ficial when combined with professional knowledge. To some professions indeed they are essentially necessary, to all they are ornamental. They afford illustrations which render professional studies more easy to be understood, and they furnish supplies which are conducive to their complete suc

-cess.

Every one must allow, that all systems of education, if constituted upon right principles, should be well adapted to the situations of those, for whose service they are intended. In selecting the topics of the following work, I have therefore considered young men, with a view to their most important relations in life, as CHRISTIANS, as STUDENTS, and as MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE, the welfare and prosperity of which depend upon the usefulness of their attain, ments, and the respectability of their conduct.

It is evident from general observation, that the principles of religion are congenial with the mind of man: for even among tribes the most barbarous and uncivilized, whether we explore the wilds of Africa, or the shores of the Pacific Ocean, where the capacities of the inhabitants are narrow and limited, and very few virtues are remarked to expand and flourish; some traces of religion, some notions of an Omnipotent and Over-ruling Power, darkened as they may be by gross superstition, are still found to prevail. And even in the civilized country of France, where the impious abettors of the Revolution proceeded so far as to insult the reason of an enlightened people, by compelling them to abjure their faith in their Creator and their Redeemer, how difficult has it been found to produce even external conformity to their decrees; and with what ardour are the people returning to the open profession of Christianity, now their rulers are fully aware of the expediency of its revival and public exercise! It appears therefore, that to inculcate those principles of religious duty, which the mind naturally invites, and to improve its capacity for the reception of the most sublime truths, is no more than a just attention and due obedience to the voice of nature.

And as the truth of Christianity is founded upon the strongest arguments, and unites in the closest union our public and private, our temporal and eternal happiness, it justly forms the ground-work of education. The attributes of the great Creator-his power as the author, and his goodness as the governor of the universe-the bright image of the Saviour of the world, as represented by the holy Evangelists his actions marked by the purest benevolence, his precepts

tending immediately to the happiness of man, and his promises capable of exciting the most exalted and most glorious hopes, are peculiarly calculated to strike the imagination, and interest the sensibility of youth. Such sublime topics, inculcated upon right principles, cannot fail to encourage those ardent sentiments of love, gratitude, and veneration, which are natural to susceptible and tender minds. Since therefore the same principles which are congenial with the dispositions of young men are most conducive to their happiness; since, in short, the evidences of CHRISTIANITY are miracles ;—since it is an express revelation of the will of God, and as such we can have no pretence to reject its proofs, and no right to resist its claims to our observance; it must be unquestionably a subject of transcendant importance, and therefore stands as the first and leading topic of my work.

As the knowledge of LANGUAGE is intimately connected with every other kind of information, and as in the languages of ancient GREECE and ROME are preserved some of the noblest productions of human genius, I assign to these subjects the next place.

In recommendation of OUR OWN LANGUAGE it is superfluous to have recourse to arguments. All who are acquainted with it, foreigners as well as natives, must be convinced of its excellence, particularly as it is the vehicle of productions eminently distinguished by genius, taste, learning, and science.

And as language should be considered not merely as a channel to convey our thoughts upon common occasions, but as capable of ornament to please, and of energy to persuade mankind; and as such improvements are both gratifying and beneficial to society, proper attention is due to the study of ELOQUENCE.

Cicero, the most celebrated of Roman orators, has very justly remarked, that ignorance of the events and transactions of former times condemns us to a perpetual state of childhood: from this condition of mental darkness we are rescued by HISTORY, which supplies us with its friendly light to view the instructive events of past ages, and to collect wisdom from the conduct of others. And as there are particular countries, from which we have derived the most important information in religion, in arts, in sciences, and in literature, we ought carefully to inspect the pages of their interesting records.

The most ancient people, of whom we have any authentic accounts, are the Jews: to them was communicated, and by

them was preserved, the knowledge of the true God; while all other nations were sunk in the most abject superstition, and disgraced by the grossest idolatry.

The writers of GREECE and ROME have recorded such numerous and such eminent instances of the genius, valour, and wisdom of their countrymen, as have been the just subjects of admiration for all succeeding ages; for which reason the accounts of THEIR MEMORABLE TRANSACTIONS ought to be carefully inspected before we proceed to survey the HISTORY OF MODERN EUROPE, and OF OUR NATIVE country.

As reason is the noblest faculty of the human mind, it is of the highest importance to consider its proper employment, more especially as upon its co-operation with religion in controlling the flights of the imagination, and abating the violence of the passions, depends the happiness of life. That system of LOGIC, therefore, which consists not in abstruse terms, or argumentative subtlety, but in the manly exercise of the rational powers, justly claims an important place in every system of education.

The various discoveries and improvements in SCIENCE and PHILOSOPHY constitute a peculiar distinction between ancient and modern times. Problems of science, like the arguments of logic, employ the mind in the most vigorous exercise of its powers, and confirm the habits of close application, which are essentially necessary in the prosecution of every kind of study. Such are the reasons for introducing and recommending due attention to the principles of the MATHEMATICS.

The human mind, not content with speculations upon the properties of matter alone, delights to survey the wonderful works of the GREAT CREATOR, as displayed in the various parts of the universe. This employment is a source of neverfailing satisfaction to persons of every age. The productions of the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms are closely connected with the well-being, and are conducive to the subsistence of man; so that NATURAL HISTORY claims his particular attention.

And as the elegant Arts possess a pleasing influence over the imagination, and furnish a constant variety of amusement and pleasure, it is highly desirable to examine the principles, and consider the 'application of a refined and correct taste to the beauties of PAINTING, POETRY, and MUSIC.

In the welfare and prosperity of his native country every Briton is deeply interested. The two great sources of its support, its opulence, and its glory, are AGRICULTURE and

COMMERCE; to have a knowledge of their leading principles must be allowed to be singularly useful to an English gentle

man.

Since it is a prevailing fashion, particularly among the higher ranks of society, to complete the course of education by visiting foreign countries, it is useful to ascertain the advantages, which may be derived from the practice of TRA

VELLING.

As attainments derive their greatest value from being directed to the purposes of active life, the qualifications requisite for a right conduct in the learned professions of LAW, PHYSIC, and DIVINITY, are taken into consideration.

And lastly, to point out the sources, from which the reader may draw more complete information upon all the preceding subjects, the work is closed with lists of THE MOST AP

PROVED AND INSTRUCTIVE BOOKS.

The order in which my chapters are disposed, is adapted to the progress of the faculties of the mind, from childhood to riper years. The principles of religion, of language, and of history, are first presented to my readers; and the elements of science, natural history, and taste, together with the various studies, which relate to the active scenes of life, close the volumes of knowledge. The foundation of the building is deeply laid, and composed of the most solid materials; the superstructure, raised to a proper elevation, displays ornament, while it is adapted to convenience.

Such is the sketch of my design, in which it is intended to trace the regular progress of application, from puerile to manly studies-from elementary knowledge to professional duties. It is sufficiently finished to shew, that the fields of instruction are not only fertile, but the most various in their productions. Some spots bring forth the immortal fruits of religion, some the hardy plants of science, and some the delicate flowers of taste. Here then the active temper of youth, and their fondness for change, may find ample means of gratification, wherever they choose to wander and expatiate. Light pursuits may divert, after severe studies have fatigued the mind; and he who has been diligent to peruse the records of history, to solve the problems of science, or ascertain the distinctions of logic, may find an agreeable relaxation in surveying the beauties of nature, charming his ear with the delightful strains of music, pleasing his eye with the fair creations of the pencil, or delighting his fancy with the fictions of poetry.

I consider myself as assuming the office of a guide to the

youthful and inexperienced traveller, and as undertaking to point out the interesting prospects of a charming country, without aspiring to the accuracy of a topographer, or the difigence of an antiquarian. I shall conduct him, who commits himself to my directions, from a low and narrow valley, where his views have been closely confined, to the summit of a lofty mountain :-when he has reached the proper point of view, he will feel his faculties expand, he will breathe a purer air, enjoy a wider horizon, and observe woods, lakes, mountains, plains, and rivers, spreading beneath his feet in a delightful prospect. From this commanding eminence, I shall point out such places as are most deserving his researches; and finally, I shall recommend him to those, who will prove more instructive, and more pleasing companions, through the remaining part of his journey.

CLASS THE FIRST..

RELIGION.

CHAPTER I.

THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION.

THE seeds of religious knowledge are implanted in our minds during the earliest period of our lives. The notions of Providence, and the various duties which we owe both to God and to mankind, are inculcated long before our judgments are sufficiently matured to determine the reasonableness, or estimate the utility, of moral and religious truth.

'That the conduct of the instructors of children, in thus taking advantage of the curiosity and the pliability of the infant mind, is not the result of superstition and credulity, but of good sense, and a proper regard to its best interests, and most valuable improvement, will appear, when the power of judgment is sufficiently strengthened by time to enable a young man to examine those principles, which he has been taught from his early years to hold venerable and sacred.