illiterate often retire from the thraldom of business only to become the slaves of languor, intemperance, or vice.

But the situation, in which the advantages of that endowment of mind, which letters bestow, are chiefly conspicuous, is old age, when a man's society is necessarily circumscribed, and his powers of active enjoyment are unavoidably diminished. Unfit for the bustle of affairs, and the amusements of his youth, an old man, if he has no source of mental exertion or employment, often settles into the gloom of melancholy and peevishness, or petrifies his feelings by habitual intoxication. From an old man, whose gratifications were solely derived from those sensual appetites which time has blunted, or from those trivial amusements of which youth only can share, age has cut off almost every source of enjoyment. But to him who has stored his mind with the information, and can still employ it in the amusement of letters, this blank of life is admirably filled up. He acts, he thinks, and he feels with that literary world whose society he can at all times enjoy. There is perhaps no state more capable of comfort to ourselves, or more attractive of veneration from others, than that which such an old age affords; it is then the twilight of the passions, when they are mitigated but not extinguished, and spread their gentle influence over the evening of our day, in alliance with reason and in amity with virtue.

MACKENZIE.

REMARKS AND ANALYSIS. In examining the preceding example of Argumentative writing, our principal object of attention will be the plan or management of the subject.

The Introduction consists of an indirect statement of the question to be agitated. We are told how those have thought and reasoned whose opinions are opposed to the opinions of the writer. This statement is distinctly and fairly and skilfully made. Our literary taste is gratified by the illustrations and ornaments of language which are found. Our curiosity is roused, and we are ready to enter with interest on the proposed investigation. It should be noticed, that there is no formal statement of the proposition which is to be supported, but that it is clearly and happily implied in the introductory paragraphs.

After the introduction, follows the refutation of an objection. That this is the proper place for considering the objection stated, is evident, since, had it been unnoticed or its refutation deferred to the close of the Essay, the minds of readers might have been prevented by its influence from giving due weight to the arguments adduced. There are two modes of refuting objections; one, by denying the premises from which a conclusion is drawn-the other, by

shewing that the conclusion does not truly follow from the premises. The objection here considered is that facts establish the opposite of the opinion advanced by the writer-of course, the opinion can have no good foundation. To refute the objection, the premise is denied. Facts are otherwise, says the writer, and a satisfactory reason is assigned, why a different impression as to the bearing of facts on the case has prevailed. Having assigned this reason, the writer leaves the point at issue, as to facts in the case, to be determined by the observation and the good sense of his readers.

Having thus introduced his subject to our attention, stating by implication the proposition to be examined, and having removed an objection, which presented itself at the threshold, the writer now enters on the direct examination of his subject.

The following proposition is supported. Men of business may advantageously devote a portion of their time to literary pursuits.

1st Argument. Young men of business should engage in literary studies, since in them is found a pleasant relaxation and security against hurtful indulgences.

2nd Argument. Young men of business should engage in literary studies, because in this way they acquire a refinement and exaltation of mind which raises them above grovelling and selfish principles and conduct.

3rd Argument. Young men of business should engage in literary studies, because the cultivation of letters is favourable to the improvement of the mind.

4th Argument. A man of business should engage in literary pursuits, because in this way he acquires an independence of feeling which prepares him to enjoy his wealth. Without cultivation of mind and a literary taste, the retirement of the man of wealth is wearisome and disgusting to him.

5th Argument. Men of business should cultivate letters that they may find in them grateful employment for old age.

This is the plan. Upon examination, we find that it conforms to the directions given in the text book. The several heads are distinct from each other. They have a similar bearing on the leading proposition to be supported, and taken together, they give a unity to the subject.

The kind of argument here used, is the argument from cause to effect. Different reasons are stated, which account for and support the assertion that is made, and which forms the leading proposition.

Let us now take a nearer view of these different arguments, and see in what way they are supported. Under the first argument, the

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reasoning is as follows:-1. Young men in business will have relaxation and amusement. 2. Unless those of a salutary kind are provided, they will fall into such as are hurtful. Hence the importance of their being directed to literary pursuits, which may interest and benefit them. It may be asked, On what authority do these assertions of the writer rest? How do we know that young men thus will have relaxation and amusement? and that unless those of a salutary kind are provided they will fall into such as are hurtful? I answer, that these assertions rest on the common observation and experience of men. Hence the writer takes it for granted that those whom he addresses will yield their assent to his premises, and consequently, if his conclusion is correctly drawn, will acknowledge the reality of his argument.

In analysing the second argument, the inquiry arises, How is it known that literary studies give refinement and elevation to the mind, raising it above mean and grovelling pursuits? Here the appeal is to consciousness. Men, who have thus cultivated their intellectual powers, are conscious, when they look in upon the operations of their own minds, that these salutary influences have been exerted upon them.

The third argument, which asserts that the love of letters is favourable to the cultivation of the intellectual powers, rests principally upon experience and observation. There is also found an illustration, which is of an analogical kind. It is where the writer refers to those sports of children, which familiarize them with the elements of arithmetic. This argument from analogy may be looked upon as an appeal to the common sense of the readers.

The remaining arguments rest in like manner on appeals to experience, observation, common sense, and consciousness, and it is not necessary to analyse them. The student, in the analysis which has been made, has had an opportunity of seeing some of the grounds on which assertions and reasonings are founded.

EXERCISE IV.

NARRATIVE WRITING.

Fortitude of the Indian Character.

A PARTY of the Seneca Indians came to war against the Katawbas, bitter enemies to each other. In the woods the former discovered a sprightly warrior belonging to the latter, hunting in their usual light dress: on his perceiving them he sprung off for a hollow rock four or five miles distant, as they intercepted him from running

homeward. He was so extremely swift and skilful with the gun, as to kill seven of them in the running fight before they were able to surround and take him. They carried him to their country in sad triumph; but though he had filled them with uncommon grief and shame for the loss of so many of their kindred, yet the love of martial virtue induced them to treat him, during their long journey, with a great deal more civility than if he had acted the part of a coward.

The women and children, when they met him at their several towns, beat him and whipped him in as severe a manner as the occasion required, according to their law of justice; and at last he was formally condemned to die by the fiery torture. It might reasonably be imagined, that what he had for some time gone through, by being fed with a scanty hand, a tedious march, lying at night on the bare ground, exposed to the changes of the weather, with his arms and legs extended in a pair of rough stocks, and suffering such punishment on his entering into their hostile towns, as a prelude to those sharper torments to which he was destined, would have so impaired his health, and affected his imagination, as to have sent him to his long sleep, out of the way of any more sufferings.

Probably this would have been the case with the major part of white people under similar circumstances; but I never knew this with any of the Indians; and this cool-headed, brave warrior, did not deviate from their rough lessons of martial virtue, but acted his part so well as to surprise and sorely vex his numerous enemies :for when they were taking him, unpinioned, in their wild parade, to the place of torture, which lay near the river, he suddenly dashed down those who stood in his way, sprung off, and plunged into the water, swimming underneath like an otter, only rising to take breath, till he reached the opposite shore.

He ascended the steep bank, but though he had good reason to be in a hurry, as many of the enemy were in the water, and others running, like bloodhounds, in pursuit of him, and the bullets flying around him from the time he took to the river, yet his heart did not allow him to leave them abruptly. He chose to take leave in a formal manner, in return for the extraordinary favours they had done, and intended to do him. So stopping a moment to bid them defiance, in the genuine style of Indian gallantry, he put up the shrill warhoop, as his last salute, till some more convenient opportunity offered, and darted off in the manner of a beast broke loose from its torturing enemies.

He continued his speed, so as to run by about midnight of the same day as far as his eager pursuers were two days in reaching,

There he rested, till he happily discovered five of those Indians who had pursued him :-he lay hid a little way off their camp, till they were sound asleep. Every circumstance of his situation occurred to him and inspired him with heroism. He was naked, torn, and hungry, and his enraged enemies were come up with him; but there was now every thing to relieve his wants, and a fair opportunity to save his life, and get great honour and sweet revenge by cutting them off. Resolution, a convenient spot, and sudden surprise, would effect the main object of all his wishes and hopes.

He accordingly crept, took one of their tomahawks, and killed them all on the spot-clothed himself, and took a choice gun, and as much ammunition and provision as he could well carry in a running march. He set off afresh with a light heart, and did not sleep for several successive nights, except when he reclined as usual, a little before day, with his back to a tree.

As it were by instinct, when he found he was free from the pursuing enemy, he made directly to the very place where he had been taken prisoner and doomed to the fiery torture, after having killed seven of his enemies. The bodies of these he dug up, burnt them to ashes, and went home in safety with singular triumph. Other pursuing enemies came, on the evening of the second day, to the camp of their dead people, when the sight gave them a greater shock than they had ever known before. In their chilled war council they concluded that as he had done such surprising things in his defence before he was captivated, and even after that, in his naked condition, he must surely be an enemy wizard; and that, as he was now well armed, he would destroy them all should they continue the pursuit-they therefore very prudently returned home.

ADAIR.

REMARKS. In analysing this example of narrative writing, our attention is first to be directed to the leading purpose of the writer. This evidently is to tell us of the successful escape of a young Indian warrior from his enemies. Different facts are mentioned, connected with this leading fact,--such are the circumstances of his captivity, of his being conducted in triumph through the towns and villages of his enemies, of his revenge on those from whom he had suffered ills, and of his triumphant return to his own tribe. These several facts are stated in the order of their occurrence, and dwelt upon according to their relative importance. Another purpose of the writer, which is incidentally and skilfully effected, is the mention and illustration of several traits of Indian character. Such are fortitude, manifested in the patient endurance of extreme hardships and sufferings, respect for martial virtue, rising at last to a superstitious