The speech was introduced by a sensible exordium, which made a favourable impression.

The commons made a warm remonstrance against so arbitrary a requisition.

The truly illustrious are they who do not court the praise of the world, but who perform the actions which deserve it.

By means of society, our wants are supplied, and our lives are rendered comfortable; our capacities are enlarged, and our virtuous affections called forth into their proper exercise.

Life cannot but prove vain to them who affect a disrelish of every pleasure, that is not both exquisite and new; who measure enjoyment, not by their own feelings, but by the standard of fashion; who think themselves miserable, if others do not admire their state.

By the experience of distress, an arrogant insensibility of temper is most effectually corrected; as the remembrance of our own sufferings, naturally prompts us to feel for others, when they suffer. But if Providence has been so kind as not to subject us to much of this discipline, in our own lot, let us draw improvement from the harder lot of others. Let us sometimes step aside from the smooth and flowery paths, in which we are permitted to walk, in order to view the toilsome march of our fellows through the thorny desert.

As no one is without his failings, few also are void of amiable qualities.

Providence delivered them up to themselves, and they became their own tormentors.

From disappointments and trials, we learn the insufficiency of temporal things to happiness, and are taught to seek it in re Figion and virtue.

CHAPTER IV.

Corrections of the errors that relate to FIGURES of Speech. See Vol. 2. p. 139.

No human happiness is so pure as not to contain any alloy. There is a time when factions, by their vehemence, confound and disable one another.

I intend to make use of these words in my following specu lations. Or-in the course of my speculations.

Hope, the cheering star of life, darts a ray of light through the thickest gloom.

The scheme was highly expensive to him, and proved the gulf of his estate.

He was so much skilled in the exercise of the oar, that few could equal him.

The death of Cato has, if I may be allowed to say so, rendered the senate an orphan.

Let us be careful to suit our sails to the wind and weather; and to steer our vessel aright, that we may avoid the rocks and shoals, which lie every where around us.

At length Erasmus, that great injur'd name,
(The glory of the priesthood and the shame,)
Stemm'd the wild torrent of a barb'rous age,
And drove those holy Vandals off the stage.

In this our day of proof, our land of hope,
The good man has his clouds that intervene ;
Clouds that may dim his sublunary day,
But cannot darken: even the best must own,
Patience and resignation are the pillars
Of human peace on earth.

On the wide sea of letters, 'twas thy boast
To crowd each sail, and touch at every coast :
From that rich deep how often hast thou brought
The pure and precious pearls of splendid thought!
How did'st thou triumph on that subject tide,
Till vanity's wild gust, and stormy pride,
Drove thy strong bark, in evil hour, to split
Upon the fatal rock of impious wit!

Since the time that reason began to exert her powers; thought, during our waking hours, has been active in every breast, without a moment's suspension or pause. The current of ideas has been always flowing. The wheels of the spiritual engine have circulated with perpetual motion.

The man who has no rule over his own spirit, possesses no defence against dangers of any sort. He lies open to every insurrection of ill-humour and every invasion of distress. Whereas he who is employed in regulating his mind, is making provision against all the accidents of life. He is erecting a fortress into which, in the day of danger, he can retreat with safety.

Tamerlane the Great, writes to Bajazet, emperor of the Ottomans, in the following terms:-"Where is the monarch who dares resist us? Where is the potentate who does not glory in being numbered among our attendants? As for thee, ignobly

descended, since thy unbounded ambition hath subverted all thy vain expectations, it would be proper that thou shouldst repress thy temerity, repent of thy perfidy, and become just and sincere in all thy transactions. This will secure to thee a safe and quiet retreat; and preserve thee from falling a victim to that vengeance, which thou hast so highly provoked, and so justly deserved."

It is pleasant to be virtuous and good; because that is to excel many others: it is pleasant to grow better; because that is to excel ourselves: it is pleasant even to mortify and subdue our lust; because that is victory: it is pleasant to command our appetites and passions, and to keep them in due order, within the bounds of reason and religion; because this is empire.

CHAPTER V.

CORRECTIONS OF THE ERRORS IN THE CHAPTER OF PROMISCUOUS EXERCISES.

SECTION 1.

See Vol. 2. p. 141.

What is human life to all, but a mixture, of some scattered joys and pleasures, with various cares and troubles?

Favours of every kind are doubled, when they are speedily

conferred.

He that is himself weary, will soon weary the company.

He that will have the kindness of others, must endure their follies.

The first years of man must make provision for the last.
Perpetual levity must end in ignorance.

In these and in similar cases, we should generally, in our alms, suffer no one to be witness but Him who must see every thing.

The neglect of his studies, and opportunities of improvement, is the ground of his being so badly qualified for the business. Or-is the reason that he is so badly, &c.

That Plutarch wrote the lives of Demosthenes and Cicero at Chæronea, is clear from his own account.

I wish to cultivate a further acquaintance with you.

He may make the attempt, but he cannot succeed.

No pains were spared by his tutor, to improve him in all useful knowledge.

In no scene of her life was Mary's address more remarkably displayed.

This was the orginal cause of so barbarous a practice.

By a variety of false insinuations he craftily endeavoured to turn the emperor to his purpose.

The beauty displayed in the earth equals the grandeur conspicuous in the heavens.

In the health and vigour of the body, and in the flourishing state of worldly fortune, all rejoice.

What passes in the hearts of men, is generally invisible to the public eye.

Many associations are formed by laws the most arbitrary. These instances will, it is hoped, be sufficient to satisfy every reasonable mind.

By rules so general and comprehensive as these are, the clearest ideas are conveyed.

He determined not to comply with the proposal, unless he should receive a fair compensation.

There can be no doubt that health is preferable to riches.

We believe, said they to their friends, that the perusal of such books has ruined our principles. Or-ruined your principles.

John's temper greatly indisposed him for giving instruction. Or-for receiving instruction.

Vegetation is constantly advancing, though no eye can trace its gradations.

His importunity was the reason of my consenting to the

measure.

I conceived a great regard for him, and I could not but mourn for the loss of him. Or-for the loss he had sustained. He was confined in his own house, by the officer who had apprehended him. Or-He was confined in the house of the officer by whom he had been apprehended.

Charlotte, the friend of Amelia, to whom no one imputed blame, was too prompt in her friend's vindication. Or- in her own vindication.

Men who are rich and avaricious, drown themselves in a spring which might have watered all around them.

I should prefer his being of rather slow parts, than of a bad disposition.

As soon as Eugenius undertook the care of a parish, it engrossed his attention.

The plan will at once contribute to general convenience, and to the beauty and elegance of the town.

Together with the national debt, the greatest national advantages are transmitted to succeeding generations.

VOL. II.

35

Their intimacy had probably commenced in the happier period of their youth and obscurity.

His subject is precisely of that kind, which only a daring imagination could have adopted.

This emperor conjured the senate, that the purity of his reign might not be stained by the blood of even a guilty senator. It is a happy constitution of mind, to be able to view successive objects so steadily, that the more important may never prevent us from doing justice to those which are of less consequence.

This activity drew over to Virginia, great numbers of enterprising men; who came either in search of fortune, or of liberty, which was the only compensation for the want of fortune.

The erroneous judgment of parents, respecting the conduct of schoolmasters, has paved the way to the ruin of hopeful boys, and disturbed the peace of many an ingenious man, who had engaged in the care of youth.

SECTION II.

See Vol. 2. p. 143.

THE Greek is, doubtless, a language much superior, in richness, harmony, and variety, to the Latin.

Those three great geniuses, flourished in the same period. He has made a judicious adaptation of the examples to the rule.

This part of knowledge has been always growing, and it will continue to grow, till the subject be exhausted.

A boy of twelve years of age may study these lessons. Or -a boy twelve years old.

The servant produced from his late master an unexceptionable character.

I am surprised that so great a philosopher should spend his time in the pursuit of such chimeras.

The ends of a divine, and those of a human legislator, are vastly different.

Scarcely had the "Spirit of Laws" made its appearance, when it was attacked. Ör-No sooner-than, &c.

His donation was the more acceptable, because it was given without solicitation. Or-as it was given, &c.

This subject is an unwelcome intruder, affording an uneasy sensation, and always bringing with it a mixture of concern and compassion.

He accordingly draws out his forces, and offers battle to Hiero, who immediately accepts it.