146 



I know not whether the reader will expect from 

 me an apology, for having apparently digressed 

 to some extent from what was announced as 

 the immediate business of this chapter : but I 

 flatter myself, that he will think I have not 

 improperly trespassed on his attention, in deli- 

 vering my sentiments, somewhat more at large 

 than I had heretofore done, on the mistaken 

 principle, or rather the want of all principle, 

 which so generally obtains in the training of 

 young pointers to their duty; and in more 

 directly pointing out to him certain defects of 

 character, which are the obvious consequences 

 of this erroneous practice. He will, I hope, 

 be convinced, that it became necessary for me, 

 in the first instance, to remove these stumbling- 

 blocks of offence, which stand so directly in 

 the way of establishing a system, the great 

 superiority of which can not fail to be per- 

 ceived, when we are on the point of bringing 

 the pupil to act in full brigade, where his vir- 

 tues, or his vices, will be so eminently useful 

 or injurious. Having thus cleared the way, I 

 shall, without further impediment, proceed to 

 show in what manner his portion of the former, 

 resting as they do, upon the best foundation of 

 manners, already subdued to a sense of indivi- 

 dual order, may most certainly be turned to 



