ditated, and compared, and who, from long acquaintance with books and men, assisted by natural acuteness of discernment, may form new combinations of old ideas. Those, therefore, who begin by borrowing largely from the best sources, have the greatest chance of arriving in time at originality, to which it were presumption in the young and uninformed to pretend *.

The impossibility of finding untrodden ground might be discouraging for those entering on the paths of literature, were it not that there are some opinions which can never be delivered too often; sentiments, which cannot appear under too many forms of expression; truths, which repetition cannot sufficiently impress; and an inexhaustible store of facts to be considered, more than life is long enough for us to hear, or memory sufficiently powerful to retain. It often happens, too, that a long neglected topic comes forth again with all the gloss of novelty generations are continually passing away, the experienced go to the grave, the

L'écrivain original n'est pas celui qui n'imite personne, mais celui que personne ne peut imiter.

CHATEAUBRIAND.

ignorant succeed in their room, and every thing is new to a person once in his life.

I think it unnecessary to give you any further specimen of writing by rule, or subject to a particular arrangement.

If the following pages contain more narrative than belongs strictly to the character of themes, you will perhaps read them with the less distaste on that account; and, I believe, it will generally be admitted, that whatever tends to render the argument more impressive, and the composition more lively, provided it be closely applicable to the subject, may properly find a place in an Essay.

Let me caution you against supposing that I presume to offer this little volume as containing patterns for composition. So far is this from being the case, that I shall rejoice to see you discover and point out the errors which must needs occur in my writing, provided you thereby learn to avoid them in your own.

We have in the English language so many excellent Essays, and models for good writing, that I should have recommended you to have recourse at once to the best authors, and to imbibe your

first notions of composition from the highest source. But the works of these, besides being scattered through many volumes, to which you cannot at present have access, are often written on abstruse subjects, or in such language as you might now imperfectly understand, though in a short time you will be capable of enjoying their beauties, and of discerning how far they are worthy of imitation. In the mean time, all that I pretend to give you is a mere stepping-stone to the practice of making your school themes, which has, at least, the advantage of being comprised in so small a compass, that want of leisure and inclination for this sort of reading will not prevent you from making use of them.

Some of the observations contained in the foregoing pages are less applicable to you than to many of your contemporaries. You have had opportunities, both of reading and of hearing, more than is usual at your age; and, not having begun very early to make themes, have, in my opinion, the better prospect of beginning with success; inasmuch as you will avoid grammatical errors, and, from among the words and phrases dwelling your memory, will probably choose the best.

in

The opinions you have already unconsciously imbibed will enable you to reason sensibly, or at least plausibly, on many topics, and, after a little practice, I have no doubt that you will accomplish with ease all that is required in a school theme, and more than is usually performed.

Immortal bard! forgive my doubting thee;
Poets as well as "doctors disagree."

The cup was filled for every eager lip,

And those who cannot drink, do well to sip.

ANONYMOUS.

YOUNG persons, especially those who are endowed with a quick and ready perception, are usually inclined to skim the cream of science, to seize upon very indistinct notions, and to fancy them correct. This imperfect sort of acquirement is more dangerous than ignorance, as it induces presumption and self-sufficiency. The want of information, indeed, on many subjects, is not in itself blameable or ridiculous; it becomes so only when it is united to a pretension to knowledge. Yet much has been said and written against superficial acquirements, which would have been better directed against