quirement of much solid learning. Instead of a smattering in a dead language, of which he may never find any use, and which, to increase the difficulty of attainment, is absurdly made introductory to itself; instead of a memory charged with stories of ideal metamorphoses, and obscene adventures of gods and goddesses; a boy of common capacity may early be initiated in the rudiments of real science, may be made acquainted with many of the less obvious changes and operations of nature, with many surprising properties of light and fire, of air and water, with the elements of astronomy, of geography, of general history, and of various other parts of knowledge at once both useful and ornamental. And, what is more important (as was observed in a former section) than a proficiency in particular branches of learning, his faculties may be prepared for any acquisitions which he may find necessary in his progress through the world, and his understanding formed to pronounce justly upon their value. Above

all, the anxious affection of a parent, if he is at all qualified to sustain that character, will naturally induce him to practise every method which may inspire his son with the love of truth and virtue, and consequently with a distaste of all such tales and fictions, however set off and embellished by the power of genius, which may violate the integrity of the one, or the purity of the other.

Farther: a learned and ingenious recluse may sometimes aid the progress of general knowledge and improvement. If he is a mathematician, though he may not be able to extend the limits of a science which seems already to have been carried beyond the bounds of utility, he may help to render some of its practical branches more attractive and accessible. If he is a botanist he may pick up some unknown and salutary plant in his rural excursions; or, if he has a turn for chymistry, he may light upon some discovery which will be of use in agriculture or medicine, in arts

or manufactures; and in other departments of science, or natural history, he may contribute something by his researches to the general benefit. As a moralist he may contribute still more from the elevated ground of serene contemplation he may look down on mankind with an impartial eye, and take large surveys of their different pursuits; and, whilst they are busily engaged in the race of life, may admonish them of the laws which ought to regulate the course, and which, in the eagerness of competition, they are very liable to forget. He may help to place them at that ideal distance from themselves, and from the world, without which they are sure to form undue estimates of both, to magnify their own abilities and virtues, and the importance of the objects they have in view. This power of mental abstraction is a principal advantage to be sought in retirement; and to reflect this advantage back upon society, is to render 'it the most essential service. To do this is indeed not within the reach of every lite

rary contemplative, and is only to be expected from one, who, after he has seen much of the world, carefully weighs and digests his observations in solitude; or who, by a narrow self-inspection, and a diligent perusal of general history, has acquired such a knowledge of himself, and of mankind, as will nearly answer the same end.

IV. Another office in which a retired man may be useful, is that of a minister of religion. Let not the reader be startled at this, as if I meant to confound the clergy and laity, or to insinuate, that any one who can imagine himself sufficiently gifted for the purpose, is authorized to commence a public teacher. I mean no more, than that it becomes every man to be a priest in his own house. Of this our more pious fathers were properly sensible, and paid a strict attention to domestic worship, which, as no one needs be told, has in our days, like many other good practices, fallen into general disuse. Whatever plea a man of

business may have to offer in extenuation of this neglect, a retired man has none. Privileged as he is from taking a part in active life, he is bound by every consideration to the regular discharge of this great duty, to which the commerce of the world is less favourable, and which, if rightly performed, may be productive of the happiest fruits. By reading and prayer he may form a church in his own house; to which, at proper seasons, he may associate the poor in his vicinity, who may perhaps want the disposition or ability, or both together, either to read their Bible, or to pray for themselves. Especially, should he be placed in a situation where the public worship of God is less frequent than ordinary, or from distance less acces sible, his endeavours, in the way now stated, to assist the devotions of his neigh bours, would be the more highly laudable and expedient. Nor ought it to be sup posed that there is any clergyman who, in such circumstances, would complain of lay