neglect of these principles strikes at the root of social happiness, and produces those lamentable wrecks of men—­those shadows of sovereignty, which people our prisons, poor-houses, and asylums.  Genius, with all her book-knowledge, is not exempt from this failing; but, on the contrary, a sort of fatality seems to attend her sons and daughters, which tarnishes their fame, and often exposes them to the brutish attacks of the ignorant and vulgar.  Wits, and even philosophers, are among this number; and we are bound to acknowledge, that, beyond the raciness of their writings, there is but little to admire or imitate in the lives of such men as Steele, Foote, or Sheridan.  It is, however, fit that principle should be thus recognised and upheld, and that any dereliction from its rules should be placed against the account of such as enjoy other degrees of superiority, and allowed to form an item in the scale of their merits.

(To be concluded in our next.)

    [1] From "Cameleon Sketches,” by the author of “The Promenade round
        Dorking.”  In the press.

* * * * *

AN ENGLISHMAN’S PRAYER

  Grant, righteous Heaven, however cast my fate
  On social duties or in toils of state,
  Whether at home dispensing equal laws,
  Or foremost struggling for the world’s applause,
  As neighbour, husband, brother, sire, or son,
  In every work, accomplished or begun,
  Grant that, by me, thy holy will be done. 
  When false ambition tempts my soul to rise,
  Teach me her proffer’d honours to despise,
  Though chains or poverty await the just,
  Though villains lure me to betray my trust,
  Unmoved by wealth, unawed by tyrant, might
  Still let me steadily pursue the right,
  Hold fast my plighted faith, nor stoop to give
  For lengthen’d life, the only cause to live.

* * * * *

ITALY.

(To the Editor of the Mirror.)

SIR,—­Is your correspondent (see the MIRROR of the 15th of September) quite right in asserting that Italy has invariably retained the same name from its first settlement? or would the fact be singular if true?  Virgil, in his first book of the AEneid, implies that it had at least two names before that of Italy. “AEnotrii coluere viri;” “Hesperiam graii cognomine dicunt;” “Itali ducis de nomine.”  His works are not at hand, so that I cannot specify the line; but the passage is repeated three or four times in the course of the poem, and the reference, therefore, to it is peculiarly easy.

In other places, as you may remember, he gives it the appellation of “Ausonia.”