of every kind of study.

Such are the reafons

for introducing and recommending due attention to the principles of the MATHEMATICS.

The human mind, not content with speculations upon the properties of matter alone, delights to furvey the wonderful works of the GREAT CREATOR, as difplayed in the various parts of the universe. This employment is a fource of never-failing fatisfaction to perfons of every age. The productions of the animal, the vegetable and the mineral kingdoms are clofely connected with the well-being, and are conducive to the fubfiftence of man; fo that NATURAL HISTORY claims his particular attention.

And as the elegant Arts poffefs a pleasing influence over the imagination, and furnish a conftant variety of amufement and pleasure, it is highly defirable to examine the principles, and confider the application of a correct tafte to the beauties of PAINTING, POETRY, and MUSIC.

In the welfare and profperity of his native country every Briton is deeply interested. The two great fources of its fupport, its opulence, and its glory, are AGRICULTURE and COMMERCE; to have a knowledge of their leading principles must be allowed to be highly ufeful and important to every English Gentleman.

Since

Since it is a prevailing fashion, particularly among the higher ranks of fociety, to complete the courfe of education by vifiting foreign countries, it is ufeful to afcertain the advantages, which may be derived from the practice of TRAVELLING.

As attainments derive their greatest value from being directed to the purposes of active life, the qualifications requifite for a right conduct in the learned profeffions of LAW, PHYSIC, and DIVINITY, are taken into confideration.

And lastly, to point out the fources, from which the reader may draw more complete information upon all the preceding fubjects, the work is clofed with lifts of THE MOST APPROVED AND INSTRUCTIVE BOOKS.

The Order, in which my Chapters are difpofed, is adapted to the progress of the faculties of the mind, -the memory, the imagination, and the judgment. The principles of Religion, of Language, and of History, are first prefented to my Readers; and the elements of Science, Natural History, and Tafte, together with the various ftudies, which relate to the active scenes of life, clofe the volumes of inftruction.. The foundations of knowledge are deeply laid, and are compofed of the moft folid materials; the fuperftructure, raised to a proper elevation, difplays ornament, while it is adapted to convenience.

1.9

Such

Such is the sketch of my defign, in which it is intended to trace the regular progrefs of application, from puerile to manly ftudies-from elementary knowledge to profeffional duties. It is fufficiently finished to fhew, that the fields of inftruction are not only fertile, but the most various in their productions. Some fpots bring forth the immortal fruits of Religion, fome the hardy plants of Science, and fome the delicate flowers of Tafte. Here then the active temper of youth, and their fondness for change, may find ample means of gratification, wherever they choofe to wander and expatiate. Light pursuits may divert, after fevere ftudies have fatigued the mind; and he who has been diligent to perufe the records of hiftory, to folve the problems of fcience, or afcertain the diftinctions of logic, may find an agreeable relaxation in furveying the beauties of nature, in charming his ear with the delightful strains of mufic, pleafing his eye with the fair creations of the pencil, or delighting his fancy with the fictions of poetry.

With respect to my choice of Books, I wish it not to efcape the obfervation of the reader, that I have rejected fome works with as much readiness as I have adopted others. Very few Novels will appear in my lifts, as I am well convinced of their pernicious tendency. If we take the moft fuperficial furvey of the Circulating Libraries, we may obferve, that the ingenuity of our own authors is fufficiently fertile in these flimfy and fhort-lived publications; and yet Germany and France contribute their aid

to

to fatisfy the craving appetite of the British public, with fuch fuccefs, that fome of their productions are as popular as our own. It is to be lamented, that most Novels do no small injury to the cause of found and wholefome literature, as well as to that of morality. They vitiate the taste of their readers, destroy their relish for useful books, and make the facts of hiftory, and even the defcriptions of poetry, appear dull and infipid. It were well if their bad effects terminated at this point: but as they are generally filled with licentious defcriptions, improbable incidents, falfe fentiments, and fuch fophiftical arguments, as may ferve to juftify the moft improper actions; they tend to excite a romantic fenfibility, pervert the judgment of the young and inexperienced, inflame the paffions, and corrupt the heart.

Let it likewife be carefully remarked, that I am under very few obligations to the founders of the new school of Philofophifm in France. So far indeed from withing to direct the attention of my readers to their works, it is my anxious defire to caution them against the infidious arts, the flimfy fophiftry, and the exceffive arrogance of the modern French writers, particularly Voltaire, Rouffeau, D'Alembert, Diderot, Helvetius, and Volney; and their imitators and admirers, whoever they may be in our own, or any other country. In direct and decided oppofition to their fpurious philofophy, their abuse of the powers of reafon, their profligate and delufive fpeculations upon the subjects of Religion,

ligion, Morality, and Government, their folly in rejecting whatever is old, and their precipitation in embracing whatever is new, I avow my firm conviction, that there is no greater or more fruitful fource of mischief and mifery, than a wild, unreftrained ardour for innovation: I MAINTAIN THE TRUTH AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHRISTIAN REVELATION, THE VALUE OF ANCIENT LEARNING, THE DIGNITY OF SCIENCE, AND THE EXCELLENCE OF THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION. And in order to provide the most efficacious antidote against the poifon of their opinions, I recommend an intimate acquaintance with the eminent divines of the Church of England, such as CUDWORTH, BARROW, TILLOTSON, STILLINGFLEET, CLARKE, and PALEY; and with our great philofophers and moralifts, BACON, LOCKE, BOYLE, NEWTON, ADDISON, and JOHNSON. Thefe are the authors, whofe underftandings I reverence, whofe opinions upon the leading fubjects of Religion and Morality, I highly efteem, and whose excellent works I earnestly recommend. These are the writers, whom, in decided preference to all arrogant fciolifts, and plaufible infidels, I hold up to general attention, as the luminaries of ufeful knowledge, the teachers of genuine wifdom, and the true friends of mankind.

Such are the inftructors, by whofe affiftance the ftudent is advised to extend the fphere of his application beyond profeffional knowledge, and to cultivate

4