* * * * *

Here Peter Vezian’s journal abruptly comes to an end.  But we know from other papers, that the “Revenge,” after a successful cruise, returned safely to Newport; and thence in the next succeeding years often sailed out against the Spaniards.  Queer legends of those privateering days still linger in Newport, and traces of ill-gotten wealth may still be discovered there.  The sailors of the old seaport are as bold and adventurous as ever, but they are grown honester, and never again shall a crew be found there to man either slave-trader or privateer.  Northern seamen have no liking for such occupation.

CONCERNING PEOPLE OF WHOM MORE MIGHT HAVE BEEN MADE.

It is recorded in history, that at a certain public dinner in America a Methodist preacher was called on to give a toast.  It may be supposed that the evening was so far advanced that every person present had been toasted already, and also all the friends of every one present.  It thus happened that the Methodist preacher was in considerable perplexity as to the question, What being, or class of beings, should form the subject of his toast.  But the good man was a person of large sympathies; and some happy link of association recalled to his mind certain words with which he had a professional familiarity, and which set forth a subject of a most comprehensive character.  Arising from his seat, the Methodist preacher said, that, without troubling the assembled company with any preliminary observations, he begged to propose the health of ALL PEOPLE THAT ON EARTH DO DWELL.

Not unnaturally, I have thought of that Methodist preacher and his toast, as I begin to write this essay.  For, though its subject was suggested to me by various little things of very small concern to mankind in general, though of great interest to one or two individual beings, I now discern that the subject of this essay is in truth as comprehensive as the subject of that toast.  I have something to say Concerning People of whom More might have been Made:  I see now that the class which I have named includes every human being.  More might have been made, in some respects, possibly in many respects, of All People that on Earth do Dwell.  Physically, intellectually, morally, spiritually, more might have been made of all.  Wise and diligent training on the part of others, self-denial, industry, tact, decision, promptitude, on the part of the man himself, might have made something far better than he now is of every man that breathes.  No one is made the most of.  There have been human beings who have been made the most of as regards some one thing, who have had some single power developed to the utmost; but no one is made the most of, all round; no one is even made the most of as regards the two or three most important things of all.  And, indeed, it is curious to observe that the things in which human