policy is openly canvassed, and in which the prerogatives of the crown form no mean part of the liberty of the subject, the principles which it is proper to instil into a royal personage, become a topic, which, if discussed respectfully, may, without offence, exercise the liberty of the British press. The writer is very far, indeed, from pretending to offer any thing approaching to a system of instruction for the royal pupil, much less from presuming to dictate a plan of conduct to the preceptor. What is here presented, is a mere outline, which may be filled up by far more able hands; a sketch which contains no consecutive details, which neither aspires to regularity of design, nor exactness of execution. To awaken a lively attention to a subject of such moment; to point out some circumstances connected with the early season of improvement, but still more with the subsequent stages of life; to offer, not a treatise on education, but a desultory suggestion of sentiments and principles; to convey instruction, not so much by precept or by argument, as to exemplify it by illustrations and examples; and, above all, to stimulate the wise and the good to exertions far more effectual;-these are the real motives which have given birth to this slender performance. Had the royal pupil been a prince, these hints would never have been obtruded on the world, as it would then have been naturally assumed, that the established plan usually adopted in such cases would have been pursued. Nor does the author prein the present instance, to insinuate a suspicion, that there will be any want of a large and liberal scope in the projected system, or to intimate an apprehension that the course of study will be adapted to the sex, rather than to the circumstances of the princess. sume, If, however, it should be asked, why a stranger presumes to interfere in a matter of such high concern? It may be answered in the words of an elegant critic, that in classic story, when a superb and lasting monument was about to be consecrated to beauty, every lover was permitted to carry a tribute. The appearance of a valuable elementary work on the principles of Christianity, which has been recently published in our language, translated from the German, under the immediate patronage of an august personage, for the avowed purpose of benefit to her illustrious daughters, as it is an event highly aus picious to the general interests of religion, so is it a circumstance very encouraging to the present undertaking.* It is impossible to write on such points as are discussed in this little work, without being led to draw a comparison between the lot of a British subject, and that of one who treats on similar topics under a despotic government. The excellent Archbishop of Cambray, with every advantage which genius, learning, profession, and situation could confer—the admired preceptor of the Duke of Burgundy, appointed to the office by the king himself— was yet, in the beautiful work which he composed for the use of his royal pupil, driven to the necessity of couching his instructions under a fictitious narrative, and of sheltering behind the veil of fable, the duties of a just sovereign, and the blessings of a good government: he was aware, that even under this disguise, his delineation of both would too probably be construed into a satire on the personal errors of his own king, and the vices of the French government; and in spite of his ingenious discretion, the event justified his apprehensions.† Fortunate are the subjects of that free and happy country who are not driven to have recourse to any such expedients; who may, without danger, dare to express temperately what they think lawfully; who, in describing the most perfect form of government, instead of recurring to poetic invention, need only delineate that under which they themselves live; who, in sketching the character, and shadowing out the duties, of a patriot king, have no occasion to turn their eyes from their own country to the thrones of Ithaca or Salentum. * The work here alluded to was printed in 1804, with this title, " An Abstract of the Whole Doctrine of the Christian Religion. By John Anastasius Freylinghausen." [It was translated by queen Charlotte, and revised and published by Bishop Porteus.-ED.] + Fenelon's "Telemachus" which ought to have been distinguished by a statue to the author, occasioned his banishment from court. He died in 1715.-ED.] CHAP. III.—On the importance of forming the mind CHAP. IV. The education of a Sovereign a specific edu- cation CHAP. IX.-Characters of historians who were themselves concerned in the transactions which they record CHAP. X.-Reflections on history-Ancient historians CHAP. XI.-English history-Mr. Hume CHAP. XIV.-Moral advantages to be drawn from the study of history, independent of the examples it exhibits.— It proves the corruption of human nature; it demon- strates the superintending power of Providence-illus- CHAP. XV. On the distinguishing characters of Chris- CHAP. XVI.—On the Scripture evidences of Christianity.— The Christian religion peculiarly adapted to the exi- gencies of man; and especially calculated to supply the defects of heathen philosophy CHAP. XVII.—The use of history in teaching the choice of favourites. Flattery. Our taste improved in the arts CHAP. XXIII. On the choice of society. Sincerity the bond of familiar intercourse.-Liberality.--Instances CHAP. XXIV.-On the art of moral calculation, and form- ing a just estimate of things and persons. CHAP. XXV.-On erroneous judgment.-Character of CHAP. XXVII.-An examination of the claims of those CHAP. XXXIV. -On the abuse of terms-Enthusiasm-- CHAP. XXXVII.-Of the established church of England CHAP. XXXVIII.-Superintendence of Providence mani- fested in the local circumstances, and in the religious CHAP. XXXIX.--The same subject continued.-Tolerant spirit of the church.-Circumstances which led to the Revolution, and to the providential succession of the 9 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. WE are told that when a sovereign of ancient times, who wished to be a mathematician,* but was deterred by the difficulty of attainment, asked, whether he could not be instructed in some easier method; the answer which he received was, that there was no royal road to geometry. The lesson contained in this reply ought never to be lost sight of, in that most important and delicate of all undertakings, the education of a prince. It is a truth which might appear too obvious to require enforcing, and yet, of all others, it is a truth most liable to be practically forgotten, that the same subjugation of desire and will, of inclinations and tastes, to the laws of reason and conscience, which every one wishes to see promoted in the lowest ranks of society, is still more necessary in the very highest, in order to the attainment either of individual happiness, or of general virtue, to public usefulness, or to private self-enjoyment. Where a prince, therefore, is to be educated, his own welfare no less than that of his people, humanity no less than policy, prescribe that the claims and privileges of the rational being should not be suffered to merge in the peculiar rights or This was the reply of Euclid, of Alexandria, to Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt. |