ftruction with amufement, as they do not appear to me the least incompatible, though from the prejudice of weak minds, they are ufually confidered fo. The thoughtlefs and inconfiderate receive inftruction like a medicine, and naufeate the draught; but partake of the banquet of amusement, with as much eafe and pleafure as if it were their daily food. If we were to examine these different qualities with minute attention, we should find they often differ only in the name. Many pursuits where pleasure is the end proposed, produce disgust and pain; whilft on the contrary, those avocations which feem attended with difficulty, reward the labour of fuch who furmount them, with knowledge and glory! Lady Mary. My dear Mentoria, are we always to be reading, working, or writing, and never play? Mentoria. Certainly not, my dear: my prefent object is to diverfify your purfuits; and to regulate them in fuch a manner, that, whilft you are feeking improvement, you may be amufed. The judicious choice and difpofition of the agreeable and useful qualifications of the mind, produce the fame effect in a human character as the contralt of light and fhade, does in a fine picture, picture, which conftitutes the beauty and intrinfic value of both. Lady Louifa. I think we are always employed. How much time we spend in getting our leffons! I often lament I have not more time to play. Mentoria. I agree with you, Lady Louifa, in thinking you spend a great deal of your time in getting your leffon: I am forry to add, as my opinion, often more than is neceffary for the purpose. The habitual Industry I mean to inculcate, will, I hope, obviate this objection, and give me no farther caufe of complaint. When you feriously reflect, that, if you do not perform your business in the space of time appropriated to that purpofe, it will interfere with your attendance on your Maflers, or fome other branch of your duty, you will be inclined to purfue your ftudies with the attention they deferve. The advantage would evidently be your own, "as by that means, you would have part of your time entirely at your own disposal. Lady Mary. What alteration then, my good Mentoria, do you mean to propose in our education ? Mentoria. None that will affect your Ladyship's peace. B 2 I fhall I shall expect never to fee you idle: and fhall be displeased, if you tell me you have nothing to do; always endeavour to fuit your employ to the circumstances of your fituation. I would advise, when you are engaged with your friends, to let your pursuit be of a nature that dees not require clofe application; as I thinkit a mark of ill breeding, to bestow great attention on any object, which does not immediately conduce to their amufement. Lady Louifa. I fuppofe, as you are so fond of reading, you will expect it to employ great part of our time. Mentoria. You are mistaken, my dear, I am no friend to perfons of your age fpending much time in reading, except to thofe who are capable, and willing, to correct their errors. For though by Industry, you may comprehend the meaning of words, you can never attain the just pronunciation, but by the inftruction of an intelligent mind. Lady Mary. I cannot yet discover, my dear Mentoria, in what you inean to differ from our ufual mode of practice: Are we to be detained longer with you in the morning? Mentoria, Mentoria. It is not my intention to keep you one moment longer than the ufual time. It is not the number of hours, but the ufe you make of them, which will fecure your improvement. The mental, as well as the corporeal faculties, derive the most advantage from the sustenance which is administered in fmall quantities; the lighter the quality, the easier it is digested, and more conducive to the support and nourishment of the whole fyftem. Lady Louifa. What are the peculiar advantages of Industry, my good Mentoria? 1 Mentoria. They are of fuch general utility, it is impoffible to enumerate them: those who are diftinguished by any extraordinary qualities, are commonly indebted to this virtue for the fuperior excellence they have attained. Many useful difcoveries are produced by chance, which could never be brought to perfection without the aid of Industry. I cannot produce a stronger inftance to prove the efficacy of Industry, than the advantages Demofthenes derived from this virtue. His example ought to teach us, few difficulties are infurmountable, for by nature he was not designed B 3 for for an Orator, as his voice was weak and inbarmonious, and his manner ungraceful. With thefe defects, it is wonderful, he applied himfelf to the study of eloquence; as of all others it feemed the leaft fuited to his abilities. In order to remove the stammering articulation of his words, he ufed to declaim on different fubjects with pebbles in his mouth, when hẹ was afcending steep places, which ftrengthened his powers of refpiration. To accuftom himfelf to the noise of the Courts of Juftice, he frequently made orations by the fea-fide, when the waves were most tempeftuous. He was no lefs attentive to his action, and general deportment; as he was confcious he had contracted a bad habit of fhrugging up his fhoulders, he caufed a pulpit to be erected on fuch a particular conftruction, with an halberd hanging over it, in which he ufed to practife his declamations, that whenever the vehemence of his action prompted him to exceed the proper bounds, the halberd proved an useful monitor. His wifdom fuggefted to him the neceffity of clofe application, he therefore had a ftudy built under ground, where he ufed to feclude himself from the world, and often not appear for two or three months. Whilft he was |