care. Philippics: Salust: at leisure hours, do it the sooner on account of your an abridgment of the history of letter to your aunt, which she traně England to be run through, in or mitted to me here. If any thing der to settle in the mind a general my dear boy, could have happene chronological order and series of to raise you higher in my esters, principal events, and succession of and to endear you more to me, it kings: proper books of English his. is the amiable abhorrence you fez tory, on the true principles of our for the scene of vice and folly, (24 happy constitution, shall be point- of real misery and perdition, unde: ed out afterwards. Burnet's His the false notion of pleasure and tory of the Reformation, abridged spirit,) which has opened to you a by himself, to be read with great college ; and at the same time, te Father Paul on Bencficiary manly, brave, generous, and we Matters, in English: a French mas. resolution, and true spirit, wid ter, and only Moliere's plays to be which you resisted and repulsed the read with him, or by yourself, till first attempts upon a mind and heart. you have gone through them all. I thank God, infinitely too firm and Spectators, especially Mr. Addison's noble, as well as too elegant am papers, to be read very frequently, enlightened, to be in any danger of at broken times, in your room. I yielding to such contemptible ani make it my request that you will wretched corruptions. You charo forbear drawing totally, while you me with the description of Mi are at Cambridge ; and not meddle Wheeler,* and while you say you with Greek, otherwise than to know could adore him, I could adore you a little the etymology of words in for the natural, genuine love of virtu Latin, or English, or French : nor which speaks in all you feel, say, at to meddle with Italian. I hope this do. As to your companions, let this little course will soon be run through; be your rule: cultivate the acquain : I intend it as a general foundation ance with Mr. Wheeler, which you for many things of infinite utility, have so fortunately begun; and it to come as soon as this is finished. general, be sure to associate wit men much older than yoursel ! With truest affection, scholars whenever you can: but al.: My dear nephew, ways with men of decent and ho Ever yours. nourable lives. As their age and Keep this letter, and read it again. learning, superior both to you own, must necessarily, in gox Bath, January, 14, 1754. sense, and in the view of acquirias My dear nephew, knowledge from them, entitle then You will bardly have read over to all deference, and submission of one very long letter from me, be- your lights to theirs, you will partfore you are troubled with a second. cularly practise that first and great. I intended to have writ soon, but I est rule for pleasing in conversation, The rev. John Wheeler, prebendary of Westminster. The friendship formed hetween this gentleman and lord Camelford, at so early a period of their lives, we founded in mutual esteem, and continued uninterrupted till lord Cameltord's death, Believe me, sure. as well as for drawing instruction and weakly,) the adhering perhaps and improvement from the company to false and dangerous notions, only one's superiors in age and know. because one has declared for them, ledge, namely, to be a patient, at- and submitting for life, the under tentive, and well-bred hearer, and standing and conscience to a yoke to answer with modesty: to deliver of base and servile prejudices, vainly your own opinions sparingly and taken up, and obstinately retained. with proper diffidence; and if you This will never be your danger; but are forced to desire farther infor. I thought it not amiss to offer these mation or explanation upon a point, reflections to your thoughts. As to to do it with proper apologies for your manner of behaving towards the trouble you give; or if obliged these unhappy young gentlemen you to differ, to do it with all possible describe, let it be manly and easy ; candous, and an unprejudiced desire decline their parties with civility ; to find and ascertain truth, with an retort their raillery with raillery, entire indifference to the side on always tempered with good breed. which that truth is to be found.-- ing; if they banter your regularity, There is likewise a particular atten. order, decency, and love of study, tion required to contradict with good banter, in return, their neglect of manners ; such as begging pardon, them; and venture to own frankly begging leave to doubt, and such that you came to Cambridge to like phrases. Pythagoras enjoined learn what you can—not to follow his scholars an absolute silence for a what they are pleased to call plealong noviciate. I am far from ap. In short, let your external proving such a taciturnity ; but I behaviour to them be as full of highly recommend the end and in- politeness and ease, as your in. tent of Pythagoras's injunction; ward estimation of them is full which is, to dedicate the first parts of pity mixed with contempt.of life more to hear and learn, in I come now to the part of the ad. order to collect materials, out of vice I have to offer you, which most which to form opinions founded on earnestly concerns your welfare, proper lights, and well-examined and upon which every good and sound principles, than to be pre honourable purpose life will suming, prompt, and flippant, in assuredly turn : I mean the keeping hazarding one's own slight crude up in your heart the true sentiments notions of things; and thereby ex. of religion. If you are not right posing the nakedness and emptiness towards God, you can never be so of the mind, like a house opened to towards man: the noblest sentiment company before it is fitted either of the human mind is here brought with necessaries, or any ornaments to the test. Is gratitude in the for their reception and entertain. number of a man's virtues ? if it be, ment. And not only will this dis. the highest Benefactor demands the grace follow from such temerity and warmest returns of gratitude, love, presumption, but a more serious and praise : Ingratum qui dixerit, danger is sure to ensue, that is, the omnia dicit. If a man wants this embracing errors for truths, preju. virtue where there are infinite obli. dices for principles ; and when that gations to excite and quicken it, he is once done, (no matter how vainly will be likely to want all others to wards of your wards his fellow-creatures, whose abhorrence and contempt supert utmost gifts are poor, compared to tion and enthusiasm. The first i those he daily receives at the hands the perfection and glory of the be: of bis never failing Almighty Friend. man naturc; the two last, the &.. Remember thy Creator in the days praration and disgrace of it. R. of thy youth, is big with the deep, member, the essence of religion & est wisdom: The fear of the Lord a heart void of offence towards God! is the beginning of wisdom ; and, and towards man; not subtle spr: an upright heart, that is understand- culative opinions, but an active to ing. This is eternally true, whether tal principle of faith. The word the wits and rakes of Cambridge of a heathen are so fine that I was allow it or not: nay, I must add, give them to you: Compositum dan of this religious wisdom, Her ways Fusque Animi, Sanctosque Recere: are ways of pleasantness, and all her Mentis, et incoctum generoso Peche paths are peace, whatever your llonesto. young gentlemen of pleasure think Go on, my dear child, in the adof a whore and a bottle, a tainted mirable dispositions you have të. health and a battered constitution. wards all that is right and good, Hold fast, therefore, by this sheetand make yourself the love and atanchor of happiness, religion ; you miration of the world! I have nei. will often want it in the times of ther paper nor words to tell you most danger; the storms and tem. how tenderly pests of life. Cherish true religion I am yours. As preciously as you will fly with POETRY ODE for the New YEAR, 1804. By Henry JAMES PYE, Esq. Poct-Laureat. THEN, at the Despot's dread command, Bridg'd llellespont his myriads bore To Græcia's and to Freedom's shore- “ Heal'd in the gen'rous breast is every pain, So when the awful thunder roars, When round the livid lightnings play, TH' Imperial eagle proudly soars, And wings aloft her daring way. And, hark! with animating note Aloud her strains exulting float, While pointing to th' in vetrate host, Who threat destruction to this envied coast : “ Go forth, my sons--as nobler rights ye claim, 66 Than ever fann'd the Grecian patriot's flame, “ So let your breasts a fiercer ardour feel, “ Led by your Patriot King, to guard your Country's weal.” Her voice is heard---from wood, from vale, from down, Hlear o'er their heads the exulting goddess sing: Thro' Albion's plains, while wide and far His bleeding country's countless millions drains, Unpeopled cities, and onlabour'd plains, While moral Truth, and Faith's celestial ray, ODE |