effects in the conduct of others. When such dispositions do not manifest themselves by alarming acts of wickedness, we are too apt to disregard their tendency to produce confirmed ill-temper; and too apt to forget, that the secret indulgence of wrong feelings, is the surest way of preparing ourselves to fall by the first powerful temptation that may assail us.

HARRY.

But, mamma, I think this seems to be putting people very much upon a level.

MRS. B.

And does not our common nature put us all upon a level, my dear Harry? The striking difference we observe in the characters of men, principally arises from the circumstances in which they are placed, and the manner in which they improve or abuse the advantages they enjoy. Richard was a usurper, and we have reason to believe he was a murderer. Now, although the act we call usurpation is an offence of which private persons rarely can be guilty; we cannot reasonably suppose, that he who encroaches on the rights or property of another, would refrain from seizing a crown, had he the opportunity of doing so. You probably think it impossible that any but the most abandoned of men should be guilty of the crime of murder; but if you read the first epistle of St. John, you

will see that the indulgence of malicious and revengeful passions is there regarded as a proof of being influenced by the same spirit; and that, unless we have kind and compassionate feelings towards our fellow-creatures, we have no real love for the bountiful God and Father of the whole human race.

LUCY.

But murder is so very dreadful, mamma, surely no common person could be guilty of it! MRS. B.

Not unless he first yielded to a malicious or cruel temper; but no man can tell how far temptation and opportunity may lead him, when they happen to concur with the prevailing bias of his mind. It is, therefore, of the greatest consequence, to be aware of the tendency of our thoughts and feelings; for they naturally proceed in the direction they are taking.

"The human heart ne'er knows a state of rest,
Bad tends to worse, as better leads to best;

We either gain or lose, we sink or rise,
Nor rests our struggling nature till she dies."

Such being the constitution of our minds, it naturally follows that, unless we resist wrong inclinations, we shall gradually fall from one degree of guilt to another.

This is remarkably exemplified in the con

duct of Richard the Third. There is no good evidence that he was from the beginning contriving to seize the crown. On the contrary, his behaviour, on hearing of king Edward's death, was frank, decided, and honourable. He was at that time absent in the north; but he wrote to the queen in a kind and consolatory manner, assuring her of his fidelity to the young king; he caused all the nobility in that part of the country to swear fealty to their new sovereign; and, as an example, first took the oath of allegiance himself. Had he then intended to dethrone his nephew, his conduct was most impolitic in thus raising fresh obstacles against his own schemes. It is surely more reasonable, because more consistent with our knowledge of human nature, to suppose that he was led on by the contingencies and temptations which successively presented themselves, to commit those crimes that have loaded him with infamy, than to conclude, without any better evidence than the assertions of his ene-mies, that he possessed, from the first, that atrocious and deceitful character which has been. ascribed to him. Is it probable, that the son of a high-minded father, the brother of a king, whose generous confidence he does not appear on any previous occasion to have betrayed,

should, before he attained the age of thirty, become all at once such a revolting monster *?

LUCY.

Then you think that Richard was not so very much to blame, but that his memory is unjustly treated.

MRS. B.

You mistake my meaning; for though his character has been treated with injustice, this is quite compatible with his having been, not only very much to blame, but exceedingly guilty. He has, indeed, been accused or suspected of murders which there is no just reason to believe that he committed; and of hypocrisy so unparalleled, that, if credited, it would, by destroying all sympathy for him, deprive us of those striking lessons his character is calculated to afford. History presents us with a splendid picture of MAN, under every imaginable variety of character and circumstances, but subject to certain general principles of action, or motives to action, which bind together the whole human race in one chain of sympathy; thus rendering the virtuous energy of some, and the crimes and misfortunes of others, subjects of interest and instruction to all. We should therefore carefully avoid unduly exalt

* Turner, p. 423.

ing or degrading the heroes of the scene; but regard them as they are, creatures of like passions with ourselves-like us, passing through a state of trial, and surrounded with circumstances connected with evil and with good. These circumstances have a natural influence over our conduct; and if our understandings are weak, if we have no moral energy or fixed principles of religion, they will probably govern us, as animals are influenced by whatever acts upon their senses. Every intelligent being knows that he has reason to direct his choice, and duties to perform; and that it is incumbent upon him to consider the consequences of his actions, both to himself and others. Those who possess the light of revealed religion, also know, that being placed in circumstances of temptation does not excuse criminal actions; because we are not left to ourselves in difficulty, but invited to apply for superior assistance *. LUCY.

I understand you, mamma.

But I should be

very glad to know in what way you think the character of Richard the Third can be useful to us, whose situation is so different.

MRS. B.

Since his crimes were the means of raising the

* Turner, p. 445, &c.