Arnold's nepos. 10-5 



peated and laborious study 5 while the constant study of the works of 

 an English Divine contributed in no small degree to the eloquence of 

 one of England's greatest Parliamentary orators. 



We do not attempt to give any precepts as to the best manner of 

 reading. Many have found it profitable to connect writing with it. The 

 celebiated Jonathan Edwards is said to have read much with pen in 

 hand, making his annotations on the author as he passed on. Dr. Ar- 

 nold advises to make abstracts of the works read. Conversation on the 

 subject read, will greatly aid in obtaining a clearer view of them, and 

 fixing what is worth retaining more deeply in the mind. That pithy 

 sentence of Lord Bacon is familiar : "Reading maketh a full man, con- 

 versation a ready man, and writing an exact man." Reflection, also, 

 is indispensable : and the mind of the reader ought always to be on the 

 alert, and rigorously exercised. Without this, one may read incessant- 

 ly, and yet 



" Uncertain and unsettled still remain 



Deep versed in books, and shallow in himself." 



And that other oft quoted saying of Bacon is worthy of continual 

 remembrance : "Read not to contradict, nor to believe, but to weigh 

 and consider." 



\n the life of Lord Bolingbroke, we find the following anecdote re- 

 lated as illustrative of the style of preaching of his teacher, a dissent- 

 ing minister. " After having inveighed in his sermon, against pernicious 

 doctrines, and enumerated many kinds, he thus continued : ' But above 

 all other pernicious doctrines, beware, my beloved, of the thorough- 

 faced doctrine; that doctrine, I mean, which coming in atone ear, paces 

 straight through the head, and out at the other ear.' " So would we 

 say to our readers: beware, beloved, especially o( thorough-paced read- 

 ing; that reading, we mean, which coming in at the eye, paces straight 

 through the head, and out, we know not where — but certainly makes 

 no lasting impression on the mind. 



Arnold^s Nepos, edited hij Jo/mson, Neiv York, 184G. 

 We improve the occasion furnished by the publication of this work 

 in our country, to exhibit the great improvement which has been and 

 may be made in commenting on the classic authors intended for schools. 

 It is every way adapted to awaken, interest, and elevate the minds of 

 the young. 



Milt. I, L Miltiades ct antiquitatc generis, ei gloria majormn, et sua 

 modestia unus omnium maxime fioruil. 'Miltiades was especiallv of all 

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