or those with whom we converfe. And indeed when the Principles of Virtue and Prudence are once thoroughly settled in the Mind, there will be little Difficulty in furnishing it with other useful Parts of Knowledge. For the Obftructions commonly met with in conducting Youth through the Sciences, are owing for the moft part to a Difguft, or want of Relifh and Inclination. But a Mind that is well feafoned with worthy and commendable Sentiments, will hardly give way to Impreffions fo hurtful and injurious to itself.

P. I am perfectly fatisfied of the Truth of what you fay; nay, and have often reflected within myfelf, that the Anxiety my Parents difcovered about my Progrefs in Study, muft proceed from their knowing it to be for my Good. I had obferved them tender and careful of me in every thing, afflicted when I was fick or in Pain, and pleased when I behaved well, fo as to deferve Commendation from others. Al this led me to conclude, that my Profit was their chief Aim in every thing they did relating to me. I am therefore delighted to hear you now mention a Study, that will serve to make me,more knowing and prudent, and by convincing me that it is for my own Advantage to purfue Learning and Inftruction, conquer any Reluctance that may ftill hang about me, and add Spurs to my Induftry. But what Study do you mean?

G. I mean the Study of Hiftory.

P. Of Hiftory! How does that tend to make one knowing and virtuous ?

G. Have Patience: thefe things must be unfolded by Degrees, that you may fee Step by Step the Advantages to be derived from this Branch of Learning, and comprehend thoroughly the many valuable Purpofes to which it ferves.

P. I am not wholly a Stranger to Hiftory; for I often take Pleafure in reading by myfelf what is related of the ancient Empires, efpecially of the Greeks and Romans, and am tolerably well acquainted with moft of their great Men.

G. So much the better: you will relish the more the Leffons I am to give you upon this Subject. For as I fhall only remind you of Facts you know already, and accompany them with Reflections which probably did not occur to you in reading; you will no doubt be pleafed to view them again in new Lights, and furrounded with quite new Circumstances. It will be no Reflection upon your Judgment, if I fuppofe that Wars, Battles, and the fhining Exploits of the Heroes of Antiquity, have hitherto feemed moft worthy of your Attention. It is natural for thefe Things to leave a strong

Impreffion upon young Minds; nor ought we to wonder at it, fince even Men of riper Years are very apt to be misled by them. How many admire the Characters of Alexander and Julius Cæfar, as the moft illuftrious in ancient Story, purely on Account of the many Victories they gained, and the great military Renown they left behind them! They never confider them as the Authors of Mifery to Thousands, as laying wafte Countries out of Wantonnefs and Ambition, fpreading Defolation where-ever they came, and depriving Multitudes of what they held most dear and valuable. These, I say, are Reflections, that often escape the more wife and knowing; much less are they to be expected from young Minds, dazzled with the Luftre of their great Actions. I therefore readily excufe you, if in reading the Lives of these renowned Commanders, and others mentioned in Hiftory, you have passed fuch a Judgment upon Men and Things, as was natural to your Age, and the yet imperfect State of your Understanding. But it is now Time to remove thefe Prejudices, and teach you to diftinguish between what is really valuable in a Character, and what deferving of Cenfure; that while you do Juftice to Abilities, Valour, and Prudence, as Talents in themselves worthy of Efteem, you may not fail to condemn the Mifapplication of them. For how different is the Man, who employs great Qualifications in advancing the Caufe of Virtue, and promoting the Happiness of Mankind, from him who makes them fubfervient to the Gratification of his own Vices and Paffions, and by his fuperior Abilities, is only led to do the greater Mifchief? But befides correcting the wrong Notions you may have formed by an over-hafty Decifion, and conducting your Judgment aright with regard to past Transactions; it is alfo my Bufinefs to inftruct you, how you are to manage the Study of Hiftory, that it may furnish you with Maxims of Prudence and Wisdom for the Conduct of Life, fupply Motives to Virtue, and beget a Deteftation of Vice.

P. You lay before me a very agreeable Profpect, and recommend a Part of Knowledge than which nothing can appear more amiable. Nay, I begin already to view Things with other Eyes than formerly, and am impatient to hear your Directions for the Profecution of a Study, from which I am like to derive fo many Advantages.

G. Nor fhall you wait long for the Satisfaction you defire. It were Injuftice to deny giving all poffible Affiftance to one, who difcovers fo high a Relifh for thefe Studies, and fo uncommon a Capacity of Improvement. I fhall begin there

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fore with obferving, that Hiftory ought to precede most other Parts of Learning, and prepare the Way for them. It is remarkably level to the Capacities of Youth, and suited to the Make and Conftitution of their Minds. For the reading of History serves not only to inftruct, but also to entertain; and the great Secret of Education lies, in knowing how to render Learning agreeable, that the Mind may find in it something inviting and captivating, and be drawn to the Pursuit of it from Liking and Inclination. Befides, no Study is better adapted towards exciting Curiofity, which is but an Appetite after Knowledge, and therefore ought carefully to be cherished. Confider then, my dear Pupil, that by reading History, you will enrich your Memory with a great Variety of agreeable and useful Facts, which while they gratify your Curiofity, will at the fame time contribute to form your Heart and Understanding. Reflect only upon your own Mind, and the Inclinations you therein feel. When any new and uncommon Object is prefented to you, how impatient are you to examine all its Parts, and be inform'd of its Nature and Ufe? You take a Pleafure in extending your Acquaintance among your Companions, and learning all their Diverfions. This is a commendable Inclination, and highly deferving of Encouragement. All I want is, to direct this Bent aright, and apply it to noble and worthy Pursuits. If the limited Acquaintance you have in the World, the Objects that furround you within fo fmall an Extent, and some minute Tranfactions of prefent Times, furnish Matter of Inquiry and Amusement, and are sufficient to excite your Curiofity: how much greater Delight may you reasonably propofe to yourself, in extending the Bounds of this Knowledge, by taking a View of the Purfuits, Employments, and Inclinations of Men of all Ages and Conditions; by travelling into distant Nations, traverfing the vaft Regions of the Univerfe, and carrying your Researches back through the long Series of Ages which have fucceeded one another fince the Creation of the World? These great Advantages you will attain by the Study of Hiftory. It lays open to you all Countries, Times, and Tranfactions, and makes you in a manner, an Eye-Witnefs to the aftonishing Changes and Revolutions that have from time to time happened in the World. By perufing the Records of paft Ages, we carry ourfelves back to the firft Original of things, and enter upon a new Kind of Exiftence. We fee the World rifing out of nothing, behold how it was governed in its Infancy, how overflowed and destroyed in a Deluge of Water, and again

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repeopled. We trace the firft Inftitution and Establishment of Kingdoms and Commonwealths, obferve how they røfe, flourished, and decayed, and enter into a kind of Intimacy and Correfpondence with the feveral great Men who contributed to these mighty Revolutions. And here it is chiefly, that by taking a View of the Actions and Behaviour of those that have gone before us, and examining into their Atchievements, Virtues, and Faults, the Mind comes to be furnished with prudent Maxims and Reflections, and is enabled to form wife and unerring Rules for the Conduct of Life, both in a private and public Capacity.

P. I fhould be glad to be informed in what Manner these Maxims and Regulations of Life are to be got from the reading of History, that I may know how to apply to it with more Profit.

G. This is an ample Subject, were I to handle it in its full Extent; but I fhall confine myself at present to fome important Reflections, fuch as will point out in the most obvious Manner what you defire to know. And firft, as Hiftory is a Representation of Mankind, in all the various Circumftances and Conditions of Life; and lays before us their Characters, Counsels, Defigns, and the Results of them; this apparently tends to the Enlargement of the Understanding, and will prove the beft Security against the Prejudices and falfe Impreffions Men are apt to contract from Education, and the prevailing Vices of the Age in which they live. It is almoft impoffible for young Minds, not to receive a strong Tincture from the Manners and Opinions of those with whom they converse. And if Riches, Honours, and the Splendor of a public Life, are the grand Objects of Pursuit, and draw after them the Applaufe of Mankind, it is easy to conceive what Effect this will have, and how early we shall begin to give way to the Impreffions of Ambition and Avarice. We fee great Court paid to Men of Wealth and Power, they are flatter'd and extolled by all that approach them, and are fo far the Objects of univerfal Efteem, that the reft of Mankind seem ambitious of fharing their Favour, and pride themselves in being of the Number of their Friends. Hence we are led to look upon that as really valuable, which we fee every body fet a Value upon; and to affix Ideas of Worth and Dignity to thefe external Advantages of Life, that make no Part of, nor depend upon ourselves. Now by looking into the Tranfactions of paft Ages, we fhall be beft enabled to correct these mistaken Notions, and form a true Judgment of what is deferving of Admiration and Praife. VOL. I.

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For Hiftory prefents us with many Examples of Men who made a mighty Noife in the World, were highly honoured in their Lives, and paffed thro' the greatest Dignities, but are now cover'd with Infamy and Reproach: while others, in the calm Enjoyment of a private Life, without any thing of that external Pomp which dazzles vulgar Minds, were the Delight of all that knew them, and have left behind them a Name grateful to Posterity. The Reason is plain. It is not a Man's Station, but the Virtues which adorn his Station, that recommend him to the Approbation of the Difinterested and Wife. And therefore, if you are ambitious of a rational and lafting Efteem, the Experience of former Times will teach you to afpire, not fo much after Places of Rank and Diftinction, as thofe Accomplishments which will enable you to pafs through Life with Dignity and Applaufe. For thus adorned, you cannot even in a private Station be without Honour; and if called to public Employments, muft acquire accumulated Praife. Reflect then within yourself, whether it is not one of the most important Leffons of human Life, thus to arm the Mind against popular Errors, and the infinuating Language of the Paffions; and difpofe it to hearken to the calm Voice of Reafon and Truth. For thus will Men know how to pafs a found Judgment upon great and good Actions, and finding that Virtue and Probity are the only Way to foild and true Renown, will begin with establishing thefe as the Foundation of their After-conduct.

And as Hiftory in this Manner directs to the Purfuit of what is truly great and Praise-worthy, fo will it prove the beft Guide to conduct us thro' all the Intricacies of Life. For here we fhall fee what Measures and Counfels make the Iflues of things fortunate, and what kind of Behaviour it is, that involves the Authors of it in Ruin. Above all we shall be taught to be diffident of ourselves, and to guard against our Paffions as our most dangerous Enemies. For there is a certain Impotence of Mind, which by making Men Slaves to the prefent prevailing Inclination, not only works Havock and Destruction in Families, but has often laid whole Coun tries and Kingdoms defolate. And the Examples of this kind, which frequently occur in Hiftory, are most likely to put Men upon their Guard, and make them fenfible of the great Importance of Continence and Moderation. It is the first Part of Wisdom, fays a celebrated Poet, not to be a Fool; and in like manner, it is the firft Part of Virtue to ftrengthen the Mind againft the Attacks of Vice, and fecure all the Avenues by which it might make its Approaches. A Man