SPIRITUALITIES.

THE people evinced no jealousy touching my intimacy at the great house. Aware of my destination, they doubtless looked on it as so much quartering on the enemy. Who knew -I might work some change. It occasioned therefore, no surprise when I appeared in decent attire, with a sum of money, the gift of my patrons; a slender token, they were pleased to observe, of gratitude that could make no

return.

In process of time I felt that I came to partake of the manners and the address of those around. Doubtless, I was deficient in the courtesies characteristic of refined intercourse; but my life had been too much one of introspection, to render me justly chargeable with vulgarity or assurance. Cornelia treated me as a son. Even the austere proprietor relaxed in my presence, while the

younger Cornelia displayed the outpourings of her impulsive heart, by every gentle demonstration in her power.

"Think you," said Cornelius, "that denizens of the spiritual world are aware of our existence; that they take charge of our welfare, or try to alter the current of our lives?"

"To their pervasive vision," I replied, "our condition cannot be unknown; but it is with an interest modified by the loftier views and intuitions of eternity. I do not believe that they possess any power, whether for good or for ill. That lies with God, and with God alone. If the dead have no influence over our position, most assuredly we have none over theirs. We may hope, wish, implore; but must not the less submit to the will of the Most High. Spiritual despotism, whether it affect to control us here or hereafter, is about the worst of the unhappy privileges which vain man would assume in

relation to his fellows. Pour the balm of consolation into the spirits of the sorely tried, the souls of the heart-broken; but dictate not. 0 thou who wouldst so much instruct others, first instruct thyself—who made thee mediator between God and man?"

We spoke largely of the infirmity that perpetuates a dictator between one's conscience and one's God. We even thought the time perchance might come, when man should need no interpreter before the throne of grace, no spiritual advocate to plead his cause, and lay down to a fraction the costs of salvation.

It has been said the labourer is worthy of his hire, but what is the hire of the spirit? Is it filthy lucre-sordid gain? Say rather, is it not the glorious consciousness of a duty that has been performed-of a task that has been donethe kindling of holy desires-of an infinite expectancy, in the souls of men? How are those who

are brought up to religion as a trade, to be, of necessity, endowed with that sacred call-the yearnings, the aspirings that nothing short of progression can appease, and then only by giving rise to fresh longings and more extended aspirations? Can such feel ever and only desirous of turning hearts from self-from considerations of time to those of eternity—from the business of the body to that of the spirit-from the world that is, to that which is to come?

Let it be felt that all have equal claims on God's sacred truth. Let it no longer be expedient to perpetuate ignorance, destitution, and despair. Let the lowliest be cared for even as the offspring of princes; and each immortal soul nurtured with outpourings of infinite love. Let it be shown that earth is our abode but for a time; and that we have, not beyond the remote skies merely, but immediately around us, as well as throughout infinity, another and a better

home with God and precious spirits created of God-lords of space, denizens of eternity!

This so impulsive earnestness caused our hearts to thrill for joy, our eyes to fill with tears. We affected no monopoly-arrogated no exclusiveness. We had but expressed ourselves on subjects on which it is the right of all to expatiate. If we erred, God would pardon that involuntary error.

DUBIETIES.

THE period during which I might commune with Cornelius was drawing to a close; he had to repair to Trinity, while I looked forward to Maynooth. We conversed much on our individual destinations, as on the general complexion of Irish life. We were astonished at the long array of crime-periods during which people only seemed to live amid war and violence. We