Philippics: Salust: at leisure hours, an abridgment of the history of England to be run through, in order to settle in the mind a general chronological order and series of principal events, and succession of kings: proper books of English history, on the true principles of our happy constitution, shall be pointed out afterwards. Burnet's History of the Reformation, abridged by himself, to be read with great care. Father Paul on Beneficiary Matters, in English: a French master, and only Moliere's plays to be read with him, or by yourself, till you have gone through them all. Spectators, especially Mr. Addison's papers, to be read very frequently, at broken times, in your room. I make it my request that you will forbear drawing totally, while you are at Cambridge; and not meddle with Greek, otherwise than to know a little the etymology of words in Latin, or English, or French: nor to meddle with Italian. I hope this little course will soon be run through; I intend it as a general foundation for many things of infinite utility, to come as soon as this is finished. Believe me, With truest affection, My dear nephew, Ever yours. Keep this letter, and read it again. Bath, January, 14, 1754. My dear nephew, You will hardly have read over one very long letter from me, before you are troubled with a second. I intended to have writ soon, but I do it the sooner on account of your The rev. John Wheeler, prebendary of Westminster. The friendship formed between this gentleman and lord Camelford, at so early a period of their lives, was founded in mutual esteem, and continued uninterrupted till lord Camelford's death. as well as for drawing instruction and weakly,) the adhering perhaps and improvement from the company one's superiors in age and know ledge, namely, to be a patient, attentive, and well-bred hearer, and to answer with modesty to deliver your own opinions sparingly and with proper diffidence; and if you are forced to desire farther information or explanation upon a point, to do it with proper apologies for the trouble you give; or if obliged to differ, to do it with all possible candour, and an unprejudiced desire to find and ascertain truth, with an entire indifference to the side on which that truth is to be found.-There is likewise a particular attention required to contradict with good manners; such as begging pardon, begging leave to doubt, and such like phrases. Pythagoras enjoined his scholars an absolute silence for a long noviciate. I am far from ap. proving such a taciturnity; but I highly recommend the end and intent of Pythagoras's injunction; which is, to dedicate the first parts of life more to hear and learn, in order to collect materials, out of which to form opinions founded on proper lights, and well-examined sound principles, than to be presuming, prompt, and flippant, in hazarding one's own slight crude notions of things; and thereby exposing the nakedness and emptiness of the mind, like a house opened to company before it is fitted either with necessaries, or any ornaments for their reception and entertainment. And not only will this disgrace follow from such temerity and presumption, but a more serious danger is sure to ensue, that is, the embracing errors for truths, prejudices for principles; and when that is once done, (no matter how vainly 2 to false and dangerous notions, only because one has declared for them, and submitting for life, the understanding and conscience to a yoke of base and servile prejudices, vainly taken up, and obstinately retained. This will never be your danger; but I thought it not amiss to offer these reflections to your thoughts. As to your manner of behaving towards these unhappy young gentlemen you describe, let it be manly and easy; decline their parties with civility; retort their raillery with raillery, always tempered with good breeding; if they banter your regularity, order, decency, and love of study, banter, in return, their neglect of them; and venture to own frankly that you came to Cambridge to learn what you can-not to follow what they are pleased to call pleasure. In short, let your external behaviour to them be as full of politeness and ease, as your inward estimation of them is full of pity mixed with contempt.I come now to the part of the advice I have to offer you, which most earnestly concerns your welfare, and upon which every good and honourable purpose of your life will assuredly turn: I mean the keeping up in your heart the true sentiments of religion. If you are not right towards God, you can never be so towards man: the noblest sentiment of the human mind is here brought to the test. Is gratitude in the number of a man's virtues? if it be, the highest Benefactor demands the warmest returns of gratitude, love, and praise: Ingratum qui dixerit, omnia dixit. If a man wants this virtue where there are infinite obligations to excite and quicken it, h● will be likely to want all others to wards wards his fellow-creatures, whose utmost gifts are poor, compared to those he daily receives at the hands of his never failing Almighty Friend. Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, is big with the deepest wisdom: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and, an upright heart, that is understanding. This is eternally true, whether the wits and rakes of Cambridge allow it or not: nay, I must add, of this religious wisdom, Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace, whatever your young gentlemen of pleasure think of a whore and a bottle, a tainted health and a battered constitution. Hold fast, therefore, by this sheet anchor of happiness, religion; you will often want it in the times of most danger; the storms and tempests of life. Cherish true religion as preciously as you will fly with abhorrence and contempt supersti tion and enthusiasm. The first is the perfection and glory of the human nature; the two last, the depravation and disgrace of it. Remember, the essence of religion is, a heart void of offence towards God and towards man; not subtle speculative opinions, but an active vital principle of faith. The words of a heathen are so fine that I must give them to you: Compositum Jus, Fusque Animi, Sanctosque Recessus Mentis, et incoctum generoso Pectus Honesto. Go on, my dear child, in the admirable dispositions you have towards all that is right and good, and make yourself the love and admiration of the world! I have neither paper nor words to tell you how tenderly I am yours. POETRY. POETRY. W ODE for the NEW YEAR, 1804. By HENRY JAMES PYE, Esq. Poet-Laureat. 7HEN, at the Despot's dread command, To Græcia's and to Freedom's shore- Was crush'd the Persian Tyrant's boast, "Tho' woes unseen, uncertain, wait, "Heal'd in the gen'rous breast is every pain, "With undiminish'd force, if Freedom's rights remain·” † Not so the British Muse-Tho' rude Her voice to Græcia's tuneful choir, By dread, by danger unsubdu'd, See Pind. Isth. Ode viü. † Ibid. So So when the awful thunder roars, While pointing to th' invet'rate host, Who threat destruction to this envied coast: "Led by your Patriot King, to guard your Country's weal." Her voice is heard-from wood, from vale, from down, Eager th' indignant country swarms, And pours a people clad in arms, Firm as the band for Freedom's cause who stood, Thro' Albion's plains, while wide and far Swells the tumultuous din of war, While from the loom, the forge, the flail, From Labour's plough, from Commerce' sail, And grasp the spear, and brave the field, Does drooping Commerce quit the tide ? Their useful cares no longer ply? Never did Agriculture's toil With richer harvests clothe the soil; Ne'er were our barks more amply fraught, Ne'er were with happier skill our ores, our fleeces wrought. While the proud foe, to swell invasion's host, His bleeding country's countless millions drains, To guard and to avenge this favour'd land, Adorn, illume, and bless, a George's prosp'rous sway. ODE |