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oughly comprehending the point before him, the student should endeavor to forget every thing else; and to concentrate all the energies of his soul upon the task he has undertaken. And yet, so absorbed should he be in his work, as forthwith to forget that it is a task, and only feel that it is a pleasure. Although at the proper time he may give up his mind to business, care, light reading, or diversion; yet these hours are consecrated sacredly to study-to the thorough discipline and enlargement of his mind; and to all other things he should be able to say, procul, O procul, este profani! How very different will be the progress of a student thus fitted for the work-thus nerved with giant strength, and wielding an Herculean club-from that of him whose head is confused and heavy from a loaded stomach, whose strength is weakness from want of exercise, and whose mind is distracted with corroding passions, or light and airy thoughts!

Reading newspapers and other periodicals.

Altogether incompatible with such a preparation as this, is the practice of lounging in the early part of the day, over the last newspaper or periodical. Information thence derived may be serviceable, if obtained at the proper time; that is, if such works be read as a relaxation from study, and after the regular study hours are past; but to dip into them in the morning, or into the romance, or the play, or the poem, is effectually to unfit the mind for the vigorous, undivided efforts which the solid branches of learning demand. Hence students of this character, although they catch many of the floating and iridescent bubbles of polite literature, and acquire a pert flippancy and readiness of expression, are usually marked with tekel when put into the balances.

Devotional exercises.

Finally, perhaps there is no means more effectual to secure this mental preparation for study, that is so desirable, than by devoting the season immediately previous to devo

tional exercises. I am not urging this duty as a theologian, but merely as a most effectual method of collecting the thoughts, of fixing the attention, of calming the excited feelings, and of awakening a determined purpose of soul. I speak not here of a hasty, formal, unfeeling, or unmeaning repetition of a prayer; but of those sincere and thorough devotional exercises which make the man feel the presence of God, and the controlling influence of religious motives, and the vanity, folly, and guilt of acting from merely selfish and ambitious views. Depend upon it, that he who has six hours before him for study, will make greater proficiency by devoting one of them to such exercises, than by monopolizing the whole for literature or science. Such a course, I might add, enlists in our favor infinite power and boundless wisdom!

What is study?

Having thus described the requisite preparation for literary labor, the third inquiry is, what portion of the day shall be devoted to regular and systematic study? For when I speak of study, I do not mean every thing that goes by the name.. I look upon the reading of a newspaper, a periodical, a romance, a play, or a poem, as merely a relaxation from study. It is only when the mind is investigating some branch of knowledge, hitherto wholly or partially unexplored; and is advancing systematically in its conquests from one position to another, that the effort ought to be dignified with the name of study. A man may 66 toy with his books," and sometimes ought to do it for health's sake ; but this is neither mental discipline nor mental conquest, and therefore not study.

What part of the day is best for study.

As to the season most proper for study, I shall speak the unanimous sentiment of every intelligent friend to health, and learning too, when I say that the earlier part of the day is decidedly the best. Every thing conspires to render

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pect that their constitutions are strong enough to render all' attention to health unnecessary, he persisted in an almost incessant application to study, until the delicate machinery of his system gave way, and left him only time enough in this world, while flesh and body were consuming, to pour forth the unavailing regret: how have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof! He allowed himself scarcely no time for relaxation, or meals, or sleep. He used to study till one, two, and even three o'clock in the morning; and then devote only two or three hours to sleep; having fixed a larum to his clock, to awake at five. His kind mother remonstrated, wept, entreated, and prayed in vain. She used to go every night to his study, at a certain hour, to extinguish his lamp; when he would conceal the light, and springing into bed, feign to be asleep: but rise again to his self-immolating work as soon as she had gone. The sacrifice was soon completed; and the victim has left his blood sprinkled over the vestibule of the temple of science, as a warning to every ardent youth, who attempts to enter in an unlawful manner.

Night study less successful.

Most literary men are convinced, that very late study at night is injurious to health: but few have any idea that it is equally hostile to the most vigorous and successful exertion of mind. Yet such is the fact: and if a man will review in the morning, the mental labours of the preceding night, especially if they were performed under the influence of any artificial stimulus, such as tea, coffee, or wine, he will find, that although there is exhibited evidence that the mind was in operation, yet the balance was gone, and the movements were too irregular to be useful. We should predict that the mind's vigor and calmness would be affected at night, by the bodily exhaustion; and the final result shows this to be a true prediction. We see this particularly, in the far greater retentiveness of the memory in the morning than at night: although probably there is a differ

ence equally great, in the exercise of the other mental powers. The scholar, therefore, who wishes not only to preserve his health, but to bring forth the full strength of his powers, must choose the early part of the day for the burden of his intellectual labours. His most severe efforts should be over before dinner. In the afternoon, indeed, gentle application to studies requiring no great abstraction of mind, is not particularly injurious: and the same may be said of the evening, until nine or ten o'clock: But to throw the principal and most severe studies into this part of the day, is slow, but effectual suicide: and especially to spur up the mind to intense action, after nine o'clock in the evening, is aiming a blow, not only at health and life, but at all the budding hopes of literary distinction.

Fatal practices of Clergymen.

Probably no class of men violate these rules so extensively as clergymen. Their literary labours are necessarily very great; composition being probably more exhausting than any other kind of study: and as the necessity of composition is constantly recurring, and other duties are crowding upon them, they are tempted to defer, as long as may be, the preparation of their sermons. Too often they procrastinate till evening, whose stillness invites to religious meditation; and excited by some interesting train of thought, or, it may be, by strong green tea, they find the clock striking eleven, or twelve, or even one, before the exhausted powers demand repose. Worse than all, such protracted mental labours most frequently occupy Friday, or Saturday night, following a day of severe mental effort, and preceding the day, when a laborious bodily effort is to be made in public. Now this severity of study is the very way to unfit the body for sustaining the labour of public speaking, which is trying enough, under the most favourable circumstances; but excessively prostrating to powers weakened by immoderate mental application. Can we wonder, that so many clergymen at this day, are victims to early prostration, and

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it so. The mind, as well as the body, is then refreshed and vigorous from repose; and every organ plays its part freely and pleasantly. And if the student do not clog his powers by too hearty a breakfast, or too violent exercise, or improper diversions, he will be able most successfully to prosecute his studies until the hour of dinner; interrupted only by those seasons which should be devoted to exercise; for I have already shown that such seasons are imperiously demanded, both for the preservation of health, and as a preparation for mental efforts.

General practices.

Those individuals in the literary world who have left the most imperishable monuments of their industry and knowledge, have, almost without exception, executed the greatest portion of their works in the early part of the day; devoting the latter part to exercise, recreation, and business. I have already, in another lecture, mentioned a striking living example, which may stand instar omnium, that Sir Walter Scott devotes only the hours from four to nine in the morning to literary labor. As to the practice of studying before day light, however, no student should enter upon it without great caution; for few have health and eyes sufficiently strong to endure it. But when a man has ascertained that no injury results from such a practice, he will certainly find a vigor and clearness of mind at that season, which he can scarcely hope to possess during any other portion of the day.

Night study.

While upon this subject, there is still greater need that I utter a strong caveat against night study: I mean study after nine or ten o'clock in the evening. Few literary men are aware of the great risk they run, by indulging in such a habit. And it is the besetting sin of studious men. The interruptions of the day, the stillness of the night, and not unfrequently the unnatural wakefulness produced by strong