STUDY XIV. 331 



. And that maxim already neceflary to the infant 

 mind : 



VIRTUE CONSISTS 



IN PREFERRING 



THE PUBLIC GOOD TO OUR OWN. 

 And that other : 



IN ORDER TO BE VIRTUOUS, 



A MAN 

 Muji rejtjl his Propenfities, his Inclinations^ his 'Tajlès^ 



AND MAINTAIN 



An incejjant ConJii£i with himfelf* 



But there are infcriptions to which hardly any 

 attention is paid, and the meaning of which is of 

 much higher importance to children ; thefe are 

 their own names. Their names are infcriptions, 

 which they carry with them wherever they go. It 

 is impofîible to conceive the influence which they 

 have upon their natural charadVer. Our name is 

 the firft and the lad pofleffion which is at our own 

 difpofal ; it determines, from the days of infancy, 

 our inclinations ; it employs our attention through 

 life, nay, tranfports us beyond the grave. I have 

 flill a name left, is the refledion. It is a name 

 that ennobles, or difhonours the earth. The rocks 

 of Greece, and of Italy, are neither more ancient, 

 nor more beautiful, than thofe of the other parts 



of 



