ence to Christianity, as being the best calculated to promote our welfare here, and to ensure our happiness hereafter. The encomium which he passed upon the Bible deserves to be printed in letters of gold and suspended over the entrance of every building dedicated to the Muses. 66 "W. T."

- Permission having been obtained for the use of the school-room at Penketh, there appeared nothing to prevent W. T. from immediately entering upon his new occupation, but the infirm state of his health. By the advice of a medical friend, who showed him numerous tokens of regard, and whose professional skill was exerted for him on many occasions, he determined to try the effect of the warm salt-water bath, and for that purpose went to Liverpool in the 6th month, 1813. There he remained nearly three weeks, at the house of some hospitable Friends, and used the bath almost every day, but without its producing any mitigation of his complaint.

His lameness and inability to move about, prevented him from seeing much of the place, but the visits which he paid to one of the public libraries gratified him exceedingly.

To R. O.

"Liverpool, 21st of 6th month, 1813.

"I have made a second visit to the Athenæum, and spent there about eight hours with much delight. It would be superfluous to state with what sensations I viewed the accumulated wisdom of so many ages, or with what emotions I saw myself surrounded by more than six thousand volumes: it was a gratification which I never before expe

rienced, nor could have reasonably hoped for. I spent much time in looking over Sir W. Jones's works, which are uncommonly interesting.

"Those only can appreciate genius as it de serves, who possess the most of it themselves, nor will the most stupendous monuments of philoso phical research, be viewed with admiration and regard, except by those, who, having arrived at a degree of proficiency in the same pursuits, have proved, how laborious is the cultivation of the human intellect, and how hardly earned is the meed of literary fame. It is evident upon this ground, that the reputation of this great man will daily increase, and will keep pace with the enlightening and civilization of mankind.

"I hope thou understandest the admirationwhich I here express in its proper sense, and no farther, viz. as subordinate in its nature, to that awe and veneration with which we ought to contemplate those characters, who may be called the champions of truth, and who are eminent only by their virtue, and the undeviating purity of their lives. But here I may observe, that the eminently virtuous appear amiable to our view, only in proportion as we are governed by the same divine principle which actuated them. The martyr at the stake, presents to our view, a scene of inexpressible sublimity, but we must become influenced by the same indifference for the world, and the same awful regard for eternity, which enables the sufferer to despise the sorrows that are for a moment; we must view things through the same medium, and possess, in a measure, the same dispositions, before we can see him in that exalted situation in which he stands.

"There are few objects relating to literature, which may not be communicated with ease from

one mind to another; but ah! when we endeavour to describe that principle which ought to direct us through the few fleeting moments of time; when we would speak of that peace which is the result of yielding an unreserved obedience to its requirings, or of the confusion and darkness which pervade the soul, when its admonitions are forgotten; and that vessel which ought to have been dedicated to the most sacred of all uses, and become a recipient for divine love, is defiled with the love of the world: when these subjects are to be discussed, what empty and unmeaning sounds are words, and how imperfectly can we convey heavenly things through an earthly medium! The unreasonable value which we are apt to place upon mere human acquirements, has often appeared to me of so much moment, that I have almost been ready to prefer ignorance, and to think that man the happiest, whose knowledge was the most circumscribed. We mostly pass. from one extreme of error to another; may our views become daily more enlightened concerning these, the most important of all subjects, and may we be taught by that pure wisdom which is from above!

"I enjoy every blessing that can be desired. except the free use of my limbs, and I do feel resigned to the will of Him who has chastened me with an easy hand; for my own good; if it be His will that I speedily recover, it will be cause of thankfulness, but if not, there is a Power that can enable me to bear with patience and fortitude every farther trial.

"W. T."

The use of the bath having failed to remove the complaint, and apprehensions being entertained

that permanent lameness would ensue, it was resolved to try the effect of a caustic application; for this purpose he went to Warrington, (where suitable accommodations had been procured for him,) in order that he might have the advantage of daily attendance from the individual before mentioned. He continued at Warrington six weeks, engaged principally in reading, and in preparing himself for the engagement upon which he was about to enter.

To M. C.

Warrington, 11th of 7th month, 1813.

Though taste perhaps cannot be acquired where it does not inherently exist, it admits of vast cultivation; and how striking is the contrast between the man of taste, and he who has not learned to think-deplorable state! And yet there are thousands of this kind within the sphere of our observation. Dear sensibility! no stores of gold can purchase this treasure, nor could the mines of Golconda furnish enjoyments that would be its equivalent in value. Let my bodily sufferings be ever so severe, let me be banished to the most inhospitable clime, or shut out from the society of men, rather than lose the invaluable gift of intellect; its proper use creates pleasures, for the loss of which, millions of worlds could not compensate.

"It is the exercise which is made of the finer feelings by your sex, that entitles them to se large a share of our admiration. In reply to thy interrogation, what it is that induces men to trust the young heirs of nature to the superintendence of beings whom they deem of so inferior a rank, I would say, that, independent of necessity, there

are very superior qualities which characterise them, as being alone proper to teach the young idea how to shoot,' as being calculated to soften and improve the dispositions of the species by their sensibility of feeling, whilst the understanding is rapidly informed by their innocent loquacity. To you it is given to form the minds of the wise, the good, and the great, the monarch, and the philosopher: to your fostering care the world is indebted for those great luminaries of genius, who have humanized mankind by means of salutary laws, or improved their morals by an unerring attachment to virtue and truth.

"W. T."

In the 8th month, 1813, W. Thompson removed to Penketh and opened his school, being then in the twentieth year of his age. He had derived considerable benefit from the judicious means adopted to remove his lameness; and his general health was much improved by nutritious diet and careful attention. What his feelings were on entering upon so novel and arduous an engagement, appears by some of the following letters.

"Penketh, 8th mo. 13th, 1813.

"My mind has been much more composed since I left W, and seems to have participated in the tranquillity which reigns in this rural spot. The way at present seems more open, and I feel little doubt but my present allotment is the right "W. T."

one.

To M. G.

"Penketh, 14th August, 1813.

"The prospect before me seems to present an encouraging appearance, and I hope, that Provi

G