have established by the unexampled victories of our fleets and armies.

That no work of Man can be free from imperfection and error, is a truth which the author would not repeat, if his experience did not fully convince him, that it is applicable in a peculiar degree to publications of this kind. He wishes those who may complain of his want of brevity, to confider the great extent of every one of the fubjects he has undertaken to treat; and thofe who, from a predilection for fome particular topic, may wish for a fuller view of it, are requefted to recollect, that he profeffes to state principles only, and not to give complete Systems of Science, or long details of Hiftory: for fuch particulars he refers to the beft Books recommended in his Lifts at the end of the fecond volume; and with refpect to the compafs of information which this Work embraces, he ventures to affert that there will not eafily be found an equal variety of matter relative to Education, contained within an equal number of pages, in any other publication in our language.

The motive which prompted him to undertake this Work, continues to ftimulate him in every stage of its progrefs-an ardent defire to extend ufeful instruction beyond the narrow fphere of a College Tutor, in which he lately moved. If he fhould excite curiofity, or increase attention to any branch of profitable knowledge, and diffufe more widely the

light

light of general information, he will have the fatisfaction to think, that his time, his reflections, and his ftudies, have not been facrificed to a frivolous purpose, by thus endeavouring, in conformity with the occupations of the most valuable part of his life, to instruct the rifing generation.

Trinity College, Oxford,
January 1, 1815.

THE

GENERAL TABLE OF CONTENTS.

VOL. I.

THE INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.

THE Design of the Work. The various Branches of Literature and Science are confidered with reference to young Men in the higher claffes of life.-I. as they are CHRISTIANS; II. as STUDENTS, who enjoy the advantages of a liberal Education; III. as MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION. The confideration of these important relations in which they fand to Society, has fuggefted the choice of the following fabjects. The purfuit of them, carried to fuch an extent as is compatible with due attention to profeffional Studies, is calculated to improve the faculties of the mind,-to inform the understanding, itrengthen the judgment, engage the memory in an agreeable exercife, and prepare a young Man for the bett performance of his various duties of life. P. 1-16.

CLASS I.

RELIGION.

CHAP. I.

THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION.

THE reafonablenefs of inftructing Children in the principles of Religion at an early age. The fuperior excellence of CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. The leading proofs of the truth of Chriftianity stated. I. THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE BOOKS OP THE NEW TESTAMENT. II. THE CHARACTER OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR. III. THE PROPHECIES of which he was the Subject, and thofe which he pronounced. IV. HIS MIRACLES. V. HIS PRECEPTS, or CHRISTIAN ETHICS. VI. THE RAPID AND EXTENSIVE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL at its first preaching, under circumftances the most hoftile to its fuccefs. P. 17-56

8

CHAP.

CHAP. II.

THE SUBJECT CONTINUED.

REASONS why the doctrines and precepts of the Chriftian Religion have been attacked by Infidels of all ages.-Their arguments weak and inconclufive.-The Chriftian Religion has produced the happieft effects upon the Opinions, Conduct, and Inftitutions of Mankind.-It was darkened by Superftition, and intermixed with Error by the Papifts-but was brought back more nearly to the Apoftolical Standard by the REFORMATION -particularly by the PROTESTANT ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. Summary of the fublime Truths of Chriftianity.-It comprehends the laft Revelation of the divine will to mankind-eftablishes the certainty of a future ftate-reconciles Man to the difpenjations of Providence-and qualifies him by a Life of Faith and Obedience for the Rewards of Eternity.

CLASS II.

LANGUAGE.

CHAP. I.

LANGUAGE IN GENERAL.

P. 57-77.

ADVANTAGES refulting from a Knowledge of various Languages. All Languages are derived from one original Source. The moft rational fyftem of the Origin of Speech accords with the Scriptural account of Mofes.-Hieroglyphics and Painting.

Alphabetical Characters are the moft perfect reprefentations of ideas-their Origin and Progrefs-thofe of modern Europe may be traced to one fource.-Origin of the Italian and French Languages. The Distinctions between ancient and modern Languages. P. 78-96.

CHAP. II.

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

ITS Origin and Progrefs. The Simplicity of its grammatical Conftruction-Has been brought more nearly to a regular ftandard

fandard by the writings of Bifhop Lowth, Dr. Johnson, and Horne Tooke-Is both copious and energetic, and well adapted to Poetry. Its beauties and defects.-Great fuperiority of English to French Verfe.-Remarks on thofe Writers who have unneceffarily introduced into their works many words of Latin derivation, particularly Sir Thomas Brown, the Author of the Vulgar Errors, and Dr. Johnfon.-Strictures on the ftile of Gibbon. P. 119-197.

CHAP. III.

THE SUBJECT CONTINUED.

SOME of the pureft Writers of English recommended.SHAKESPEARE—RALEIGH-SPEED-TAYLOR-CLARENDON -TEMPLE-BARROW-LOCKE-DRYDEN-SWIFT-ADDISON-POPE-MELMOTH-SIR J. REYNOLDS, &c. &c.-The excellence of the English Tranflation of the Bible. The practice of Writing gives to Converfation correctnefs and elegance. -Difagreement between our Orthography and Pronunciation; --How they ought to be regulated. The excellence of our Language, when confidered as the vehicle of fome of the most inftructive and delightful productions of the human mind. The Settlement of the English Colonies in North America and the Eaft Indies will probably contribute to its perpetuity. P. 120-132.

CHAP. IV.

THE LATIN LANGUAGE.

ITS Utility-It was formerly the Language of all Perfons of Education for converfation, as well as writing.-Its Origin. Inferior to Greek, particularly in wanting the article.-Its Beauties and difcriminating Features. The progrefs of its Improvement. Sketch of the pureft Writers-TERENCE LUCRETIUS-CICERO-CORNELIUS NEPOS-CESAR-LIVY -VIRGIL-HORACE, &c. Points in which Latin are inferior to Greek Writers. A degeneracy of ftyle remarkable in Tacitus Suetonius-Pliny- Lucan-Seneca. Many beauties of the Claffics are loft in Tranflations. State of the Language in modern times. State of the Language before and after the fall of the Roman Empire-The best models of Imitation for Writers of Latin, are CICERO and VIRGIL.

Rules