mands perpetual caution. Moderation, vigilance, and self-government, are duties incumbent on all; but especially on such as are beginning the journey of life.

The charms and comforts of virtue are inexpressible; and can only be justly conceived by those who possess her. The consciousness of Divine approbation and support, and the steady hope of future happiness, communicate a peace and joy, to which all the delights of the world bear no resemblance.

If we knew how much the pleasures of this life deceive and betray their unhappy votaries; and reflected on the disappointments in pursuit, the dissatisfaction in enjoyment, or the uncertainty of possession, which every where attend them; we should cease to be enamoured with these brittle and transient joys; and should wisely fix our hearts on those virtuous attainments, which the world can neither give nor take away.

POETRY.

Order is Heav'n's first law; and this confest,
Some are, and must be, greater than the rest,
More rich, more wise; but who infers from hence,
That such are happier, shocks all common sense.
Needful austerities our wills restrain;

As thorns fence in the tender plant from harm.
Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense,
Lie in three words, health, peace, and competence:
But health consists with temperance alone;
And peace, Oh virtue! peace is all thy own.

On earth, nought precious is obtain❜d,
But what is painful too;

By travel and to travel* born,

Our sabbaths are but few.

*The same as travail.

Who noble ends by noble means obtains,
Or failing, smiles in exile or in chains,
Like good Aurelius let him reign, or bleed
Like Socrates, that man is great indeed.

Our hearts are fasten'd to this world,
By strong and endless ties;
But every sorrow cuts a string,
And urges us to rise.

Oft pining cares in rich brocades are drest,
And diamonds glitter on an anxious breast.
Teach me to feel another's wo,

To hide the fault I see;

That mercy I to others show,

That mercy show to me.

This day be bread, and peace, my lot:
All else beneath the sun,

Thou know'st if best bestow'd or not,
And let thy will be done.

Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As, to be hated, needs but to be seen:
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.

If nothing more than purpose in thy power,
Thy purpose firm, is equal to the deed:
Who does the best his circumstance allows,
Does well, acts nobly; angels could no more.
In faith and hope the world will disagree;
But all mankind's concern is charity.

To be resign'd when ills betide,
Patient when favours are denied,
And pleas'd with favours given:
Most surely this is Wisdom's part,
This is that incense of the heart,
Whose fragrance smells to Heav'n.

All fame is foreign, but of true desert;

Plays round the head, but comes not to the heart:
One self-approving hour whole years outweighs
Of stupid starers, and of loud huzzas;

And more true joy Marcellus exil'd feels,
Than Cæsar with a senate at his heels.

Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife,
Their sober wishes never learn'd to stray;

Along the cool sequester'd vale of life,

They kept the noiseless tenour of their way. What nothing earthly gives, or can destroy, The soul's calm sunshine, and the heartfelt joy, Is virtue's prize.

Pity the sorrows of a poor old man,

Whose trembling limbs have borne him to thy door,
Whose days are dwindled to the shortest span :
Oh! give relief, and Heav'n will bless thy store.
Who lives to nature, rarely can be poor:
Who lives to fancy, never can be rich.
When young, life's journey I began,

The glitt'ring prospect charm'd my eyes;

I saw, along th' extended plain,

Joy after joy successive rise.

But soon I found 'twas all a dream;

And learn'd the fond pursuit to shun, Where few can reach the purpos'd aim, And thousands daily are undone.

'Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours; And ask them, what report they bore to Heav'n.

All nature is but art, unknown to thee;

All chance, direction, which thou canst not see; All discord, harmony not understood;

All partial evil, universal good.

Heav'n's choice is safer than our own;
Of ages past inquire,

What the most formidable fate?

"To have our own desire."

If ceaseless, thus, the fowls of Heav'n he feeds,
If o'er the fields such lucid robes he spreads;
Will he not care for you, ye faithless, say?
Is he unwise? or, are ye less than they?

The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heav'ns, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim:
Th' unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator's power display,
And publishes to ev'ry land,
The work of an Almighty hand.

Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wond'rous tale,

And, nightly, to the list'ning earth,
Repeats the story of her birth :

Whilst all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.
What tho', in solemn silence, all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball!
What tho' nor real voice nor sound,
Amid their radiant orbs be found!
In reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice;
For ever singing as they shine,
"The hand that made us is Divine."

PART II.

EXERCISES IN ORTHOGRAPHY.

CHAP. I.

Containing instances of false Orthography, arranged under the respective Rules-for the correction of which, private learners may also have reference to Dr. Johnson's Dictionary.

RULE 1.

Monosyllables ending with f, l, or s, preceded by a single vowel, double the final consonant; as, staff, mill, pass, &c. The only exceptions are, of, if, as, is, has, was, yes, his, this, us, and thus.

It is no great merit to spel properly; but a great defect to do it incorrectly.

Jacob worshiped his Creator, leaning on the top of his staf.

We may place too little, as well as too much stres upon dreams.

Our manners should be neither gros, nor excessively refined.

or s,

RULE II.

Monosyllables ending with any consonant but f, l, and preceded by a single vowel, never double the final consonant; excepting only, add, ebb,butt, egg, odd, err, inn, bunn, burr, purr, and buzz.

A carr signifies a chariot of war, or a small carriage of burden.

In the name of druggs and plants, the mistake in a word may endanger life.

Nor undelightful is the ceaseless humm

To him who muses through the woods at noon.

The finn of a fish is the limb, by which he balances his body, and moves in the water.

Many a trapp is laid to insnare the feet of youth. Many thousand families are supported by the simple business of making matts.

RULE III.

Words ending with y, preceded by a consonant, form the plurals of nouns, the persons of verbs, verbal nouns, past participles, comparatives, and superlatives, by changing y into i; as, spy, spies, I carry, thou carriest; he carrieth or carries; carrier, carried; happy, happier, happiest.

The present participle in ing, retains the y, that i may not be doubled; as, carry, carrying; bury, burying, &c.

But y, preceded by a vowel, in such instances as the above, is not changed; as, boy, boys; I cloy, he cloys, cloyed, &c.; except in lay, pay, and say; from which are formed, laid, paid, and said; and their compounds, unlaid, unpaid, unsaid, &c.

We should subject our fancys to the government of reason.

D