great is the knowledge of hiftory, that a man ignorant of it, may be denominated a fecond Adam, and indeed is to be cenfured, having in his power the means of knowledge. There are many who admire the valour and military qualities of an Alexander, or a Julius Cæfar, without once confidering how much blood they have fhed, for no other cause than merely to fatisfy their curfed love of diftinction! Well may the Bishop of London say in these his expreffive words: "One murder makes a villain, millions an hero." The advantages arifing from the ftudy of history are various. It ought to precede all other parts of learning, as it ferves not only for inftruction, but alfo for entertainment. It is the firft ftudy among young people that excites curiofity. Youth, however, fhould not boaft of their knowledge of hiftory. They may have burdened their memories with events, dates, and names only to make a difplay of their knowledge, and aftonish their friends. But the true purport of history does not confift in the remembrance of events and actions. This kind of knowledge merits no applaufe. For knowledge confifts in examining things to the bottom, and in finding out their true value. The principal end or hiftory then, is to teach youth to speak little, but reflect much. Many in general are partial to the Greeks and Romans, and wish to imitate their brilliant actions. They perceive the inhabitants of their own country in general afpiring to wealth and grandeur, and crowds courting their friendship and efteem. For that reason they are led to admire what they fee other people admire. But by looking narrowly into paft ages they rectify this miftake, and fee that not the richest and greateft, but the beft man was in the end rewarded. We fhould likewise form a judgment of what is deferving of praise. For hiftory prefents us with fome men who, in their time, made a mighty noife in the world, but whofe me 03 mory mory is now covered with infamy and difgrace. In the mean time, others in a private and retired life, enjoy ease and pleasure, which is a far better reward than the attempting to fecure pleasure and eafe at the expence of the blood and peace of their fellow-creatures. We fee in the reading of history' that by the Greeks and Romans, flavery was greatly abhorred. Without mercy, however, they tyrannized over their flaves, unfortunate people! reduced by them to flavery. They exceffively difliked flavery, and yet when thefe unfortunate people attempted to recover their liberty, how cruelly were they ufed even by thofe very mafters who have given inftances that they would rather die than fubmit to flavery. Was that done like freemen, to govern with an iron rod an helpless and undefended people? But the barbarity of the times partly excufes them. The reading of history is of fo great a benefit to mankind, as it lays open to us the viciffitudes of empires, kingdoms, and republics. By reading of thefe revolutions we trace the origin, firft, of our own country, and then that of the world itself. By this ufeful ftudy of history we become acquainted with the tranfactions of paft ages from the very beginning of time. History is nearly connected with geography and chronology. The latter informs you of the exact time when the action was performed, the former, of the fize and fituation of the place where it was performed. So great is the utility of chronology, that without it we should fink into an abyfs of ignorance, not knowing whether it was at the beginning or end of the creation, except by the defcription of its manners and cuftoms, which would be a very indifferent help Without geography alfo, we fhould be in a bad dilemma, not knowing the extent and fituation of the place of which we read, which is neceffary to comprehend their wars and expeditions. Thus we fee the connection and the great ufe of chronology and geography for properly understanding the the ftudy of hiftory. Hiftory gives us the event itfelf, chronology the time when this event happened, and geography where and how the place is fituated, with its fize. The hiftory of our own country fhould carefully be read, then we may defcend to the history of Rome, Greece, and ancient history in general, not omitting facred hiftory, where we find the first origin of time. Of the modern hiftorians of our own country, It fhall fuffice to mention a few of the principal ones, viz. Rapin, Henry, Hume, Kimber, and Goldfmith, all of whom have exercifed their pens in an elegant and inftructive manner. We might next proceed to thofe who, in the compilation of larger hiftories, have had the more laborious task of selecting from all the fcattered remains of antiquity. But I fhall now conclude by just reminding the reader of the utility of hiftory, in the words which conftitute my motto "As it is the office of an orator to perfuade, it is that of an hiftorian to record truth for the inftruction of mankind." In many lives; thro' many a nerve he feels; FILIA HANNAH MORE. ILIAL affection is that difpofition of the mind exercifed by a child towards his parents. It is the moft refined and natural of our fenfations. When a child of any feeling or fenfibility reflects what his parents have done for him in his early years, how they bore with his frailties, cherished him in fick nefs, and ftored his mind with ufeful knowledge, he must find his heart glowing with gratitude towards them. It is certainly the conftant ambition of good parents to inftil virtue into the minds of their children, as well as to grant them every indulgence that may not prove prejudicial to them. Is it not therefore reasonable, that after having conferred so many favours on their offspring, they fhould in return expect their love and obedience? Yes; and the perfon who is deftitute of love towards his parents, is unworthy of being called a human being. His confcience will probably foon render him despicable in his own eyes; he is indeed to be pitied, for he has not had the pleasure of experiencing one of the finest fenfations that ever rofe in the human breast. You should honour your parents, and as much as poffible hide their weakneffes. When they grow old remember what they did for you in your youth. In return lighten their forrows, footh their cares, fupport their infirmities, and pay great deference to their authority and advice. When you have done all this, and all that is in your power to do, you will not even then have paid the debt you owe them. Your parents, if they have it in their power, will certainly give you a liberal education. In that cafe it is your duty to pay great attention to your different studies. Purfue them with alacrity, that you may put them to as little expence as poffible. For be affured, that nothing can give your parents greater joy than to fee you a virtuous, wife, and useful member of society. Should you live to become parents yourselves, you will, by acting refpectfully towards your own parents, fet your children an ufeful example. They in their turn will prove virtuous and have à veneration for you. On the contrary, if you be not virtuous, they probably will not be virtuous; if you do not refpect your parents, your own offspring will not refpect you. So great is the force of example on the minds of youth. But whether they imitate your obedience or not, a virtuous character cannot be miferable. Having done your duty by the exercife exercife of filial affection, you will be fecure of your reward, though the best of parents must forely feel the ingratitude or difobedience of their children. I thali conclude in the expreffive language of an ancient fage: : "The piety of a child is sweeter than the incenfe of Perfia offered to the fun; yea, more delicious than odours wafted from a field of Arabian spices by the western gales. "Be grateful then to thy father, for he gave thee life; and to thy mother for the fuftained thee. "Hear the words of his mouth, for they are fpoken for thy good; give ear to his admonition for it proceedeth from love. "He hath watched for thy welfare, he hath toiled for thy cafe; do honour therefore to his age, and let not his grey hairs be treated with irreverence. "Forget not thy helplefs infancy, nor the frowardnefs of thy youth, and indulge the infirmities of thy aged parents, aflift and support them in the decline of life. "So fhall their hoary heads go down to the grave in peace, and thine own children in reverence of thine example, fhall repay thy piety with filial love." June 12, 1798. A. W. THE |