Social Responsibilities.

" Nil nisi bonum de mortuis " is a good maxim as a general rule ; but it is our duty in some instances to hold up the mirror where naught but evil can be reflected to show an example for the benefit of mankind generally .

In our present remarks we can injure no one ' s fame . Can any one darken the name of Windham more than the weak creature Avho lately bore it ?—a wasted youth—a brief fife of reckless debauchery—an obscure and miserable death . In

these few Avords is his biography summarised . Let others lament the wasted fortunes , and speculate upon their inheritors , whilst Ave take occasion to comment upon the waste of life .

Lusisti satis , edisti satis , atqne bibisti , Tempus abive tibi est * * * might have been fit euough for his dying words , but vrho was there to hear them ? No one . Where were all his friends ? This is a difficult question . We may , perhaps , come nearest the

truth by saying he had none ,. for it is almost absurd to term any of that foul crew of parasitic debauchees friend to any man ; they but urged Mm on in his headlong course to destruction . He is gone , blasted in the very bud of manhood ; but

those who cheered him on wait not to Aveep over the wreck they have helped to make . Their time is precious ; they must find other victims . There can scarcely be a doubt that Windham , although sane , Avas of Aveak intellect ; in fact , his

brief career is ample proof that such Avas the case , but , nevertheless , had he been properly guided , Ms life might yet have been long and useful . * * * Say not man ' s imperfect , Heaven in fault ; Say rather , man ' s as perfect as he ought ;

His knowledge measured to his state and place ; His time , a moment , and a point his space . Properly applied in the path of duty iu aid of progress , and in the support of rectitude the abilities now lost might have given their possessor , supported as he Avas by ample means , no mean

position in the social circle , and gained for him the respect of his fellow men ; as it is , he can but be viewed with abhorrence by all Avhose minds are Aveli regulated , aud the only A iew which arises from reflecting on his feebleness of intellect , bears

rather upon his companions than himself , and skoAVS with startling vividness the hideous traits of character , present among those who , blessed with powers superiorto Windham ' s , yet encouraged , aye and joined him too , in scenes and acts which even Avere they fit to be described , would defy every attempt at delineation . What account will

they give of themselves ; they can scarcely hope to share alike at the eleventh hour with those who have borne the heat and burden of the day , and perhaps the chance of repentence even then may be denied to some of them .

Itisuseless , perhaps , toexpectthat even so fearful an example as tliatwhich noAvcallsforth , our remarks , should take effect on men Avho have Aveathered the dangers of dissipation themselves and been accustomed to see those who Avere yesterday their

boon companions and their " friends , " to-day drop off ; the bloom of Spring suddenly changed to the sear and yellow leaf of Autumn , It may for a short space affect the young who are but just hesitating on the brink of the social precipice , Avhich overhangs the chaotic gulf of hopeless debaucher-y " , but even then there is the ever present

danger of excitement , supported by a feelmg of false shame , the farmer hurrying them forward , the latter insidiously resisting their retreat . If Ave analyse the false shame of fleeing from evil , there will be found the first germs wMch iu

maturity overgrow the healthy plant and become its destruction . The men Avho are the habitues of the Avorld of moral depravity , AVIIO , in fact , live upon the hapless victims AVIIO appear in it and pass aAvay , are unfortunately but too attractive to

the young and inexperienced , often most gentlemanly in appearance and address , invariably plausible and kind , ever watching to see where conceit may be tickled or vanity flattered ; they are , in fact , morally " whited sepulchres , " the tombs AvMch engulph many souls . ¦ It behoves us to ascertain hoAV the evil results

of a life lost m dissolution may be avoided ; there is but one Avay , and that is , by crushing the evil at its birth ; let no one trust to his own powers of resistance , but ever pray " deliver us from evil . "

If the seed of dissipation be but sown , its growth is almost certain , for he Avho has once tasted of the cup of frivolity , or worse , immorality , will but too often return to it as the " sow to her Avallowing in the mire . "

The natural iustinct is certainly averse to the foul depravity of such a life as Windham ' s , but the observation of such life does not have its due effect upon the reasoning faculties , because , under the circumstances which usually surround the

inexperienced when " seeing life , " then- mental powers are injured by present excitement , and they do not see things as they really are .