THE hiftory of the following production is briefly this:-A lady, fond of blank verse, demanded a poem of that kind from the author, and gave him the SOFA for a fubject. He obeyed; and, having much leifure, connected another subject with it; and, pursuing the train of thought to which his fituation and turn of mind led him, brought forth at length, inftead of the trifle which he at first intended, a serious affair-a Volume! In the Poem on the fubject of Education, he would be very forry to stand suspected of having aimed his cenfure at any particular school. His objections are fuch as naturally apply themselves to schools in general. If there were not, as for the most part there is, wilful neglect in those who manage them, and an omiffion even of fuch discipline as they are susceptible of, the objects are yet too numerous for minute attention; and the aching hearts of ten thousand parents, mourning under the bittereft of all disappointments, atteft the truth of the allegation. His quarrel, therefore, is with the mischief at large, and not with any particular inflance of it. ARGUMENT OF THE FIRST BOOK. Hiftorical deduction of feats, from the flool to the Sofa. -A School-boy's ramble.—A walk in the country. -The fcene defcribed.-Rural founds as well as fights delightful.-Another walk.-Miftake concerning the charms of folitude corrected.-Colonnades commended.-Alcove, and the view from it. -The wilderness.-The grove.-The thresherThe neceffity and the benefits of exercise.-The works of nature fuperior to, and in fome inftances inimitable by, art.-The wearisomeness of what is commonly called a life of pleasure.-Change of Scene Sometimes expedient.-A common defcribed, and the character of crazy Kate introduced.—Gipfies.— The bleffings of civilized life.—That state moft favourable to virtue.-The South Sea islanders compaffionated, but chiefly Omai.—His present ftate of mind fuppofed.—Civilized life friendly to virtue, but not great cities.-Great cities, and London in particular, allowed their due praise, but cenfured. -Fete champetre.-The book concludes with a reflection on the fatal effects of diffipation and effeminacy upon our public measures. |