To those who are neither endued with this power of discernment, nor have much communication with society, the perusal of well-chosen history will serve in a considerable measure to make up the deficiency; and in some respects will give them the advantage over men, whose knowledge of the world is little more than what their actual intercourse with it has supplied. Our own personal observation is necessarily confined within narrow limits, and leaves us entirely ignorant of the very different forms under which our common nature has appeared in past ages, and under which it appears in many regions of the earth at this day. He therefore who would obtain more extensive and varied views of mankind must resort chiefly to the page of the historian.

If he would contemplate at large the political state of the world, let him direct his attention to general history, where he will see displayed the rise and progress, the decline and fall of empire; the poli

tics and relative situations, the wars and revolutions of nations. Or if he would enquire more distinctly into the genius, the manners and usages which have characterized different ages, and which present to a philosophic mind an object far more interesting than wars and politics, he may consult the particular histories and memoirs, or other remaining monuments, of the periods of which he desires to be informed.

Should he confine his views to modern times, in which we are most concerned, let him read with care Thuanus, De Comines, Le Vassor, Sully, De Retz; and, among our own countrymen, Clarendon, Burnett, Robertson; these will sufficiently inform him of the politics, the cabals, the business, and the general course of affairs, under the several memorable periods of which they treat; and sometimes with such justness of description, and strength of colouring, as to bring the mind almost into contact with the persons and things

represented. And should he wish to enter still more minutely into the principles and manners which at present prevail in dif ferent countries, he will be much assisted by a perusal of their established and popular authors, such of them in particular as have professedly undertaken to delineate the exterior of society, or who have: employed their talents upon subjects of. morality; since such writers cannot long continue to be popular, unless their sentiments and descriptions are, in the main, a reflection of real life.

To these sources of information may be added well written books of voyages many and travels, by which he will be conducted through almost every region of the globe without either fatigue or danger, and made acquainted with numberless parti cularities in the opinions and practices of the diversified tribes and nations of men, which otherwise would remain to him unknown. He is introduced into their houses, observes their domestic economy,'

listens to their familiar conversation, and notes those discriminative qualities which add animation and interest to the evervarying spectacle of human life.

While the retired man thus views the world at a distance, it is with this advantage, that he is able to contemplate it more at leisure, with his passions less agitated, and his judgment less biassed, than he could have done as a party actually engaged. It is an old observation, that a looker-on often sees more than those who 'play the game; but in the game of life (if I may so call it), the retired man often sees more even than the looker-on. When the world presses upon the sense, though without immediate interest, its impressions are commonly too powerful to leave the mind at sufficient liberty to form a calm and impartial judgment.

It must, however, on the other hand, be acknowledged, that books, unless happily selected, are unfaithful mirrors, and reflect

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to be lamented, than that, by wrong principles early imbibed, the few days of man on earth should be embittered by perpetual disappointment, and at length terminated by a querulous and miserable old age, without any cheering prospect beyond the grave? This certainly is but ill to know the world even in point of present enjoyment, and to know it still less in its relation to the world to come!

There is only one volume which describes the world in a manner perfectly unexceptionable; or if there be others, they are such as are derived from it. In all the rest it is either flattered or disparaged, it is either transformed into a paradise or into a howling wilderness; the Bible only represents it as it is, fallen indeed from its primitive glory and happiness, but not into hopeless guilt and misery; not into a condition destitute of the light and grace of heaven, or, (to the humble Christian,) unprovided with ample support and comfort. Farther, the Bible, if