant use, than young people, who, by treading on the posterior, and rising on the anterior part of their feet, expose their shoes to more unequal pressure and friction. The advantage derived to old people from this mode of walking is very obvious. It lessens that disposition to totter, which is always connected with weakness:-hence, we find the same mode of walking is adopted by habitual drunkards, and is sometimes, from habit, practised by them, when they are not under the influence of strong drink.

The memory is the first faculty of the mind which fails in the decline of life. While recent events pass through the mind, without leaving an 'impression upon it, it is remarkable, that the longforgotten events of childhood and youth, are recalled, and distinctly remembered. It has been remarked, that studious men, like others, suffer in old age a decay of their memories, but rarely of their understandings. Dr. Swift is one of the few exceptions to this remark-but his premature dotage is judiciously ascribed by Dr. Johnson to two causes, which rescue books, and the exercise of the thinking powers, from having had any share in inducing that disease upon his mind. "These causes were, a rash vow which he made, when a young man, never to use spectacles, and a sordid seclusion of himself from company, by which means he was cut off from the use of books,

and the benefits of conversation, the absence of which left his mind without its usual stimulushence it collapsed into a state of fatuity.

It is humiliating to human nature, to remark in old people the disposition, like children, to detail immediately every thing they see and hear, and their aptitude to shed tears-hence they are unable to tell a story that is in any degree distressing without weeping. Dr. Moore takes notice of this peculiarity in Voltaire, after he had passed his eightieth year. He wept constantly at the recital of his own tragedies. This feature in old age did not escape Homer. Old Menelaus wept ten years after he returned from the destruction of Troy, when he spoke of the death of the heroes who perished before that city. Few of these appearances, however, are to be noticed in my venerable friend, and none of them in any considerable degree-for his is old age without decay. Before I conclude, let me mention, that he attributes his protracted existence to his manner of life. This, however, appears to me fanciful, rather than just; and probably not one of thousands, who imitated him in this particular, would live to his time of life. But that is of small conse. quence; if they imitate his virtues, they will have lived long, let them die at what age they may. For honourable age is not that which standeth in

gray hair to

length of time, nor that which is measured by number of years but wisdom is the man, and an unspotted life is old age.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Dungiven.

It was more than time, after spending six days ať Mr. S's, to think of going-yet it was sor rowful to part with an old friend whom there was no chance I should ever in this world see again. I turned twice to bid him farewell, and the tears stood in his eyes as he gave me his pastoral benediction, and bade peace rest with me and abide with me for ever.

I had various modes of conveyance in my power, but preferred walking;-if not the easiest, it is the safest method of travelling a man who is on the ground can fall no lower-this should be a consolation, in times such as these, to poverty also. I had walked but a short way, when a shower forced me to take refuge in a cabin by the road side. The men and women were in the fields an infant was in the cradle, a child of about six years old was rocking it. I spoke to

the little rocker, but it could only speak Irish this is commonly the case with children born in the mountains, but they almost universally learn a little English as they grow up. Speaking Irish may, I believe, be considered by every Enq glishman who travels in Ireland, as a declaration of being Catholic. The lowest Protestant would feel degraded by the supposition that he under stood, much less spoke it. This singular and most unjust contempt of the Aborigines and their language is a convincing proof (were proof wanting) how very colonial, and how little national, a large portion of the people of Ireland is. Nothing affronts a poor or ragged Protestant more, than asking him any question as if he were a Catholic indeed, if a little time is al lowed him, he will himself tell what he is-like an English landlord or waiter in Wales, if he is asked a question about any neighbouring moun: tain or valley, will answer shortly and gruffly," that he knows nothing about them, and then takes care to inform you that he is an English man, and tells often the particular spot where hed was born, lest it should be supposed he was eas borderer even. Nobody so low but he thinks: others still lower.

f

Little occurred in the day's ramble worthy of being related. The general aspect of the country

was dreary and cheerless. I met with very festr