yet green, which decks the brows of the Duke of Wellington; which hangs unfaded on the tomb of Lord Nelson! woe unto you who feel inspired by the reputation of a Byron and a Scott, of a Herschell and a Babbagewho sigh after the vales of poesy or who would elimb the mountains of science! Woe unto you whose pleasure and whose ambition are not wholly concentrated in the acquisition of wealth-whose thoughts take a range beyond the dingy purlieus of yonder dark and fogbreathing alley-woe unto you! if money do not make your felicity, it ought to do soriches and the pursuits of riches are all that should pamper your heart or dazzle your imagination!

Happiness is only to be found on one road, and there is the commentary on Dr. Smith's Essays by way of a sign post!

It is with these general reflections that Mr. Macculloch commences his observations on the present state of property in France.

Whatever may be my own opinion on the law of primogeniture, I confess, with a proper portion of respect for one who is my superior in age and reputation, that the cause does not seem to me to have gained very considerably hitherto, by its-GREAT DEFENDER.

CHAPTER XII.

Mr. Macculloch's contradictions Assertions

Authorities.

Now, there are two contending sentiments to which, as I pursue my subject, I am more and more disagreeably exposed.

"Consideration for a person whose talents I acknowledge; consideration for the truth, which I believe the reputation of those talents has greatly tended to obscure."

The last sentiment is, I confess, the strongest; and thus I venture, deferentially, to display some of the singular contradictions, and to repeat some of the singular statements, which the distinguished author whom I have just alluded to has published, in respect to the disposition of property in the country of which I am treating-published with a carelessness it is difficult to account for, and a confidence it becomes legitimate to imitate.

CONTRADICTIONS, p. 462.

"The strong predeliction entertained by the great bulk'

of the children of persons engaged in the business of agriculture, for the pursuits of their fathers, has been remarked by every one in any degree connected with rural affairs; and it is obvious that the existence of a law compelling every father to divide his estate equally among his children, must afford the greatest facilities for gratifying this natural inclination."

From this you would conclude, that the prevailing passion in France would be for the acquisition of land, which is actually the case.

But mark, page 467:

"The rule established by the existing French law— (this rule, which was to give such a vent to the natural desire to possess land,) — will naturally induce the greater number to amass monied fortunes in preference to land !” *

P. 466.-One quotation from Mr. Birkbeck says, "that the people in the towns, as in the country, are growing poorer and poorer-that

* Mr. Macculloch may say that these two sentences apply differently; that in the one case he alludes to the passion of the son, which will be to cultivate land; in the other, to the desire of the father, which will be to save money.

But if a man is a father at the close of his career, he is also very frequently a father at the commencement of it. Either, then, the desire to save money for his children, will influence his choice of life, or the desire to possess land will affect his saving money for his children.

both are alike rather retrograding than progressing." The very next quotation from M. Laffitte, p. 469, draws a marked distinction between the people of the towns and the country, and says that the people of the towns are all that they should be for the time at which they live.

"The people in the towns are rather retrogade than progressive."-Birkbeck.

"The manufacturer of our towns is as much at his ease, as industrious, and as able, as a man of the times ought to be."-Laffitte.

M. Laffitte's assertion, in respect to towns, annihilates Mr. Birbeck's: but M. Laffitte's assertion in respect to the country, quoted p. 467, as an excellent authority, is pretty well contradicted by Mr. Macculloch himself, p. 465. These are the two sentences:

"Our agriculture is as poor, as ignorant, as in the days of feudality."-M. Laffitte.

"That the condition of the agriculturists of France has, on the whole, considerably improved since the revolution, (1789), seems certain!"

It is only by such contradictions that we could be prepared for the statements which

follow, and which really seem selected for the purpose of startling all belief.

1st.-"The effect of the present law fills, and will fill, the country with a wretched population, destitute of the desire of rising in the world."

2nd." It is said by the admirers of the French law of succession, that it has introduced peace into families that the insolent prerogative of primogeniture being abolished, the children look upon each other as brothers, and entertain the warmest affection for their parents. "In point of fact, however, it has had a precisely opposite effect."

Now, I will ask any Frenchman, Carlist, Louis-Philippist, or Republican, whether two statements more contrary to fact could be made than the two I have quoted?

What!

"The French destitute of the desire of rising in the world!”

Even M. Girou, in his very able publication from which Mr. Macculloch, though he does not allude to this authority, would seem to have borrowed some of his arguments and opinions-even M. Girou, in his very able publication against the division of property, says "Cela fait que chacun veut vivre comme