8 



sound good sense, and clearness of discernment; wliicli, wltli an 

 improved mind, cultivated with assiduity, and enriched by learn- 

 ing, enabled him in all circumstances of life to decide with pro- 

 priety. 



HE had scarcely attained to the age of twenty one years, 

 when by the death of his father, he found himself in possession 

 of a great estate : This event was a trial of his virtue ; for how- 

 ever anxiously most men labour to accumulate riches for their 

 children, it is a truth, founded on the principles of reason, 

 and confirmed by observation, that they commit to their hands 

 a dangerous cup, with which they are more frequently intoxicat- 

 ed and debauched, than rendered happy or useful to the world : 

 But Mr. BowDOiN had already acquired too fixed a character, to 

 be drawn afeide from his rational pursuits, or diverted into 

 the paths of dissipation : He received the bounty of providence 

 with moderation, and used its gifts without abusing them : This 



accession of property, placing him in easy and independent cir- 

 cumstances, he formed an early connection with a respectable 

 family, which happily continued during his life, and afforded him 

 that solace and domestic enjoyment^ which can alone give a zest 

 to the researches of the studious, and render pleasing the toilsome 

 enterprizes of the laborious. In his juvenile days he indulged 

 himself in sporting in the fields of Parnassus ; but he never suf- 

 fered his muse to lead him astray from the paths of decency and 

 virtue. These lighter performances were directed to make the 

 heart better, and to exhibit to his young friends, morality 

 and rehgion in a pleasing garb. He gave one of them to 

 the world, under the title of « A Paraphrase of the Economy of 



i 



Human 



