gentleness and modesty, something more than complacency of temper and affability of manners, are requisite to form a worthy man, or a true Christian. One of the first, and the most common extreme in moral conduct, is placing all virtue in justice, or In generosity.

It is an inflexible regard to principle, which has ever marked the characters of them who distinguished themselves eminently in public life; who patronised the cause of justice against powerful oppressors; in critical times, have supported the falling rights and liberties of men; and reflected honour on their nation and country.

When it is with regard to trifles, that diversity or contrariety of opinions show themselves, it is childish in the last degree, if this becomes the ground of estranged affection. When, from such a cause, there arise any breach of friendship, human weakness is discovered then in a mortifying light. In matters of serious moment, the sentiments of the best and worthiest might vary from that of their friends, according as their lines of life diverge, or as their temper, and habits of thought, presents objects under different points of view. But with candid and liberal minds, unity of affection still will be preserved. !

Desires and wishes are the first spring of action. When they become exorbitant, the whole of the character is like to be tainted. If we should suffer our fancies to create to themselves, worlds of ideal happiness; if we should feed our imagination with plans of opulence and of splendour; if we should fix to our wishes certain stages of a high advancement, or certain degrees of an uncommon reputation, as the sole station of our felicity; the assured consequence shall be, that we will become unhappy under our present state; that we shall be unfit for acting the part, and for discharging the duties that belong

to it; and we shall discompose the peace and order of our minds, and shall foment many hurtful passions. Maria always appears amiably. She never speaks severe or contemptuous.*

Young perfons who ftudy grammar, find it difficult to decide, in particular conftructions, whether an adjective or an adverb ought to be used. A few observations on this point may serve to inform their judgment, and direct their determination. They fhould carefully attend to the definitions of the adjective and the adverb; and confider whether, in the cafe in question, quality, or manner, is indicated. In the former cafe, an adjective is proper; in the latter, an adverb. A number of examples will illustrate this direction, and prove useful on other occafions.

She looks cold-She looks coldly on him.

He feels warm-He feels warmly the insult offered to him.
He became fincere and virtuous-He became fincerely virtuous.
She lives free from care-He lives freely at another's expenfe.
Harriet always appears neat-She dreffes neatly.

Charles has grown great by his wisdom-He has grown greatly in reputation.

They now appear happy-They now appear happily in earnest. The statement feems exact-The statement feems exactly in point.

The verb to be, in all its moods and tenfes, generally requires the word immediately connected with it to be an adjective, not an adverb; and, confequently, when this verb can be fubftituted for any other, without varying the fenfe or the conftruction, that other verb anuit alfo be connected with an adjective. The following fentences elucidate thefe obfervations: "This is agreeable to our intereft; That behaviour was not fuitable to his ftation; Rules fhould be

is

conformable to fenfe:" "The rofe fmells fweet; How fweet the is is

hay fiells! How delightful the country appears! How pleasant the.

are

are

was

fields look! The clouds look dark; How black the sky looked! The is is

were

apple taftes four; How bitter the plums tafted! He feels happy." hi all thefe fentences, we can, with perfect propriety, substitute fome tenfes of the verb to be for the other verbs. But in the following fentences, we cannot do this: "The dog fmells difagreeably; George feels exquifitely; How pleasantly she looks at us !"

The directions contained in this note are offered as useful, not as complete and unexceptionable. Anomalies in language every where encounter us: but we must not reject rules, because they are attended with exceptions.

PART IV.

EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION.

CHAP. I.

Sentences which require the application of the Comma, disposed under the particular Kules.

RULE I. Gram. 21st edit. p. 258.

THE tear of repentance brings its own relief. Manhood is disgraced by the consequences of neglected youth.

Idleness is the great fomenter of all corruptions in

the human heart.

It is honourable to be a friend to the unfortunate. All finery is a sign of littleness.

Slovenliness and indelicacy of character commonly go hand in hand.

The friend of order has made half his way to virtue.

Too many of the pretended friendships of youth are mere combinations in pleasure.

The indulgence of harsh dispositions is the introduction to future misery.

The intermixture of evil in human society serves to exercise the suffering graces and virtues of the good.

RULE 11.

Gentleness is in truth the great avenue to mutual enjoyment.

Charity like the sun brightens all its objects. The tutor by instruction and discipline lays the foundation of the pupil's future honour.

Trials in this stage of being are the lot of man. No assumed behaviour can always hide the real character.

The best men often experience disappointments. Advice should be seasonably administered.

RULE III.

Self-conceit presumption and obstinacy blast the prospect of many a youth.

In our health life possessions connexions pleasures there are causes of decay imperceptibly working. Discomposed thoughts agitated passions and a ruffled temper poison every pleasure of life.

Vicissitudes of good and evil of trials and consolations fill up the life of man.

Health and peace a moderate fortune and a few friends sum up all the undoubted articles of temporal felicity.

We have no reason to complain of the lot of man or of the world's mutability.

RULE IV.

An idle trifling society is near a kin to such as is corrupting..

Conscious guilt renders us mean-spirited timorous and base.

An upright mind will never be at a loss to discern what is just and true lovely honest and of good report.

The vicious man is often looking round him with anxious and fearful circumspection.

True friendship will at all times avoid a careless or rough behaviour.

Time brings a gentle and powerful opiate to all misfortunes.

"RULE V.

The man of virtue and honour will be trusted relied upon and esteemed.

Deliberate slowly execute promptly.

A true friend unbosoms freely advises justly assists readily adventures boldly takes all patiently defends resolutely and continues a friend unchangeably.

Sensuality contaminates the body depresses the understanding deaders the moral feelings of the heart and degrades man from his rank in the creation.

Idleness brings forward and nourishes many bad passions.

We must stand or fall by our own conduct and character.

The man of order catches and arrests the hours as they fly.

The great business of life is to be employed in doing justly loving mercy and walking humbly with our Creator.

RULE VI.

This unhappy person had often been seriously affectionately admonished but in vain.

To live soberly righteously and piously comprehends the whole of our duty.

When thy friend is calumniated openly and boldly espouse his cause.

Benefits should be long and gratefully remembered.

RULE VII.

True gentleness is native feeling heightened and improved by principle.

The path of piety and virtue pursued with a firm and constant spirit will assuredly lead to happiness.