may be for the poorest man in the land may show his respect for an oath, and support that respect by his example, as well as the richest he has temptations which the rich have not: he has opportunities which the rich have seldom : his evidence, for or against his neighbour, is, in this country and these times, frequently called for. Much rests upon a poor man's oath.

The violation, the invasion of an oath, is, if possible, more criminal, more disgraceful, the better the education; the higher the means of information, the greater, the safer the opportunities of fraud enjoyed by the individual. Let this consciousness press, in public and private, strongly upon those, in whatever rank of life, who are called upon to take what are called oaths of officecustom-house oaths-oaths of form even. Let all consider, that mental reservation in taking an oath, is fraud to man and falsehood to God;-that it is in vain that they try to excuse themselves in this sacrifice of principle to interest: their conscience will upbraid themthe small, still voice will be heard. In vain they screen themselves from the temporal obloquy, by a quibble, or the construction of words-by pleading custom, or looking to numbers who share and countenance the guilt. There must be no paltering with an oath. The example of the strictness of integrity, in taking and abiding by oaths of office, would in every country-in this country of Ireland-be of more efficacy, more real advantage to the good order and prosperity of the kingdom, than any who are accustomed to merely fiscal calculations, than all who

are not habituated to large, moral, and political views, can possibly believe or comprehend.

But it is not only to those who take oaths-rich or poor, high or low-whom we should most anxiously adjure upon this important subject: when we spoke of guarding our reverence for oaths by law and institution, we looked to those who form the institutions and who frame the laws of our country. Let them consider well the importance of their task-the responsibility of their situation. Instead of multiplying restriction upon restriction-penalty upon penalty-oath upon oath-let them so legislate as to avoid, as far as possible, holding out to the poor the temptation, the opportunity for evasion or fraud. Let them consider, that multiplying oaths is multiplying, certainly, the possibility, and too frequently the probability, of perjury. Let them consider, that the respect for an oath is necessarily diminished by their frequency;-that their power is inversely as their number;-that their solemnity is lost, if they are brought down from the high to the low concerns of life; and that it is well worthy of the legislator and the moralist-perhaps also of the financier and the politician-to sacrifice even excise to morality, and revenue to religion!

RESOLVES.

BY L. E. L.

GLIDE thou gentle river on,
But not until I write on thee,
Much of changed, much of good,
That henceforward I will be.
By thy swift and silver stream,
Prayers and blessings will I send,
On to yonder glorious haven,
Where I see thy waters blend.
Careless river, thou hast lost

All I trusted to thy wave;

All my best intents, and hopes,

In thy depths have found a grave.

Thus it is the waves of time,

Bear the heart's resolves away, Useless all, and life's best part

Thus becomes the spoiler's prey. Woe for man's weak foolishness, Playing thus the infant's part; Writing that upon the wave,

Which he should grave on his heart.

THE FOUNTAIN OF MARAH.

BY MRS. HEMANS.

"And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter.

"And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

"And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet."-Exod. xv. 23-25.

WHERE is the tree the prophet threw

Into the bitter wave?

Left it no scion where it grew,
The thirsting soul to save?

Hath Nature lost the hidden power
Its precious foliage shed?

Is there no distant eastern bower,

With such sweet leaves o'erspread?

Nay, wherefore ask?-since gifts are ours, Which yet may well imbue

Earth's many troubled founts with showers Of Heaven's own balmy dew.

Oh! mingled with the cup of grief,
Let faith's deep spirit be,
And every prayer shall win a leaf
From that blest healing tree!

ZION'S DAUGHTERS.

BY J. ROBY.

DARK as the bounding waters

When storm-clouds o'er them roll,

The face of Zion's Daughters

Reflects the storm-swept soul.

But light is sown in sadness,
And hope with anxious fears;
Yon clouds shall. break in gladness,
And doubts dissolve in tears.