of his Æneid gives us the punishment, &c. It appears that there are, by a late calculation, upwards of 30,000,000 of inhabitants in Great Britain and Ireland. Although persons of a virtuous and learned education may be, and too often are, drawn by the temptations of youth and the opportunities of a large fortune into some irregularities, when they come forward into the great world, it is ever with reluctance and compunction of mind, because their bias to virtue still continues. Were instruction an essential circumstance in epic poetry, I doubt whether a single instance could be given of this species of composition in any language. Some of our most eminent writers have made use of this Platonic notion, as far as it regards the subsistence of our affections after death, with great beauty and strength of reason.

681. Rule 9.-a. A weaker assertion should not follow a stronger one.- -Charity breathes long suffering to enemies, courtesy to strangers, habitual kindness towards friends. Gentleness ought to diffuse itself over our whole behaviour, to form our address, and regulate our speech. The propensity to look forward into life, is too often grossly abused, and immoderately indulged. The regular tenor of a virtuous and pious life, will prove the best preparation for immortality, for old age, and death. These rules are intended to teach young persons to write with propriety, elegance, and perspicuity. Sinful pleasures blast the opening prospects of human felicity, and degrade human honour. They will acquire different views, by applying to the honourable discharge of the functions of their station, and entering on a virtuous course of action.

Exercise 98 b.—Lesson 98.—Pars. 682, 683.—p. 248.

Close of Sentences.—Antithesis.

Give an

1. Questions.-682, 683. How should a sentence be terminated ? example. Give the reasons for not ending sentences with prepositions, adverbs, or the pronoun it. State where phrases expressing mere circumstances should be placed. Give the example. When should particles occupy a prominent position? Give the example. When do Antitheses contribute towards energy? Give the examples. Quote the caution for the use of Antitheses.

2. Exercises in Writing.-682. Rule 10.- -a. A sentence must not be concluded with an inconsiderable word.-By what I have already expressed, the reader will perceive the business which I am to proceed upon. May the happy message be applied to us, in all the virtue, strength, and comfort of it. Generosity is a showy virtue, which many persons are very fond of. These arguments were, without hesitation, and with great eagerness, laid hold of. Form your measures with prudence; but all anxiety about the issue divest yourselves of. We are struck, we know not how, with the symmetry of anything we see, and immediately acknowledge the beauty of an object, without inquiring into the particular causes and occasions of it.

b. This agreement of mankind is not confined to the taste

solely. The other species of motion are incidentally blended also.

c. It is proper to be long in deliberating, but we should speedily execute.

683. Rule 11.-Antithesis.—Present the following subjects in the form of an Antithesis:

Pride and Humility.

Virtue and Vice.

Industry and Indolence.

Peace and War.

A wise man and a fool.

Summer and Winter.

Religion and Infidelity.

Knowledge and Ignorance.

Exercise 98 c.—Lesson 98.—Par. 684.—p. 249.

Climax.

1. Questions.-684. Explain Climax (581). State when it contributes to Energy of expression. Say when it should not be introduced.

2. Exercises in Writing.-684. Rule 12.-Arrange the members in each of the following sentences so as to form a climax:-What a piece of work is man! in action how like an angel! how noble in reason! in apprehension how like a god! how infinite in faculties! in form and motion how expressive and admirable!

Nothing can be more worthy of us, than to contribute to the happiness of those who have been once useful, and are still willing to be so; to be a staff to their declining days; to make the winter of old age wear the aspect of spring; to allow them not to feel the want of such enjoyments as they are now unable to procure; and to smooth the furrows in the faded cheek.

It is pleasant to command our appetites and passions, and to keep them in due order, within the bounds of reason and religion, because that is empire; it is pleasant to mortify and subdue our lusts, because that is victory; it is pleasant to be virtuous and good, because that is to excel many others; it is pleasant to grow better, because that is to excel ourselves.

Promiscuous Exercises under Energy.—Pars. 666 to 684.

Though virtue borrows no assistance from, yet it may often be accompanied by the advantages of fortune. I was greatly affected, insomuch that I was obliged to leave the place, notwithstanding that my assistance had been pressingly solicited. He had made considerable advances in knowledge, but he was very young, and laboured under several disadvantages. Men of the best sense have been touched, more or less, with these groundless horrors and presages of futurity, upon surveying the most indifferent works of nature. The vehemence of passion, after it has exercised its tyrannical sway for a while, may subside by degrees. This fallacious act debars us from enjoying life, instead of lengthening it. Indulging ourselves in imaginary enjoyments, often deprives us of real ones. When they fall into sudden difficulties, they are

less perplexed than others in the like circumstances; and when they encounter dangers, they are less alarmed.

For all your actions, you must hereafter give an account, and particularly for the employments of youth. In this state of mind, every employment of life becomes an oppressive burden, and every object appears gloomy. By the perpetual course of dissipation, in which sensualists are engaged; by the riotous revel, and the midnight or rather morning hours, to which they prolong their festivity; by the excesses which they indulge; they debilitate their bodies, cut themselves off from the comforts and duties of life, and wear out their spirits.

The faith he professed, and which he became an apostle of, was not his invention. But it is absurd to think of judging either Ariosto or Spenser by precepts which they did not attend to. Shall the narrow-minded children of earth dare to treat as visionary, objects which they have never made themselves acquainted with?

EUPHONY OF SENTENCES, &c.

Exercise 99 a.—Lesson 99.—Pars. 685 to 697.—p. 250.

1. Euphony or Harmony of Sentences.

1. Questions.-685 to 694. Explain Euphony or Harmony in the structure of sentences. When ought Euphony to receive attention? Name the things comprised under Euphony. To promote harmony,, what words should if possible be avoided? Quote the rule for the choice of harmonious words. Show how far Arrangement contributes to render a sentence harmonious. What rule should be observed with regard to the length of the members, and the order in which they should be placed? Give examples. How should the Close of Sentences be constructed? Give an instance. Show the use of Variety in the structure and cadence of sentences. Give the concluding caution.

2. The Sequence of Sentences.

695 to 697. Describe the Paragraph, and show how it is denoted. Quote the rule for the structure of a Paragraph. What is the General Rule for the Sequence of Sentences? Quote the rule for the Connection of Sentences.

2. Exercises to be Written.-687. Rule 1.- Violations with respect to the choice of words.-Sober-mindedness suits the present state of man.-As conventiclers, these people were seized and punished. From the favourableness with which he was at first received, great hopes of success were entertained. They conducted themselves wilily, and ensnared us before we had time to

escape.

690. Rule 2.-With respect to the arrangement of words.—It belongs not to our humble and confined station to censure, but to adore, submit, and trust.-Under all its labours, hope is the mind's solace; and the situations which exclude it entirely are few.

Tranquillity, regularity, and magnanimity, reside with the religious and resigned man.-Sloth, ease, success, naturally tend to beget vices and follies.-By a cheerful, even, and open temper, he conciliated general favour.

I had a long and perilous journey, but a comfortable companion, who relieved the fatigue of it. The speech was introduced by a sensible preamble, which made a favourable impression. The Commons made an angry remonstrance against such an arbitrary requisition.

The truly illustrious are they who do not court the praise of the world, but who perform such actions as make them indisputably deserve it.

692. Rule 3.-Violations with respect to the length and construction of the members.-By means of society, our wants come to be supplied, and our lives are rendered comfortable, as well as our capacities enlarged, and our virtuous affections called forth into their proper exercise.

By experiencing distress, an arrogant insensibility of temper is most effectually corrected, from the remembrance of our own

sufferings naturally prompting us to feel for others in their sufferings and if Providence has favoured us, so as not to make us subject in our own lot to much of this kind of discipline, we should extract improvement from the lot of others that is harder; and step aside sometimes from the flowery and smooth paths which it is permitted us to walk in, in order to view the toilsome march of our fellow-creatures through the thorny desert.

693. Rule 4.-With respect to the close or cadence of the sentence. As no one is without his failings, so few want good qualities.

From disappointments and trials, we learn the insufficiency of temporal things to happiness, and the necessity of goodness.

Promiscuous Exercises under Euphony.

Providence delivered them up to themselves, and they tormented themselves.

To use the divine name customarily, and without serious consideration, is highly irreverent.

We reached the mansion before noon. It was a strong, grand, Gothic house.

Life cannot but prove vain to such persons as affect a disrelish of every pleasure, which is not both new and exquisite, measuring their enjoyments by fashion's standard, and not by what they feel themselves; and thinking that if others do not admire their state, they are miserable.