in the writings of the apostles, and I then determined to regard only this Gofpel-doctrine. Cofmogra- 9. The manner of my ftudying CofmograMathema- phy and Mathematics is not worth fetting tics. down, as there was nothing uncommon in it.

phy and

Method of

In the one I only learned to diftinguish climates, latitudes, and the four divifions of the world; the provinces, nations, kingdoms, and republics comprized therein, and to be able to discourse upon them :-And in the other, I went no further than to make myself a master of vulgar and decimal arithmetic, the doctrine of infinite feries, and the application of algebra, to the higher geometry of curves. Algebra I was charmed with, and found fo much pleasure in refolving its queftions, that I have often fat till morning at the engaging work, without a notion of its being day till I opened the fhutters of my clofet. I recommend this ftudy in particular to young gentlemen, and am fatisfied, if they would but take fome pains at first to underftand it, they would have fo great a relish for its operations, as to prefer them many an evening to the clamorous pleasures; or, at leaft, not be uneafy for being alone now and then, fince their algebra was with them.

10. In reading hiftory, (my last year's prinreading cipal employment during my refidence in college), I began with the beft writers of an

Hiftory.

tient

tient history, and ended with modern times, epochs, centuries, ages; the extent of 'empires, kingdoms, commonwealths; their progrefs, revolutions, changes, and declenfions; the number, order, and qualities of the Princes, that have reigned over those states and kingdoms, their actions military and civil; the characters and actions of the great men that flourished under them; and the laws, the arts, learning, and manners, I carefully marked down, and obferved not only how the first governments were formed, but what the progress was of industry and property, which may be called the generative principle of empire.

When I had done with antient Hiftory, I fat down to the best modern ftories I could get, and read of diftant nations before I began to study my country's conftitution, hiftory, and laws. When I had finished the hiftories of France, and Spain, and Italy, and Germany, and many more, then I turned to Great Britain, and in the first place took a view of the English conftitution and government, in the antient books of the common law, and fome more modern writers, who out of them have given an account of this government. From thence I proceeded to our History, and with it joined in every King's reign the laws then made. This gave me an infight into the reafon of our C ftatutes

A Reflec

itory.

ftatutes, and fhewed me the true ground upon which they came to be made, and what weight they ought to have. By this means, I read the history of my country with intelligence, and was able to examine into the excellence or defects of its government, and to judge of the fitness or unfitness of its orders and laws. By this method I did likewife know enough of the law for an Englifh gentleman, tho' quite ignorant of the chicane, or wrangling and captious part of the law, and was well acquainted with the true measure of right and wrong. The arts how to avoid doing right, and to secure one's felf in doing wrong, I never looked into.

11. Thus did I read History, and many tion on Hi- noble leffons I learned from it; juft notions of true worth, true greatness, and folid happinefs. It taught me to place merit where it only lies, not in birth, not in beauty, not in riches, not in external fhew and magnificence, not in voluptuoufnefs; but, in a firm adherence to truth and rectitude; in an untainted heart, that would not pollute or prostitute its integrity in any degree, to gain the highest worldly honours, or to ward off the greatest worldly mifery. This is true magnanimity: And he alone can be truly happy, as well as truly great, who can look down with generous contempt upon every thing that would tempt him to recede in the smallest degree

2

from

from the paths of rigid honefty, candour and veracity.

Es Modicus Voti, preffo lare, dulcis Amicis; Jam nunc aftringas; jam nunc granaria laxes; Inque luto fixum poffis tranfcendere Num

mum;

Nec glutto forbere Salivam Mercurialem ? Hæc mea funt, teneo, cum vere dixeris: Efto Liberque ac Sapiens, Prætoribus ac Jove dextro.

Sin tu, cum fueris Noftræ paulò ante farinæ, Pelliculam veterem retines, et fronte politus Aftutam Vapido fervas fub pectore Vulpem ; Quæ dederam fuprà, Repeto, funemque Reduco.

Nil tibi conceffit Ratio: digitum exere peccas, Et quid tam parvum eft? Sed nullo thure litabis,

Hæreat in Stultis brevis & ut femuncia Recti. Hæc mifcere Nefas:

Are you moderate in your defires, frugal, and obliging to your friends? Do you know when to fpare, and when to be liberal, as occafion requires? And can you give a check to your avarice, in fpite of all temptations, which are laid in your way? Can you refrain from being too greedy in your pursuits after riches? When you can fincerely affirm that you are master of yourself, and of all C 2

these

thefe good qualities, then you are free indeed, and wife by the propitious power of Jove and the Prætor.

But if you retain the old habits of a flave, and harbour il qualities, under the hypocritical appearance of virtue, you are as much a flave as ever, while thus enflaved to your vices. Philofophy gives no indulgence to vice-makes no allowance for any crime. If in wagging your finger, you acted against reafon, you tranfgrefs, tho' the thing be of fo trifling a nature. All the facrifices you can offer will never pafs for a dram of rectitude, while your conduct is faulty. Wifdom is incompatible with folly.

When to be bountiful, and when to spare, And never craving, or opprefs'd with care; The baits of gifts, and money to defpife, And look on wealth with undefiring eyes; When thou canst truly call thefe virtues thine, Be wife and free by Heav'n's confent and mine.

But thou, who lately of the common ftrain, Wert one of us, if ftill thou doft retain The fame ill habits, the fame follies too, Glofs'd over only with a faint-like fhow, Then I refume the freedom which I gave, Still thou art bound to vice, and still a flave. Thou canst not wag thy finger, or begin The leaft flight motion, but it tends to fin.

How's