George is the most learned and accomplished of all the other students, that belong to the seminary. This excellent and well written treatise, with others that might be mentioned, were the foundation of his love of study. There can be no doubt but that the pleasures of the mind excel those of sense. SECT. VI. Key, p. 81. THE grand temple consisted of one great, and several smaller edifices. Many would exchange gladly their honours, beauty, and riches, for that more quiet and humbler station, which you are now dissatisfied with. Though the scene was a very affecting one, Louis showed a little emotion on the occasion. The climate of England is not so pleasant as those of France, Spain, or Italy. Much of the good and evil that happens to us in this world, are owing to apparently undesigned and fortuitous events: but it is the Supreme Being which secretly directs and regulates all things. To despise others on account of their poverty, or to value ourselves for our wealth, are dispositions highly culpable. This task was the easier performed, from the cheerfulness with which he engaged in it. She lamented the unhappy fate of Lucretia, who seemed to her another name for chastity. He has not yet cast off all the regard for decency; and this is the most can be advanced in his favour. The girls school was better conducted formerly than the boys. The disappointments he has met with, or the loss of his much-loved friend, has occasioned a total derangement of his mental powers. The concourse of people were so great, that with difficulty we passed through them. All the women, children, and treasure, which remained in the city, fell under the victor's power. They have already made great progress in their studies, and, if attention and diligence continues, will soon fulfil the expectations of their friends. It is amazing his propensity to this vice, against every principle of interest and honour. These kind of vices, though they inhabit the upper circles of life, are not less pernicious, than those we meet with amongst the lowest of men. He acted agreeable to the dictates of prudence, though he were in a situation exceeding delicate. If I had known the distress of my friend, it would be my duty to have relieved him: and it would always have yielded me pleasure to grant him that relief. They admired the countryman's, as they called him, candour and uprightness. The new set of curtains did not correspond to the old pair of blinds. The tutor commends him for being more studious an any other pupils of the school. Two principles in human nature reign; Self-love to urge, and reason to restrain : Temperance and exercise, howsoever little they may be regarded, they are the best means of preserving health. He has greatly blessed me; yes, even I, who, loaded with kindness, hath not been sufficiently grateful. No persons feel the distresses of others, so much as them that have experienced distress themselves. SECT. VII. Key, p. 83. CONSTANTINOPLE was the point, in which was concentrated the learning and science of the world. Disgrace not your station, by that grossness of sensuality, that levity of dissipation, or that insolence of rank, which bespeak a little mind. A circle, a square, a triangle, or a hexagon, please the eye by their regularity, as beautiful figures. His conduct was equally unjust as dishonourable. Though, at first, he begun to defend himself, yet, when the proofs appeared against him, he dared not any longer to contend. • Many persons will not believe but what they are free from prejudices. The pleasure or pain of one passion, differ from those of another. The rise and fall of the tides, in this place, makes a difference of about twelve feet. Five and seven make twelve, and one makes thirteen. He did not know who to suspect. I had intended yesterday to have walked out, but I have been again disappointed. The court of Spain, who gave the order, were not aware of the consequence. If the acquisitions he has made, and qualified him to be a useful member of society, should have been misapplied, he will be highly culpable. There was much spoke and wrote on each side of the question; but I have chose to suspend my decision. Was there no bad men in the world, who vex and distress the good, they might appear in the light of harmless innocence; but, could have no opportunity for displaying fidelity and magnanimity, patience and fortitude. The most ignorant, and the most savage tribes of men, when they have looked round on the earth, and on the heavens, could not avoid ascribing their origin to some invisible, designing cause, and felt a propensity to adore their Creator. Let us not forget, that something more than gentleness and modesty, something more than complacency of temper and affability of manners, are requisite to form a worthy man, or a true Christian. One of the first, and the most common extremes in moral conduct, is placing all virtue in justice, or in generosity. It is an inflexible regard to principle, which has ever marked the characters of them who distinguished themselves eminently in public life: who patronised the cause of justice against powerful oppressors; in critical times, have supported the falling rights and liberties of men; and reflected honour on their nation and country. When it is with regard to trifles, that diversity or contrariety of opinions show themselves, it is childish in the last degree, if this becomes the ground of estranged afection. When from such a cause, inere arise any breach of friendship, human weakness is discovered then in a mortifying light. In matters of serious moment, the sentiments of the best and worthiest might vary from that of their friends, according as their lines of life diverge, or as their temper, and habits of thought, presents objects under different points of view. But with candid and liberal minds, unity of affection still will be preserved. Desires and wishes are the first spring of action. When they become exorbitant, the whole of the character is like to be tainted. If we should suffer our fancies to create to themselves, worlds of ideal happiness; if we should feed our imagination with plans of opulence and of splendour; if we should fix to our wishes certain stages of a high advancement, or certain degrees of an uncommon reputation, as the sole station of our felicity; the assured consequence shall be, that we will become unhappy under our present state; that we shall be unfit for acting the part, and for discharging the duties that belong to it; and we shall discompose the peace and order of our minds, and shall foment many hurtful passions. Maria always appears amiably. She never speaks severe or contemptuous. * Young persons who study grammar, find it difficult to decide, in particular constructions, whether an adjective or an adverb ought to be used. A few observations on this point may serve to inform their judgment, and direct their determination.-They should carefully attend to the definitions of the adjective and the adverb, and consider whether, in the case in question, quality or manner, is indicated. In the former case, an adjective is proper: in the latter, an adverb. A number of examples will illustrate this direction, and prove useful on other occasions. She looks cold-She looks coldly on him. He feels warm-He feels warmly the insult offered to him. Charles has grown great by his wisdom-He has grown greatly in reputation. They now appear happy-They now appear happily in earnest. The statement seems exact-The statement seems exactly in point. The verb to be, in all its moods and tenses, generally requires the word immediately connected with it to be an adjective, not an adverb; and, consequently, when this verb can be substituted for any other, without varying the sense or the construction, that other verb must also be connected with an adjective. The following sentences elucidate these observations: "This is agreeable to our interest; That behaviour was not suitable to his station; Rules is should be conformable to sense;" "The rose smells sweet; How sweet the hay smells! How delightful the country appears! How pleasant the fields look! The clouds look dark; How black the was is were sky looked! The apple tastes sour; How bitter the plums tasted! is He feels happy." In all these sentences, we can with perfect propriety, substitute some tenses of the verb to be for the other verbs But in the following sentences, we cannot do this: "The dog smells disagreeably; George feels exquisitely; How pleasantly she looks at !" The directions contained in this note are offered as useful, not as complete and unexceptionable. Anomalies in language every where encounter us: but we must not reject rules, because they are attended with exceptions. |