• If we can be of any fervice to fuch as have been ensnared to tread the deluding paths of fin, let us fly to them on the wings of love, when they are ashamed to feek us, and offer them the friendly aids of counfel, the foothings of compaffion, (that balm to diftreffed minds,) and try to guide their steps in the way. of peace; rather than add to their heart-felt forrow by cruel recriminations, which gratitude to heaven for our own prefervation, piety, and christian charity, nay humanity itself forbid.. Such a conduct can never derogate from the virtue and honour of worthy perfons; for those who have moft genuine merit or honour in themselves, have moft to beftow on others.-To be admitted into their company, is to the unfortunate a letter of credit, and often affords a light to the feet of those who know. not how to walk uprightly.-For when the mind is weakened by fear and fhame, it is often rendered unable to pursue wife and virtuous refolutions, without proper encouragement.-It is in-: deed a fad reflection on women of character in general, that they are less severe to men for crimes of a licentious nature, than they ought to be, by behaving towards them with every degree of complacency, while they treat thofe of their own sex, that have been drawn into error by the fubtle wiles of men, with the extremeft rigour.-But can a good mind give encouragement to the authors of these complicated diftreffes in the former, or fee penitence written in the faces of the latter, and not wifh to restore them to the credit they were in in months paft? How tenderly and nervously does our Saviour expoftulate on this fubject, in favour of the poor woman that stood behind him weeping? This it feems gave umbrage to the pharifee, that he fhould fo mildly and familiarly converse with finners.— Our bleffed Redeemer does not feem to take particular notice of the difguft of the mafter of the houfe, probably from a principle of good manners, as being his gueft. But addreffing himfelf to Simon, faid, I have fomewhat to say unto thee, and then gave him the parable of the two debtors, and with great condefcenfion appealed to him, which would love him moft. Simon. anfwered and faid, I fuppofe he to whom he forgave moft.Hard it was, that he who could have commanded all the kings of the earth to have bowed before him, and might have taken place of Cæfar on his throne, and was ambitious of holding no greater levee than the children of forrow, fhould be called to an account by a proud pharifee, for his benign conduct in this particular.'

Those who wish to be further acquainted with the fentiments of this lady, and to fee in what manner the difcuffes the various fubjects mentioned in the title, are referred to her difcourfes at large.

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ART. XI. Of Temperance and Intemperance: Their Effects on the Body and Mind, and their Influence in prolonging or abbreviating human Life. By Edward Harwood, D. D. 12mo. 2s. 6d. sewed. Becket. 1774

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HE feveral fpecies of intemperance and their pernicious effects on the body and mind are here defcribed and ex-, posed with great energy both of fentiment and language. It is much to be lamented, that this fmall treatife, fo. well calculated. for producing conviction and reformation in the debauched and. licentious, is not likely to fall into the hands of many of this character. But if it preferves the health, reputation, and fortune of those who have not yet been corrupted, it will answer a very important and beneficial end: and to fuch we heartily recommend it.

Towards the close of this effay, Dr. H- has collected a variety of inftances of longevity, attained by uniform temperance and fimplicity of diet, as the most likely and effectual recommendation of the leffons which he had before inculcated.

The long lives (he fays) of the primitive race of men were owing to the falubrity of their food and the moderation of their defires. Bread, milk, the fruits of the earth, dreffed in a plain and fimple manner, conftituted the aliment of our firft parents, and their immediate defcendants. The fpontaneous productions of nature were the fole delicacies their appetites craved, and they quenched their thirst at the limpid ftream. The golden age derives its fplendid appellation from the innocence of its manners and the fimplicity of its food. The Greek hiftorians when defcribing the primitive ages of the world, relate, that the first men regaled on every mild and wholefome herb they could explore, and on fuch fruits as the trees fpontaneously, produced. What convivial preparation does Achilles make for, the entertainment of Phoenix, Ajax, and Ulyffes, three of the most distinguished of the Grecian princes, whom he intended to honour with marks of peculiar diftinétion? The culinary procets is thus conducted. Achilles fets on the fire the great pot, and puts three chines into it. Automedon his charioteer, holds the meat while he himself fpits it-and Patroclus blows the fire.--The arft and pure ages of the Roman republic exhibit to us dictators and confuls employed in the moft laborious offices of agriculture. The fame hand that directed the plough, regulated the republic and faved the commonwealth.--We behold Fabricius, concerning whom the king of Epire declared, that it was eafier to turn the fun from his courfe than this venerable patriot from his principles, after having been honoured with feveral triumphs, eating, in a corner of his cottage, the pulse he had himself raised and gathered in his garden. Horace tells us, that Scipio and Lælius,

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while their cabbage was boiling, used to spend the vacant hour and indulge the fallies of focial mirth and humour with Lucilius the old poet. In proportion as luxury increased, the life of man was abbreviated. The feven kings of Rome reigned longer than the first twenty emperors.

Pythagoras, who was both the teacher and pattern of temperance, the Author obferves, lived a century. The philofopher Gorgias, who never ftudied the mere gratification of his appetite, attained to 107: Hippocrates lived above roo years. Sophocles, at 90, produced one of the moft elaborate compofitions of the dramatic kind that the human genius ever perfected, and lived to be near 100. The amiable Xenophon was above 90. Plate reached his 81ft year. Diogenes died about 90. Zeno attained his 98th year, and Cleanthes his 99th. Pindar, who begins his poems with declaring water to be the best thing in nature, lived almost through a century.' But without transcribing any other inftances which the Author has adduced, we fhall follow him to the close of the fection. Such inftances of longevity are very rarely to be found in courts and cities. Courts have ever been the fepulchres of temperance and virtue; and great cities the graves of the human fpecies. In the middle ftations of life, where men have lived rationally,-in the humble cottage whose inhabitants are neceffitated to abftemioufnefs, in hermitages and monafteries, where the anchorite mortifies his defires, and imposes abftinence upon himself from religious confiderations,in these fequeftered fcenes and walks of human life, we are to fearch for thofe who reach the ultimate boundaries of this life's fhort pilgrimage.

We cannot help remarking a ftrange inconfiftency in this Writer, who, after producing, in a note, p. 57, a very indelicate English quotation from Oldham, fubjoins a remark of his own, much lefs offenfive, in Latin, out of pure modefty,-ut alicujus virginis, quæ forfitan hæc legat, caflis parcerem auribus. R..s, ART. XII. Letters containing a Plan of Education for rural Academies. Izmo. 25. Boards. Murray.

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HERE is nothing in which the intereft of the public and of private perfons is fo much concerned, as the bufinefs of education: Nor is there any thing on which the effi cacy of education fo effentially depends, as a timely and judicious attention to the moral difpofitions and conduct of young perfons. In our opinion, they claim the first place, in order of time as well as in reference to their fuperior importance and utility, and ought to be blended with the whole fyftem of edu cation, from the earliest dawn of reafon to its state of utmost maturity. We are fenfible, that, in a modern theory of inftruction and discipline, a different opinion is advanced; and we

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are very ready to allow, that the Author, by delaying this part of education, intended to render it more effectual and useful. A judicious teacher, however, who watches the gradual opening of the mind, will be able to adapt his inftructions to the capacities of those that are under his care: he will teach them the leading principles of religion and virtue, and not fill their minds with prejudices and falfe opinions, and prepoffefs them with an attachment to any fyftem of human device and impofition. The virtue of children is effentially connected with their profperity and welfare in advanced life; and with the profperity and welfare of the ftate to which they belong : and therefore, in a political view, great attention fhould be paid to their principles and their morals. Parents of every clafs and character are generally agreed in this point; the only question feemsto be, how it may be most effectually fecured. The ingenious writer of these letters prefers a rural education, as the most likely to answer this purpose, as well as other ends that are really important and desirable.

The judicious parent (he fays) will behold the culture of the heart of his fon upon christian principles, in the most affecting light, and fully perfuaded that this arduous undertaking can be executed only in the courfe of a steady, uniform, and vigilant tuition, he will gladly facrifice to an object of fuch confequence many frivolous and fuperficial accomplishments, which cannot be acquired to great perfection in the country. I am aware that the latter are in high estimation with many, and that they are preferred in the opinion of the gay vulgar to every useful qualification. But with perfons of this character I have no connexion; because the most cogent arguments are of no force when opposed to the bigotry of folly and fashion. It is only by men of thought and reflection that the language of truth is understood.

'The diffipation that takes place in all cities, the multitude of fhows, diverfions, and other avocations, which continually occur where there is a great concourfe of people, draw away from ftudy the attention of youth, confume their time, and often create pernicious habits, from which they cannot afterwards be eafily difengaged. In the country the ftudious youth have their amufements adapted to the diverfities of age and inclination. Rural amufements. are both innocent and healthful, and tend to cultivate that manly and athletic habit of body and mind fo much admired by the ancients, and by which our ancestors were fo happily diftinguished. Judicioufly directed, and anxiously fuperintended by their masters, their diverfions may be fo regulated as to promote their virtue without retarding their ftudies, and to increase the vigour of their bodies, without diminishing their keennefs for literary or moral attainments. Children who have begun life in town will retain a certain hankering after its effeminate diverfions: and it will require the skill of the tutor, and the address and discretion of parents, to reconcile them to the hardy and robust exercises of the country. But there is no law in nature fo powerful as the law of habit. Custom will, by proper Rev. Jan. 1775, management,

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management, render them as much fatisfied with the latter, as they had ever been with the former.'

As the general plan of education, adapted to the feveral claffes of youth, here offered, does not materially differ from thofe in common use, we shall not trouble our Readers with any farther abftract of it. Great stress is laid, and very justly, on that part of education, which immediately concerns their virtue and character. The Author feems animated by the most lively fenfe of its importance, and is peculiarly folicitous to promote it. His plan of inftruction is, at the fame time, very enlarged and liberal; and excellently calculated to form accomplifhed fcholars and citizens. His addrefs to the young deferves particular notice:

It is the defire of my heart to point out the path, that leads, not to the temple of the mufes only, but to felicity and perfection. Some portions of my rural leisure I have devoted; more I am willing to devote to you, that, by the bleffing of God, you may acquire the nobleft principles, cultivate all ufeful knowledge, poffefs the most generous fentiments and inclinations, and fill your feveral fations through life with dignity. You are the hope of your parents, your guardians, your friends, and your country. Employ this early, and moft proper season of your life, in adorning your understandings with clear and comprehenfive ideas, warming your hearts with the love of God and good men, and inuring yourselves to habits of activity and application to ftudy, which is the grand business of your time of life. The mufes and the graces invite you: improve your intellectual powers, and exercise them on their proper objects; nourish your imaginations with the grandeur, harmony, and various beauties of nature and art: cultivate a true and correct taste, in order, defign, and excellence, both natural and moral: engage and roufe your paffions by great and interefling objects: accuftom yourfelves to admire whatever in nature is fair and well-proportioned, particularly in the harmony of the mind and regularity of conduct. Whilft you investigate the laws and trace the operations of nature; whilft you mark the fubordination and admire the energies of the mental powers; whilft you contemplate the combinations of individuals in fociety, and difcern the causes of their profperity and decay; afcend through the order and economy of the universe, to the fupreme governing mind, who prefides over all: recognize his excellencies, afpire to an union and conformity with him, and let it be the ruling object of your hearts to be approved of him through Chrift Jefus. Thus will you rife to honour and felicity. Independent of fortune, and her frivolous offspring, you will never want materials of refined enjoyments to fill up every vacant space, so that, in the nobleft fenfe, you will never be lefs alone than when alone. Accuftomed to extensive views of life and all its revolutions, you will attain that greatnefs of mind, which will render you fuperior to the goods and ills that engrofs vulgar fouls. Learned in the knowledge of human nature, and the hinges whereon the fortunes of men turn, you will form a just estimate of individuals, lie open to the influence of merit, and acquire that delicate fenfibility which is effential to friendship.