MARIA-THERESA, EMPRESS OF AUSTRIA.

M

ARIA Theresa was admitted by her father, the Emperor Charles the Sixth, at the early age of fourteen, to be present at the sittings of the council. She always sat silent, but it was observed that, however protracted the deliberations, she never betrayed any signs of weariness, but listened with the most eager attention to all she could, and all she could not understand. The only use she made, of her new privilege, was to be the bearer of petitions in behalf of those who prevailed on her benevolence or her youthful inexperience, to intercede for them. The emperor, becoming at length impatient at the increasing number of these petitions, said to her on one occasion, "You seem to think a sovereign has nothing to do but to grant favors!" "I see nothing else that can make a crown supportable," replied his daughter: she was then about fifteen.

THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, GRANDSON OF
LOUIS THE FIFTEENTH.

MANY

ANY clever preceptors, many excellent fathers, induce their young people to give money to the poor, but these gifts, says King Stanislaus, seldom have

the effects that are expected from them, because they are not always the fruit of personal sacrifice and privation. Louis, Duke of Burgundy, of whom I have already spoken, was accustomed to perform charitable and generous actions, but always at his own expense.

He had long desired to have a little park of artillery, and a very complete one was offered to him, at the price of a hundred louis d'or. The money was ready, and the prince was on the point of making the purchase, when he heard a brave officer spoken of, who was ruined by an unexpected change in some military arrangements. Having asked the particulars, and learned that this brave soldier, full of honour and probity, was reduced to sleep in a garret, and possessed nothing but the clothes he wore, "Come," said he, "no artillery ;" and he sent the hundred louis d'or to the poor and virtuous captain.

GETA, SON OF THE EMPEROR SEVERUS.

THE

HE Roman Emperor Septimus Severus, after his victories over the generals Niger and Albinus, returned in triumph to Rome, where he exercised great severities, and condemned to death twenty-nine senators, whom he accused of having favored his enemies, but whose guilt was never proved.

His younger son Geta was only eight years old when this occurred, but he appeared so deeply afflicted when he heard Severus order so many executions, that the emperor perceived it, and said to him, "My child, it is so many enemies from whom I am delivering you."

The little prince then, in a low tone, asked his attendants, whether these unfortunate persons had not children, relations, and friends, and as they were obliged to tell him, that they had many, "There will be then," said he, "more persons to weep at our victory, than to rejoice with us."

Such a reflection, from a child of eight years old, made a great impression upon the emperor, who would perhaps have pardoned his victims, had he not been incited to persevere in his cruel intentions, by Caracalla, his elder son.

To err is human, to forgive, divine. POPE.

THIS is the first and greatest of Christian virtues, and this precept alone, would set the Christian Religion above all human Institutions: no ancient legislator, no mere moral philosopher, ever imagined the putting of such a principle as this into the human mind.

Our Saviour himself is our greatest and most touching example of the practice of it: "Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do!" In the martyrs of old, and in other truly christian persons, who have suffered persecution to the death, we have proofs of the softening and calming power of this principle upon the mind. Charles the First of England, and Louis the Sixteenth of France, both very religious princes, deprived by popular fury of their crown, and of their

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life, pardoned their enemies with their latest breath. If we are wanting in instances of young princes, who have acted upon this precept, it is not that we fail in examples of illustrious children, who have been early impressed with truly christian principles, but that the active exertion of this virtue can seldom be called forth in them: who can offend, who can injure a little Prince, protected and overshadowed by the Throne, near which he stands! I have however, one instance, and one so beautiful, that it well deserves to stand alone.