STUDY XIV. 329 



charming as their tender age, that when the in- 

 juftice of their patrons, of their friends, of their 

 relations, of fortune, may have cruflied to pieces 

 in their hearts all the ties of Country, the place in 

 which their childhood had enjoyed felicity, might 

 be ftill their Capitol. 



I would decorate it with piélures. Children, as 

 well as the vulgar, prefer painting to fculpture, 

 becaufe this laft prefents to them too many beau- 

 ties of convention. They do not love figures 

 completely white, but with ruddy cheeks and blue 

 eyes, like their images in plafter. They are more 

 ftruck with colours than with forms. I could wilh 

 to exhibit to them the portraits of our infant 

 Kings. Cyrus J brought up with the children of his 

 own age, formed them into heroes i ours fhould 

 be educated, at leaft, with the images of our So- 

 vereigns. They would affume, at light of them, 

 the firft fentiments of the attachment which they 

 owe to the Fathers of their Country. 



I would prcfent them with pictures after reli- 

 gious fubjedts; not fuch as are terrifying, and 

 which are calculated to excite Man to repentance; 

 but thofe which have a tendency to encourage in- 

 nocence. Such would be that of the Virgin, hold- 

 ing the infant Jesus in her arms. Such would be 

 that of Jesus himfelf in the midft of children, dif- 



playing 



