ter. It happened to be his friend's lot at that time to go the Western circuit: the trial of the rebels, as they were then called, was very short, and nothing now remained but to pass sentence on them; when the judge, hearing the name of his old friend, and observing his face more attentively, which he had not seen for many years, asked him, if he was not formerly a Westminster scholar? by the answer he was soon convinced that it was his former generous friend; and, without saying any thing more at that time, made the best of his way to London, where employing all his power and interest with the Protector, he saved his friend from the fate of his unhappy associates. The gentleman whose life was thus preserved by the gratitude of his school-fellow, was afterwards the father of a son, whom he lived to see promoted in the church, and who still deservedly fills one of the highest stations in it. I have endeavoured to give the best reasons that could be urged in favour of a private or public educa. tion. Upon the whole, I rather incline to the latter, though at the same time I confess that virtue, which ought to be our first and principal care, is more usually acquired in the former, I intend, therefore, to offer methods by which I conceive boys might be made to improve in virtue as they advance in letters. I know that in most of our public schools vice is punished and discouraged, whenever it is found out: but this is far from being sufficient, unless our youth are at the same time taught to form a right judgment of things, and to know what is properly virtue. To this end, whenever they read the lives and actions of such men as have been famous in their generation, it should not be thought enough to make them barely understand so many Greek or Latin senteuces, but they should be asked their opinion of such an ac mutual accusations oue against the other, whether for violence, cheating, slander, or ingratitude; and tanght them how to give judgment against those who were found to be any ways guilty of these crimes. I omit the story of the long and short coat, for which Cyrus himself was punished, as a case equally known with any in Lyttleton. The method which Apuleius tells us the Indian gymnosophists took to educate their disciples, is still more curious and remarkable. His words are as follows: When their dinner is ready, before it is served up, the masters inquire of every particular scholar how he has employed his time since sun-rising: some of them answer, that having been chosen as arbiters between two persons, they have composed their differences, and made them friends; some, that they have been executing the orders of their parents; and others, that they have either found out something new by their own application, or learnt it from the instructions of their fellows. But if there happens to be any one among them, who cannot make it appear that he has employed the morning to advantage, he is immediately excluded from the company, and obliged to work while the rest are at dinner. It is not impossible, that, from these several ways of producing virtue in the minds of boys, some general method might be invented. What I would endeavour to inculcate is, that cur youth cannot be too soon taught the principles of virtue, seeing the first impressions which are made on the mind are always the strongest. approve any particular action, observe how it might have been carried to a greater degree of perfection, and how it exceeded or fell short of another. He might at the same time mark what was moral in any speech, and how far it agreed with the character of the person speaking. This exercise would soon strengthen his judgment in what is blameable or praiseworthy, and give him an early seasoning of morality. Next to those examples which may be met with in books, I very much approve Horace's way of setting before youth the infamous or honourable characters of their contemporaries; that poet tells us, this was the method his father made use of to incline him to any particular virtue, or give him an aversion to any par ticular vice. If, says Horace, my father advised me to live within bounds, and be contented with the fortune he should leave me," Do you not see," says he, "the miserable condition of Burrus, and the son of Albus? Let the misfortunes of those two wretches teach you to avoid luxury and extravagance." If he would inspire me with an abhorrence to debauchery, "Do not," says he, "make yourself like Sectanus, when you may be happy in the enjoyment of lawful pleasures. How scandalous," says he, "is the character of Trebonius, who was lately caught in bed with another man's wife !" To illustrate the force of this method, the poet adds, that as a headstrong patient, who will not at first follow his physicians prescriptions, grows orderly when he hears that his neighbours die all about him, so youth is often frighted from vice by hearing the ill report it brings upon others. Xenophon's schools of equity, in his life of Cyrus the Great, are sufficiently famous: he tells us, that the Persian children went to school, and employed their time as diligently in learning the principles of justice and sobriety, as the youth in other countries did to acquire the most difficult arts and sciences: their go. vernors spent most part of the day in hearing their mutual accusations oue against the other, whether for violence, cheating, slander, or ingratitude; and tanght them how to give judgment against those who were found to be any ways guilty of these crimes. I omit the story of the long and short coat, for which Cyrus himself was punished, as a case equally known with any in Lyttleton. The method which Apuleius tells us the Indian gymnosophists took to educate their disciples, is still more curious and remarkable. His words are as follows: When their dinner is ready, before it is served up, the masters inquire of every particular scholar how he has employed his time since sun-rising: some of them answer, that having been chosen as arbiters between two persons, they have composed their differences, and made them friends; some, that they have been executing the orders of their parents; and others, that they have either found out something new by their own application, or learnt it from the instructions of their fellows. But if there happens to be any one among them, who cannot make it appear that he has employed the morning to advantage, he is immediately excluded from the company, and obliged to work while the rest are at dinner. It is not impossible, that, from these several ways of producing virtue in the minds of boys, some general method might be invented. What I would endeavour to inculcate is, that cur youth cannot be too soon taught the principles of virtue, seeing the first impressions which are made on the mind are always the trongest. INDEX. VOL. II. ABUSE of the understanding, censured. AFFECTATION, the bad effects of it.... described in a dream.... Page 58 221 64 68 ALBACINDA, a beauty, her character described 147 APRIL, month of, described... ARISTIPPUS, his saying of content.. verse. on tragedies.. ARM, called by Tully the actor's weapon... 128 42 202 45 49 134 90 AMAZONS, how they educated their children.. 232 ANACHARSIS, the Corinthian, a drunkard, a they marry their allies saying of his... man, relating a duel.... ANECDOTE of an English peer, and a French- ARABLE, (Mrs.) a great heiress, the Spectator's ATTICUS, his disinterested and prudent conduct AUGUSTUS, his reproof to the Roman bachelors BACHELORS, invective against them......... BEAUTIES, often fantastical... ib. ib. 105 207 213 228 97 97 187 106 146 dangers to which they are exposed, delineated ib. |