EDUC 
at a claffical fchool, and have either not had, or have not 
availed themfelves, of other opportunities of improve¬ 
ment ; but who, when their judgment is matured by ob- 
fervation and experience, earnefilywith andendeavour to 
furniflt themfelves with the learning of a gentleman. They 
often mifcarry in their attempt, not from want of afliduity 
or of perfeverance, but from ignorauce of the proper 
method. The firft great error of Undents of this defcrip- 
tion is, that they read in a defultory manner, every thing 
which falls in their way. They begin with complete and 
extenfive treatifes, when they fliould proceed gradually 
from elementary introductions. They are ufually unac¬ 
quainted with proper editions of books, and often fpend 
much time and attention on publications, which, when 
compared with original compofitions, are contemptible 
both in ftile and in matter. They often confine their at¬ 
tention to Englifh books; from an idea, that the languages 
are not to be learned by an adult. The confequence of 
their miftakes is, that their conceptions, though multi¬ 
plied by reading, are confufed and imperfeCt, and though 
they find amufentent from it, they derive but little foiid 
advantage. 
If fuch men ferioufiy wdfii not merely to divert them¬ 
felves with books, but to make a progrefs in learning, 
they mud refo! ve to read methodically ; nor let any temp¬ 
tation interrupt their plan. They will do right to dived 
themfelves of that vulgar prejudice, which reprefents it 
as an infurmountable difficulty to begin a language,or an 
art or fcience, at the age of manhood. To be under the 
influence of this opinion, will be an effechial bar to their 
advancement. Let them rather call to mind the many 
inftances of great improvements made in the fciences, by 
thofe who did not begin to cultivate them till they were 
arrived at a middle age. Hiffory and biography furniflt 
numerous examples of men who have begun to ftudy in 
old age, and have yet made a great proficiency. The in¬ 
jury which the health, the eyes, and the fpirits, unavoid¬ 
ably fuftain from a long continuance of nocturnal (Indies, 
fhould induce every perfon to avoid the lucubrations of 
midnight. Early riling contributes to health and cheer- 
fulnefs, while it furnifhes the fineft opportunities for ffudy. 
It is not uncommon to find perlbns, who, though they 
have been good fcholars at their fchool, and have made 
a great proficiency in learning in the juvenile age, have 
forgotten it amidff the pleafure and the bufinefs of an 
active manhood. When the bufy fcene is paffed, they 
call to mind thofe fweets of literary purfuits which they 
formerly enjoyed, and w ith to taffe them once more. They 
are at a lofs for fomething to fill agreeably thofe vacuities 
’of time, which were lately occupied in active employ¬ 
ments. They therefore endeavour to recal what they 
acquired in their youth. Perhaps the bed advice which 
can be given to pedons tinder thefe circumftances, is, 
that they purfue the eafieft, the molt entertaining, and 
the molt compendious methods. Difficulty will difguft 
and impede them. Amufement is the end propofed by 
them; and the means which lead to it muff, if poffible, 
be rendered amuling. As they have once been acquainted 
with the elementary parts, they will recollect what is • 
effential in them without much labour. If they wifh, for 
inftance, to recal their knowledge of Latin, they fliould 
begin at once with reading ail eafy author, and gradually 
afcend to the higheft claflics. If they po fiefs natural abi¬ 
lities, they will find themfelves improve by this method 
with great rapidity. 
But in general, though not without many exceptions, 
it would perhaps be better for perfons advanced beyond 
the meridian of life, not to attempt learning, or recover¬ 
ing what they have forgotten, in the Latin'or the Greek 
languages. Anmfement is their principal object, and 
they may derive it in fuflScient variety in Engliffi. But 
in Engliffi they fhould read with Come method, and not, 
as is ufually the cafe, whatever offers itfelf, without 
taffe and (ele&ion. The pleafure which arifes from read¬ 
ing, and feeling the beauties of elegant works, is much 
Vol. VI. No. 348. 
ATIO N. 205 
greater than is received by an indiferiminate and vague 
perufal of every publication. Improvement ought alfo 
to be regarded ; and furely more improvement, whether 
it be moral or intellectual, is to be derived from books 
of character, than from trifling, obfctire, and injudicious, 
compilations. Upon the whole, we cannot but earneffly 
recommend to all claffes above poverty, and the lower 
employments of trade and mechanics, the cultivation of 
a taffe for letters. Merchants and traders, even if, from 
unavoidable circumftances, they have been negleCted in 
their youth, fliould endeavour, at a fubfequent period, 
to acquire a love of reading. Retirement is their object. 
But how are they to enjoy this retirement > They pro- 
mife themfelves much happinefs, but, alas ! they feldom 
find it. They know not how to pafs that time, which 
was before fcareely fufficient for their occupations. They 
have recourfe to the bottle and to cards. Thefe, indeed, 
prevent reflection for a time; but they often afford no 
foiid fatisfadion. How happy would they pafs their days 
of eafe and affluence, if the tranquil purfuits of literature 
formed a part of their amufement. The confideration, 
that a taffe for letters is able to furnifli one of the belt 
pleafures of old age, fliould induce parents of all ranks 
above the lowed, to give children a tinfcture of polite 
learning, whatever may be their deftination. If they are 
fixed in trade, and are fuccefsful, this will, enable them 
to enjoy a fortune. It will fill up their leifure with fa- 
tisfaftory employment, and will better enable them to 
fupport the character of gentlemen, than the opulence 
which gives them the name. 
With refpeCt to external behaviour, a fubjeCt on which 
fo much lias been lately written, the (Indent wdio values 
the approbation of* his own heart, will ever let since¬ 
rity be the .principal of his converfation. Notwith- 
ffanding what many urge on the art of pleating, a beha¬ 
viour void of artifice will ultimately beft pleafe the pof- 
feffor of it, and thofe with whom he converges throughout 
life. Let the ftudent choofe good company, with good 
nature, good fenfe, and fpirit to retort the malignant 
fliafts of the ignorant, the forward, the vain, and the. 
envious, and he w ill foon make a refpeitable figure in 
fociety. Let him learn to appreciate his own value, and 
modeffjy a (fume his natural rank, and he will become both 
agreeable and effimable, though he fliould never pradife 
either fimulation or diflimulation. Deceit of any kind 
argues a mean and cowardly heart. It will foon or late 
be certainly deteCfed, and when detected it muff be de- 
fpifed. But the liberal (Indent, in his intercourfe with 
the world, fliould think, fpeak, and aft, nothing which is 
not laudable ; nothing which will not bear the broadeff 
daylight, and acquire a luftre from being rendered con- 
fpicuous. And on this ground he ought to be cautioned 
againft tire itch, of fcribbling, or the love of writing with¬ 
out the pain of thinking. Let him never take the pen in 
hand, nor place the paper before him, till he has be¬ 
llowed much time, and deep thought, on the fubject 
which lie is about to write and publifli. To the want of 
this previous attention we owe the numerous productions 
which difgrace letters, and die almoft as foon a§ they are 
brought forth ; which, like the weeds in a garden, fpring 
up luxuriantly without cultivation, and onlyferveTo im¬ 
pede the growth of falutary plants and pleafant flowers. 
Pretenders arife in every department, and difgrace it: 
but let the liberal and foiid fcholar attend to the circum¬ 
ftances of time and place, in the modeft difplay of his 
attainments. It is unmanly to conceal them on proper 
occafions; it is arrogance to obtrude them upon unwilling 
and injudicious oblervers. Modefly is the charaCteriilic 
of real merit, and firmnefs of confcious dignity. The 
man of fenfe will be diffident, but at the lame time will 
have fpirit to repel the infolent attacks of ignorance and 
envy. 
Public examinations, in our great fchools, are highly 
expedient in facilitating the progrefs of education. T hey 
have of late been eftabliftied in many colleges; and the 
3 Y fame 
