feffion, no education is more neceffary to your fuccefs, than the acquirement of virtuous difpofitions and habits. This is the univerfal preparation for every character, and every station in life. Bad. as the world is, refpect is always paid to virtue. In the ufual courfe of human affairs, it will be found, that a plain understanding, joined with acknowledged worth, contributes more to profperity, than the brighteft parts without probity or honour. Whether fcience or bufinefs, or public life, be your aim, virtue ftill enters, for a principal fhare, into all thofe great departments of fociety. t is connected with eminence, in every liberal art; with reputation, in every branch of fair and useful bufinefs; with diftinction, in every public station. The vigour which it gives the mind, and the weight which it adds to character; the generous 1. fentiments which it breathes; the undaunted fpirit which it infpires; the ardour of diligence which it quickens; the freedom which it procures from pernicious and difhonourable avocations; are the foundations of all that is highly honourable, or greatly fuccefsful among men.

Whatever ornamental or engaging endowments you now poffefs, virtue is a neceffary requifite, in order to their fhining with proper luftre. Feeble are the attractions of the fairest form, if it be fufpected that nothing within correfponds to the pleafing appearance without. Short are the tri

umphs of wit, when it is fuppofed to be the vehicle of malice. By whatever means you may at first attract the attention, you can hold the efteem, and fecure the hearts of others, only by amiable dispositions, and the accomplishments of the mind.

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Thefe are the qualities whofe influence will last, when the luftre of all that once sparkled and dazzled has paffed away.

Let not then the season of youth be barren of improvements, fo effential to your future, felicity and honour. Now is the feed-time of life; and according to "what you fow, you shall reap." Your character is now, under Divine affiftance, of your own forming; your fate is, in fome measure, put into your own hands. Your nature is as yet pliant and foft. Habits have not established their dominion. Prejudices have not pre-occupied your understanding. The world has not had time to contract and debafe your affections. All your powers are more vigorous, difembarraffed, and free, than they will be at any future period. Whatever impulfe you now give to your defires and paffions, the direction is likely to continue. It will form the channel in which your life is to run; nay, it may determine its everlafting iffue. Confider then the employment of this important period, as the higheft truft which fhall ever be committed to you; as in a great measure, decifive of your happinefs, in time, and in eternity. As in the fucceffion of the feafons, each, by the invariable laws of Nature, affects the productions of what is next in courfe; fo, in human life, every period of our age, according as it is well or ill fpent, influences the happinefs of that which is to follow. Virtuous youth gradually brings forward accomplished and flourishing manhood; and fuch manhood paffes of itfelf, without uneafinefs, into refpcctable and tranquil old age. But when nature is turned out of its regular courfe, diforder

takes place in the moral, just as in the vegetable world. If the Spring put forth no bloffoms, in Summer there will be no beauty, and in Autumn, no fruit. So, if youth be trifled away without improvement, manhood will probably be contemptible, and old age miferable. If the beginnings of life have been "vanity," its latter end can fearçcly be any other than "vexation of spirit.”

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I fhall finifh this addrefs, with calling your attention to that dependence on the bleffing of Heaven, which, amidst all your endeavours after improvement, you ought continually to preferve is too common with the young, even when they refolve to tread the path of virtue and honour, to fet out with prefumptuous confidence in themfelves. Trufting to their own abilities for carrying them fuccefsfully through life, they are careless of applying to God, or of deriving any affiftance from what they are apt to reckon the gloomy difcipline of religion. Alas! how little do they know the dangers which await them! Neither human wifdom, nor human virtue, unfupported by religion, is equal to the trying fituations which often occur in life. By the fhock of temptation, how frequently have the moft virtuous intentions been overthrown! Under the preffure of difafter, how often has the greatest conftancy funk! "Every good, and every perfect gift, is from above." Wifdom and virtue, as well as "riches and honour, come from God.". Deftitute of his favour, you are in no better fituation, with all your boafted abilities, than orphans left to wander in a tracklefs defert, without any guide to conduct them, or any fhelter to cover them from the gathering ftorm.

Correct, then, this ill-founded arrogance. Expect not, that your happiness can be independent of him who made you. By faith and repentance, apply to the Redeemer of the world. By piety and prayer, feek the protection of the God of heaven. I conclude with the folemn words, in which a great prince delivered his dying charge to his fon; words, which every young perfon ought to confider as addreffed to himself, and to engrave deeply on his heart: "Solomon, my fon, know thou the God of thy fathers; and ferve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind. For the Lord fearcheth all hearts, and underftandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts. If thou feck him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forfake him, he will ċaft thee off for ever."

BLAIR

Earthquake at Calabria, in the Year 1638.

Ax account of this dreadful earthquake, is given by the celebrated Father Kircher. It happened whilst he was on his journey to vifit Mount Etna, and the reft of the wonders that lie towards the fouth of Italy. Kircher is confidered, by fcholars,

as one of the greatest prodigies of learning.

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Having hired a boat, in company with four more, (two friars of the order of St. Francis, and two feculars,) we launched from the harbour of Meffina, in Sicily; and arrived, the fame day, at the promontory of Pelorus. Our deftination was for the city of Euphemia, in Calabria; where we had fome bufinefs to tranfact; and where we defigned to tarry for fome time. However, Providence feemed willing to crofs our defign; for we were obliged to continue three days at Pelorus, on account of the weather; and though we often put out to fea, yet we were as often driven back. length, wearied with the delay, we refolved to profecute our voyage; and, although the fea feemed more than ufually agitated, we ventured forward. The gulph of Charybdis, which we approached, feemed whirled round in .fuch a manner, as to form a vaft hollow, verging to a point in the centre,

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