rance and corruption, have been marked, as a precious victim by all means to be immolated to the idol Philosophism. Young and comparatively innocent, this country has been inflamed for half the century by books, with a hellish generosity spread gratis among us. The mischief has been in part controled by the friends of religion, who have endeavored gratuitously to extend the antidote as far, as the poison has been diffused. This well directed liberality and the vigilance and ability of the Cisatlantic defenders of Christianity, under the blessing of heaven, have so far availed, that infidelity, whatever may have been her secret progress among us, is yet compelled with guilty shame to conceal her head.

In balance of this ill aspect upon religion in this century, it may be said, that, as Christianity never needed, so it never had more able defenders since Apostolic times. Men, most respectable by genius and learning of the age, have lent their talents to its support. The researches of the antiquary and traveller, of the linguist and logician have not only confirmed the testimonies previously borne to it, but accumulated them; and have cast desired light upon passages of sacred science, before this age either mysterious, or imperfectly understood. Before this phalanx of Christian warriors, the enemies of revelation have retired from the honorable field of argument and fair discussion to the covert fight of witticism, misrepresentation, and dark conspiracy.

Ably defended at home, religion has been extended abroad. Furnished for the noble enterprize by a liberality purely Christian, missionaries, with the zeal of Apostles, are now evangelizing the Islanders of the Southern Ocean'. We bid them God fpeed. Soon may new converts fill up the sad blank, which apostacy has made in Europe. But, if the frenzy of revolution has exiled the religion of Jesus from a nation of twenty-five millions, which for ages professed it, there is left the hope, that this daughter of the skies has only retired to

* That excellent book Leland's view of Deistical Writers was reprinted in England and sent to the Colonies by Drs. Hales and Wilson to be distributed gratis in 1757.

lay aside the fantastic robes, which men had drawn upon her, and will soon return, habited in her native simplicity, to charm the nation back to order, peace, and happiness.

The event of French apostacy, deplorable as it is, has operated some benefit to the Christian world. The church had become a Laodicea; the spirit of slumber had invaded the whole body. Kings ceased to be nursing fathers, and Queens, nursing mothers. But the blow, which was fatally struck in France, rung a salutary alarm in other Christian countries. The public heart began to beat with terror at the danger of religion. Kings and Counsellors, Secretaries and Generals, in their official character, revive the style of Christians, and express concern for the altar as well, as the throne, for the gospel as well, as the constitution and laws of their respective countries. An honorable member of the British Parliament, the eloquent asserter of the rights of humanity, has employed his pen, not in the sport or cavil of speculations, but in the hobler task of reviving practical Christianity.

REQUISITES FOR AN ORATOR.

"Non posse oratorem esse nisi virum bonum."

THE power of eloquence has been felt in all ages. It

has subdued the rude and the refined mind.

Its dominion is

no less rightful, than is its influence extensive. Confined to no climate, acknowledging no one man for its inventor, and owning no nation for its parent; its original, its habitation, and its empire, are the human heart.

Whoever has studied man must be conscious, that he is compounded of the most multifarious and opposite qualities. Indolent and active, weak and powerful, beneficent and cruel, zealous and indifferent, he is alternately borne away by the influence of contending passions. It is the same with societies. Hence the necessity of a power, which shall be able to stimulate men to what is useful and right, and to restrain

them from the contrary pursuit. Hence it is the duty of an orator, to study the history of man, and to make himself acquainted with his rules of action. Having learnt the point of access, he will be able to direct his force so, as to gain victory with ease, and to reap its honorable fruits.

Writers have generally agreed, that the foundation of all high attainments in eloquence consists in a very exquisite sense of right and wrong, and in a supreme regard for truth. A character for moral worth is essential to an orator. The words of such a man, his countenance and his gesture address themselves to principles, which, from sympathy, are unresistingly obedient to the eloquent artist. "No kind of language " is so generally understood, and so powerfully felt, as the "native language of worthy and virtuous feelings." The mind delights to contemplate examples of piety, patriotism, and beneficence. But as such spectacles are rare, it dwells with rapture even on their description. We involuntarily compare the words and actions of a man with our idea of the qualities of his mind. If he is beneficent and sincere ; his professions and conduct cast a lustre on each other; virtue seems embodied; we feel ourselves in her venerable presence; our hearts swell with the delightful society.

Such characters deserve confidence: they ought to rule over the heart; their words descend like the dew, which purifies and ameliorates the earth; their example is an eloquent advocate of virtue.

I know, that men are often deceived by false pretences to virtue; and that words, which ought to be sacred to great occasions, are frequently prostituted to the basest purposes. But it is no just cause for triumph, that human infirmity sometimes yields to base arts. Men are naturally credulous, and easily admit the reality, where they see the appearance of virtue. Having however no internal principle of life, the influence of the impious must be limited, their existence must be brief. It is a consolation to reflect, that when bad men assume the form, and utter the language of virtue; they virtually confess its dignity, and pay to it all the homage, of which they are capable.

G

If it is true, that to be a good man is the foundation of all real excellence in an orator, the ingenuous and aspiring youth has an irresistable argument in favor of virtue. You would, that Senates should listen to your counsel; you would reign in the thoughts and in the remembrance of men; cultivate at that period, when your mind is unoccupied by the pursuits of wealth or ambition, and when your heart is not steeled by misfortune, true love for country, and elevated piety to heavenR.

ADVICE TO A STUDENT OF HARVARD UNI VERSITY IN A SERIES OF LETTERS.

LETTER I.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

You have now become member of an institution, which is as respectable for its means of knowledge, as for its age. Your parents, ever solicitous for your welfare and improvement, have entreated me to communicate some counsel, which may be useful to warn, to direct, and to instruct the son of their hopes. As the common friend of them and of you, gladly offer all the aid in my power. Having passed through the scenes, on which you have just entered, I feel qualified to give you at least the result of experience. This cannot but interest one, who is already so anxious to conduct with reputation to the University, to his friends, and to himself.

In the correspondence, thus introduced, you will not expect the dictatorial language of a superior, nor the stern authority of an instructor. You are permitted to receive the remarks, I shall offer, as the recommendations of a friend; and to attend to them no further, than they shall appear to be sanctioned by reason and truth.

The observation is sometimes made, that many do not become qualified, as to rules of study and of conduct, to enter

the University, till they are ready to leave it. Might not young gentlemen be greatly assisted in these respects, were they more careful to solicit and to improve instruction from those, who have gone before them? I shall always lament, that I did not sooner realize the importance of such aid. From the need I had of it, I am the more desirous to impart it to my young friend. Happy shall I esteem myself, if my remarks shall induce him to avoid the errors, which I committed, better to improve the advantages, which I enjoyed, and to make greater progress in the studies, which I pursued. The first object of attention, on entering College, is the choice of companions; and it is a consideration of far greater importance, than is commonly imagined. In one sense, all cotemporaries at the University are companions; for of necessity they often meet; and it is highly incumbent on them to treat each other with civility. Classmates are connected by still greater ties. Whatever distance they may preserve in other respects, they must range together the fields of science; and they must be unfeeling indeed, if they do not take some degree of interest in each others welfare.

But there is a union more intimate, than either of these connections necessarily implies. So many young persons of ardent and susceptible minds cannot be long in the society of one another without forming the closest attachments. Friendship is natural to man. In the youthful mind the relish for it is like a violent appetite; and, like other appetites, it often prompts the inexperienced to gratification with a blind impulse.

It is of the utmost importance, that this strong propensity to union be rightly directed. I need not inform you of the overpowering influence of companions in forming the character. Your own observation his already suggested it, Your parents have impressed it on your mind by selecting for you a chum, whose maturer age will check your juvenile follies, whose superior acquaintance with the world, and whose literary attainments, if improved aright, will afford you incalculable benefits.