Borough is highly venerable, respectable, and valuable. It is an excellent merchantable commodity, and reminds me of a couplet of Hudibras:

The real value of a thing,

Is just as much as it will bring.

SATIRICAL STRICTURES ON MODERN EDUCA

TION.

The youth of all the higher and middle classes in society have a manifest advantage over those in a lower station; yet it will be found that, in consequence of injudicious management, they derive little benefit from contingent circum-` stances. The indulgence of infantine caprice, so prevalent in this metropolis, is one great source of folly and vice. From a ridiculous affectation of tenderness, many mothers lay the foundation. of the future obstinacy of their sons, by gratifying their childish passions. Such falsely good-natured beings will exclaim, "I cannot bear to make my child unhappy, even for a moment; poor fellow! he will have trouble enough when he grows up; sorrow will come too soon!" This absurd idea is very common among parents, who, imagine their children will be taught the regulation of their passions by experience.

Boys are indulged, lest severe restrictions

should break their spirit, and render them timid; hence they become assuming and impudent, and on their entrance into life are like a luxuriant tree, whose superabundance of branches and foliage prevents it from producing any good fruit, till the severe hand of experience lops its redundancies.

How irrational are those parents who permit their sons to attain maturity, with only a few fashionable accomplishments! They step out into life with all their passions and desires in full vigour; where, impatient of contradiction, and unaccustomed to controul, they are often involved in embarrassments and quarrels. Enchanted bythe smile of pleasure, the giddy youth revels in her illicit enjoyments. Fascinated by public amusements, and misled by dissolute companions, he pursues the phantom of happiness without reflection. The stews, the gaming-table, and the tavern, consume his health and fortune; till ruined, emaciated, and forsaken, the wretch is left to pine in hopeless despondency; or unable to meet his naked heart alone, terminates his vain-glorious career by suicide! Such, alas! are too often the fruits of an improper education.

Young clergymen would be the most proper instructors of youth. Being well taught themselves, and coming fresh from classic ground, with their faculties invigorated by polite learn

ing, they are fully competent to the task of inculcating knowledge; and, from their preparatory study of ethics, they are proper guardians

of the morals of others.

Men of genius would find ample room for their active minds to expatiate, in tracing, and aiding, the development of the human understanding. Nor will any man of sense object to the avocation, who will take the trouble to recollect that some illustrious writers have presided over youth, as masters and assistants in academies. Milton, Johnson, and Goldsmith, "poured the fresh instruction o'er the mind;" nor can we rationally consider that employment as a degradation of talents, which contributes so essentially to the diffusion of knowledge.

When the pupil has been initiated in the elements of useful science, and while the susceptible heart throbs with generous feelings, the beauty of morality should be exhibited in the most engaging garb. The simple and sublime precepts of Christ, will awaken that benevolence which is the source of human felicity on earth. The tutor will have an opportunity to contrast the fanciful doctrines of the heathen, with the elevated and godlike dignity of Christianity; and the unerring precept, "Whatsoever ye would that all men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them," will, by making an early and permanent im

pression, guide the happy being in the path of justice.

Elegant literature, such as poetry, history, biography, and natural philosophy, may be studied with success. With a mind thus imbued with divine and human knowledge, the youth, when he steps into the world, will feel and act up to the dignity of a rational being. He will be a column at once to adorn and strengthen the fabric of society; he will perceive his dignified situation in the order of created beings, and rejoice in the honourable privileges of a man and a Christian.

This sketch is submitted to the consideration of the middle and lower classes of the community, whose very imperfect mode of education requires improvement, especially as many of the schoolmasters are incompetent to a trust on which so much of the happiness of the present and future generations depends! Happy, thrice happy, would London soon be, if those miserable children who are now taught the arts of deceit and thievery, were taught to read and write, and had their minds early fortified with pious precepts, to enable them to resist the influence of evil communications.

The human soul comes pure and innocent from the hands of its holy Creator; by its union with the body, it becomes liable to the errors and vices

of fallen man, yet continues endued with faculties, which, under proper regulations, are productive of good; while its exquisite susceptibility renders it liable to receive continual impressions from surrounding objects. Hence the vast importance of our infantine years, and the necessity of the early and gradual inculcation of the moral duties.

Parents, look around! behold the little blooming creatures whom Providence has committed to your charge. Ah, cultivate their hearts; rectify their judgments; and their grateful reverence will reward your love! Do not imagine that your duty to your offspring is confined to supplying them with mere necessaries. That is, indeed, indispensable; but their minds require a much more important kind of nutriment. Instil piety to God, and love to mankind, as the two great principles of human felicity. Teach them to regard the whole creation as the production of one great and good Being, whose wisdom is unbounded. As their faculties expand, let them be initiated in the principles of useful science, and taught some art conducive to the common good. Then shall your daughters be celebrated for their modesty and virtue, and your sons become honest, industrious, and intelligent men, the glory of their parents, and an honour to their country.