lin's Ancient History, Gillie's Greece, Frost's History of Greece, Ferguson's Roman Republic, The Annals of Tacitus, Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, bearing in mind that he is a cold sneerer at Christianity, even while pretending to advocate it in the form held by the church of England; Moore's History of Ireland; Hume's England, continued by Smollet; Robertson's Histories, particularly of Charles the Fifth, and of the Discovery and Settlement of America, Irving's Conquest of Grenada, Mackintosh's England, Russell's Modern Europe, Baines' History of the Wars of the French Revolution, American edition on account of the notes, Ramsay's History of the American Revolution, and Mosheim's Ecclesiastial History. In biographical works you will also find much historical information, blended with a display of human character. I would therefore recommend you to read, in connexion with the foregoing, the lives of any great men who figure prominently in them —particularly Voltaire's Life of Charles XII., of Sweden, a fine specimen of a good style; Marshall's Life of Washington, Spark's Lives of Franklin, Ledyard, and the Washington papers, and also his Biography; Irving's Columbus, and his Voyages and Discoveries of the Companions of Columbus, Southey's Nelson, Scott's Life of Napoleon, bearing in mind the deep prejudice which that remarkable writer evidently bore against "the Man cf Destiny," whose career he

so graphically traces; Wirt's Life of Patrick Henry, and Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.—Others might be named, but the advice of the wise and virtuous, and the references made in these works, will unite in guiding you to all else that can be necessary to your instruction in this important branch of reading.

Such works as Buffon's Natural History, Goldsmith's Animated Nature, Good's Book of Nature, Arnott's Physics, Wood's Mosaic Creation, Treatises on Botany and Chemistry, and publications on Experimental Philosophy, can be read with much profit and amusement. The Art of Being Happy, from the French of Droz, with notes by Timothy Flint, is a work full of valuable instruction to the young. Combe on the Constitution of Man is one of the most valuable publications that has issued from the press in many years. I would earnestly recommend its perusal to all whose eye meets these lines—it will richly repay them.

Of poetry, there are comparatively but few entire works that can be safely recommended to the young. Pope has many beauties, intermingled with much that is decidedly of an immoral tendency; and the same may be said of Burns, Byron and Moore. But there can be no hesitancy in recommending Milton, Cowper, Young—making due allowance for their religious peculiarities—Scott, Wordsworth, Southey, Coleridge,

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Campbell, Beattie, Thomson, Bryant, Mrs. Hemans, and Mrs. Sigourney.

In relation to the propriety or impropriety of perusing novels and other works of fiction, much has been said on either side. There can be no doubt that our book-stores and libraries are flooded with works of this character, that are extremely insipid, and of a tendency highly deleterious.— That works of fiction of a proper character, can be safely and beneficially read by the young, I have no hesitancy in declaring. But you must be cautious in your selections. None should be read but those of a purely moral tendency, and such as are illustrative of historical truths. the former, I would mention particularly those of Mrs, Opie, Miss Edgeworth, and Miss Martineau. Of the latter may be enumerated the Misses Porter's, the most of Scott's, a few of Bulwer's— especially his Rienzi—several by Cooper, Miss Sedgwick, and Mr. Simms. Many of Irving's later works are of an entertaining character, and may be profitably read—particularly his late productions, A Tour on the Prairies, Astoria, and West of the Rocky Mountains.

Of

In reading works of fiction, keep your mind conr stantly fixed on the delineations of character— mark the shades of difference between them, the different operations of external circumstances on them, and the different motives that actuate them—and apply all to the purposes of self-examination and self-improvement. When the work

is historical, read it in connexion with that portion of history to which it refers, and with that portion of geography which describes its location, and carefully note what is fictitious, and what is real. If I mistake not, Chambers' Memoir of the Prince, Chevalier Charles Stuart, will make you doubly interested, even in Scott's interesting Scottish novels relating to that individual—and so of others.

Fear of protracting this chapter beyond the bounds of your patience, prevented me from naming many other works worthy of your perusal, with comments on their merits, and directions for more fully availing yourselves of their interest and benefits. But what is here offered will suffice, probably, to guide you, until experience sufficient will be attained to render further direction from me of doubtful necessity.

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CHAPTER VI.

PRACTICAL OBSERVATION.

Practical observation, or the habit of observing men and things, is of great value. There is scarcely an event that transpires around you, from which you may not, by critical observation, derive lessons of wisdom—there is not an object upon which your eyes can rest, when properly studied, that will not increase your information. But all those sources of knowledge are sealed up, without you take proper measures to open them. Unless you observe and reflect, wisdom may instruct, and knowledge lift up her voice, "but hearing you hear not, and seeing you do not perceive." Without the habit of practical observation, you may listen to the most profound instructions of wisdom, without being wiser, and examine all the curiosities of nature and art, without gaining any useful information. "Keep your eyes open," is an old and profitable maxim— not the eyes of your body only, but the eyes of your intellect also. And let your ears not only