6 INIRODT CTION. 



the sad couvictioti of our imperfections. Truth un- 

 folds if-s cliarms in the retirement of study: here the 

 great and the good^ the pious and the virtuous, have 

 ever been addicted to serious retirement. 



It is the cliaracteristic of light and trifling minds 

 to be Vv'holly occupied with ^^the vulgar olyects of 

 life.'^ These fill up the measure of their ambition, 

 and furnish all the entertainments their rude appre- 

 hensions can relish. But the more refined and en- 

 larged mind leaves the world behind, feels a call for 

 higher pleasures, and seeks them diligently in the 

 sliades of retirement, 



- A retirement, from the world of cares is surely 

 C/Ommendable at two periods of life : in the 

 bloom of youth when the understanding is the 

 most ready to acquire the rudiments of useful 

 knowledge, to lay the foundation of the character 

 intended to be formed, and to obtain that train of 

 thought which is to guide and influence our actions ; 

 in age, to take a retrospective view of the scenes we 

 have witnessed, to weigh the events we have passed, 

 the vicissitudes we have experienced, to regale our- 

 selves with the flowers we have gathered, to congratu- 

 late ourselves with the storms we have survived, and 

 finally to prepare ourselves faithfully to die in peace. 

 The man of public spirit has recourse to it in order to 

 form plans for the general good; the man of genius, 

 that he may contemplate the pleasures of his favourite 



