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really cannot help thinking, that, as your example is of so much importance to those who look up to you for a pattern, if I can convince you of the folly-the worse than folly the guilt of this prejudicial habit, you will be not only neglecting your duty to yourself, but also to those in whose welfare you are so greatly concerned, if you do not endeavour at once to conquer it, and to be as instrumental in leading others to effect a similar victory, as you have been unintentionally the means of confirming them in their error.

It is not at all unlikely that ere this you may have smiled at the importance which I appear to have attached to what has seldom occupied your thoughts; and been even pleased to think, that the formidable charge which you had anticipated, has ended in an arraignment to which, though you cannot plead "not guilty," you suppose you suppose that you have much to urge in mitigation of punishment. But, my dear friend, now that I have assumed the gravity and arrayed myself in the imposing dignity of the judge, I

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am determined to prosecute you with the utmost severity of the law; and though I shall listen with patience to all that you can urge in your defence, yet I am resolved that the emotions of friendly attachment shall not interfere with the sterner justice of my judicial character.

It is a very possible case that you may be led to suspect that I shall not be sufficiently disinterested; that I am attached to the peculiar habits of my own life, and therefore censure those of others which do not agree with them. But, whilst I am very willing to acknowledge that a long continued course in any particular line of conduct serves to excite our prejudices in - its favour, yet I would also at the same time remind you, that if that course was originally adopted upon the convictions of judgment and the dictates of conscience, a perseverance in it ought only to increase its importance, and to render the testimony of such a man of superior value and greater weight. And when in addition to this it is found, that this course resulted from a tho

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rough persuasion of the error of that which had been abandoned, and was continued on a contrast of the advantages of the one with the evils of the other, it surely will be no objection that the party who recommends, possesses all the knowledge which experience affords; whilst the party who opposes, labours under all the disadvantages which the want of it occasions.

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But I really feel, my dear William, that I am now doing you an injustice, in believing for one moment that riously defend the indolent and pernicious habit to which I have alluded. An excuse is surely all you will attempt to urge; and even this I would not admit, if you should venture it. I must in your case pronounce it inexcusable: and whilst as a friend I so very deeply regret that you should be daily committing what appears to me a very culpable sin, I am also anxious that you should partake of the pleasures, and share with myself the advantages, which the practice of early rising affords. But if you should be inclined to adduce any extenuat

ing circumstances, I feel so confident of the high ground on which I stand, that I shall not only be happy in meeting them, but must anticipate your complete surrender to my opinions. And should that surrender of the judgment lead to a corresponding change in the conduct, I shall rejoice; and I am sure you will not regret that I ever alluded to the subject.

But though I did not begin with an apology, I will end with one. I am intruding upon your valuable time: to the writer it is not of so much importance, as he has most likely lived, and thought, and moved, and acted, two or three hours more to day than you have; but to the reader who has lost those precious hours, the engagements of the day are more than sufficient for the extent of its duration.

Adieu.

LETTER II.

To the same.

MY VERY DEAR SIR,

YOUR reply to my letter was just such an one as I had reason to expect from the knowledge which I possess of your character, and the proofs which I have seen of the ingenuousness of your disposition. You are quite right in supposing that I shall consider it no labour to resume the subject to which I before alluded, and to afford you such further inducements to overcome a most disgraceful and destructive habit as my own experience may suggest. You are not the only one who regrets having neglected to form the habit of early rising when young; and I will not pretend to conceal, what your better judgment must convince you of, that it will be a much less easy task now, than it would have been thirty years ago. But if

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