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bodies in America were represented at the univer-
sity in question-we humbly trust that the Epis-
copal church was not. But we digress.
The paper on
"Intellect" contains little that is
novel, excepting a very preposterous outburst at
its conclusion in favor of the old pagan philos-
ophers Hermes, Empedocles, Olympiodorus, Sy-
nesius, &c. How much, we venture to inquire,
does Mr. Emerson really know of these men?
How much has he really read of their composi-
tions? We suspect that this is an instance in
which the trite "Omne Ignotum pro Magnifico"
may find an apt and needful application.
Mr. Emerson dwells in a world of shadows, and
therefore these pagan unrealities might well call
forth his ardent sympathy. Men of this author's

But

Over-soul." As may be suspected from the title, | little swamp, impressed with the firm conviction, this is very transcendental; and having already as far as firmness can pertain to so volatile a dealt with its" philosophy," which is but another creature, that nothing but his merciful forbearance variation of the old weary strain, we shall leave prevents his setting moon, and stars, and universe it alone in its glory. It contains, we may ob- in flames, by means of his potent tail and fiery serve, a vast amount of blasphemy, and is alto-beard. But when honest people are found to run gether extremely offensive. after this inflated marshlight, and incur no little The paper on "Circles" is more amusing, | danger of sinking in the swampy ground on which though this contains much of mischievous audac-it flourishes, being likely at all events to plunge ity also. What a pity is it that men will write up to the chin in mud and water, and sure not to on subjects of which they do not understand the escape without many a miry strain-this grovery elements! Here, for instance, we are told tesque extravagance becomes something more than that "we can never see Christianity from the a laughing matter, and calls for severe reprehension catechism," as if a man who does not recognize and rebuke. By-the-by, this very Mr. Emerson the existence of a God had any right to teach was employed in America to harangue a large Christians the nature of Christianity; and this body of theological students. dispersing to their announcement is followed up by a very imper-pastoral cares. What a satisfactory idea does this tinent, not to say impious, gloss on wnat Mr. give us of American orthodoxy in essentials! Emerson calls " a brave text of Paul's." We We do not mean to suggest that all religious shall not trouble our readers with it. What the last facts of philosophy are in this thinker's estimation, we may learn from the following extract, which only caps" a long passage, couched in the self-same strain :-" The poor and the low have their way of expressing the last facts of philosophy as well as you. 'Blessed be nothing,' and 'The worse things are the better they are,' are proverbs which express the transcendentalism of common life." It is a kind of circular indifferentism, inferring that good things and bad all come to one end at last, which is here aimed at by our philosopher. But the part of this essay, in which the writer's inordinate, and we could almost say delightful, conceit (did it not prove so mischievous in its effects) displays itself to most advantage, is perhaps the following: "Be-order like everything which they do not underware when the great God lets loose a thinker on this planet! Then all things are at risk! It is as when a conflagration has broken out in a great city, and no man knows what is safe, or where it The twelfth and last Essay treats of "Art," and is will end! There is not a piece of science, but its designed to teach us, that the date of poetry, paintflank may be turned to-morrow; there is not any ing, sculpture, and music has expired; nevertheless, literary reputation, not the so-called eternal names we are to take comfort, and cultivate art still," in of fame, that may not be revised and condemned. eating and drinking," and further, " in the shop and The very hopes of man, the thoughts of his heart, mill, the assurance-office and the joint-stock compathe religion of nations, the manners and morals of ny"-an appropriate American conclusion, against mankind, are all at the mercy of a new generaliza- which it is scarcely worth our while to protest. tion! Generalization is always an influx of the There is something infinitely amusing in the tone divinity into the mind. Hence the thrill that of patronage to art which our "thinker" assumes. attends it." This delicious morceau we have Hear him once more! He has just condescended extracted in full; indeed, we had not the heart to to bestow some praises on certain pictures of Rafcurtail it. We are not aware that we have ever faelle's, and now continues:-"Yet, when we met with a passage in which the vis comica is car- have said all our fine things about the arts, we ried to a higher point of daring. The first out-must end with a frank confession, that the arts, as break, after the letting loose of " the thinker," is we know them, are but initial." Afterwards we delightful! “All things are at risk." Good learn, "they are abortive births of an imperfect reader, do you not tremble? The subsequent or vitiated instinct;" but here the philosopher climax is tremendous :-"hopes of man," "religion of nations," "morals of mankind,"-all at the mercy of this awful" thinker," who is to extirpate them all, if he so pleases, by means of a mysterious battle-axe, "a generalization!" Here the image is irresistibly suggested of a Will o' the Wisp, dancing up and down upon his

stand; mainly, we suppose, because self-admiration is their unfailing characteristic, and they rarely, if ever, understand themselves.

soars too high for our weak senses to follow him. In sober truth, we have but another instance here of that inordinate vanity which is Mr. Emerson's most besetting literary sin. Not possessing genius himself, being unable to create a great picture, or a real poem, or an oratorio, and only gifted with the unfortunate faculty (however common)

of writing high-sounding twaddle about each and all of them, he is extremely anxious to convince the world and himself that this twaddle is quite as great or greater than the works of art in question, and that an Emerson is equal to a Shakspeare, a Raffaelle, or a Beethoven. The puddle from the tanning-yard, not content with troubling the lake's purity, goes bubbling, and hissing, and steaming on, as though it were lord of all, and the lake were only there that it might be able to sail about in it and defile the azure waters. But let us waste no more words on this exhibition of absurdity.

We shall now draw these observations to a close, noted down for the benefit of some, whose eyes, under God's blessing, they may in some degree avail to open. Certainly the very dangerous nature of this man's speculations is not sufficiently realized, and parents and those in authority are not duly on the watch against them.

to few; for which reason we subjoin a short account of him.

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Richard Hurd was born on the 13th January, 1720, at Congreve, in the parish of Penkrich, Staffordshire. He was the second son of John and Hannah Hurd, who, he has himself told us, were plain, honest, and good people-farmers, but of a turn of mind that might have honored any rank and any condition." These worthy people were solicitous to give their son the best and most liberal education, and sent him to the grammar school at Brerewood. In 1733 he was admitted of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, but he did not go to reside there until a year or two afterwards. He took the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1739, and that of Master in 1742; in which year he was elected a fellow, and ordained deacon in St. Paul's Cathedral, London; and in 1744 he was admitted into priest's orders at Cambridge.

Dr. Hurd's first literary production was, Remarks on Weston's "Inquiry into the Rejection of the Christian Miracles by the Heathens," published in 1746; and in 1748, on the conclusion of the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, he contributed some verses to the University collection for 1749. In the same year he took the degree of Bachelor of Divinity, and published his "Commentary on the Ars Poetica of Horace," in which he endeavored to prove that the Roman poet has treated his subject with systematic order and the strictest method; an idea which has been strenuously combated by several eminent writers. In the preface to this Commentary, he took occasion to compliment Warburton, in a manner which won him the favor of that learned dogmatist, and procured for him a return in kind in the bishop's edition of " Pope's Works," where Hurd's Commentary is spoken of in terms of the highest commendation. This exchange of flattery gave rise to an intimacy between these persons, which continued unbroken during their lives, and is supposed to have exercised con

We have run through twelve of Mr. Emerson's Essays, and discovered more of paradox than of ruth, and perhaps more of evil than of paradox. Had we looked further, we should have found little or nothing better, though there are two or three happy descriptions of natural scenes in the Essay on Nature; for Mr. Emerson's mind travels round a vicious circle, and is almost incessantly occupied in inculcating self-idolatry. Once more, and in conclusion, we assure him and his admirers, that the universe is not included in that very petty section of it which is reflected on the mirror of his or their individualities. To self-conceit creation seems to have originated in its finite perceptions, and to have reached the goal of being when its approval is obtained; and nevertheless the world would have gone on very well without it, and will, no doubt, go on, when it shall have been gathered to its fathers. To the mite in the sunshine a ray of light is the universe; nevertheless there is a world beyond. And his range of thought must be contracted indeed, his perceptions infinitesimally nar-siderable influence over the opinions of Hurd, who row, who cannot love and reverence his fellow-men as ofttimes equal or superior to himself-who cannot recognize and adore his God.

was long considered as the first scholar in what has been termed the Warburton school. The "Commentary" was reprinted in 1757, with the addition of two dissertations, one on the drama, the other on poetical imitation, and a letter to Mr. Mason on the marks of imitation. In 1765, a fourth edition, corrected and enlarged, was published in three volumes octavo, with a third dissertation on the idea of universal poetry; and the whole was again reprinted in 1776. This work fully established the reputation of Hurd as an elegant and acute, if not always a sound and judicious, critic. In May, 1750, he was appointed by Sherlock, Bishop of London, one of the Whitehall preachers.

From Bentley's Miscellany. PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE OF KING GEORGE THE THIRD AND THE ROYAL FAMILY WITH BISHOP HURD, FROM 1776 TO 1805. RICHARD HURD, Bishop of Worcester, was a very considerable man in his day. The friend and follower of Warburton, he could read this passage in a letter of his master, "Of this Johnson, you and I, I believe, think much alike,” and not feel ashamed of the imputation of contemning | About this time he entered warmly into a contro so illustrious a man as the author of the English Dictionary. But the world, "which knows not how to spare," has long ago decided which was the greater man of the two; and, accordingly, while every man is familiar with all that befel Johnson, the life of Hurd is known comparatively

versy respecting the jurisdiction of the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge, which had been appealed against by some contumacious members of that university; but it is hardly necessary to relate the particulars of the contest.

In 1751 he published a Commentary on the

Me quoque pectoris
Tentavit în dulci juventâ
Fervor.-

-Nunc ego mitibus
Mutare quæro tristia."

Epistle to Augustus; and in 1753 a new edition | tracts which make up this volume were written of both Commentaries, with a dedication to War- and published by the author at different times, as burton. The friendship he had formed with War- opportunity invited, or occasion required. Some burton continued to increase by mutual good sharpness of style may be objected to them, in reoffices; and, in 1755, Hurd eagerly embraced an gard to which he apologizes for himself in the opportunity which offered itself of owning the words of the poet :— warmth of his attachment. Dr. Jortin having, in his Dissertations, spoken of Warburton with less deference and submission than the exactions of an overbearing and insolent superiority could easily tolerate, Hurd wrote a bitter satire, entitled "The Delicacy of Friendship, a Seventh Dissertation, This is a very miserable apology, and makes addressed to the author of the Sixth;" a produc- the original offence the greater. The words of tion in which he was betrayed into too close an the poet might have suggested to him the propri imitation of his master's style; and displayed a ety, while he had the pen in his hand, of casdegree of warmth-also borrowed from Warburton tigating these performances. "Pleasant, but -far beyond anything that the supposed offence wrong," thought Hurd, in his old age, of his could either call for or justify. Hurd, according- tracts. The plea has little penitence in it. ly, took pains to suppress the pamphlet; but in 1788 it was republished in a volume, entitled "Tracts of Warburton and a Warburtonian.'

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Hurd continued to reside at Cambridge until 1756, when, on the death of Dr. Arnold, he succeeded, as senior fellow of Emmanuel College, to the rectory of Thurcaston, to which he was instituted in 1757, and where, having entered into residence, he continued to prosecute his studies, which were principally confined to subjects of elegant literature. The remarks on Hume's Essay on the Natural History of Religion" appeared soon afterwards. But Warburton appears to have had the chief hand in the composition of this part, which we find republished by Hurd in the quarto edition of that prelate's works, and enumerated in the list of them. It appears to have occasioned some uneasiness to Hume, who, in the account of his own life, notices it with a degree of acrimony quite unusual to that impassive philosopher.

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In 1762 the sinecure rectory of Folkton was conferred on him by Lord Chancellor Northington; in 1755 he was chosen preacher of Lincoln's Inn; and in August, 1767, he was collated to the archdeaconry of Gloucester by Bishop Warburton. In July, 1768, he was admitted doctor of divinity at Cambridge; the same day he was appointed to open the lecture founded by Warburton for the illustration of the prophecies; and the Twelve Discourses which he preached there were published in 1772, under the title of an Introduction to the Study of the Prophecies concerning the Christian Church, and in particular concerning the Church of Papal Rome.

In 1768, he published the select works of Abraham Cowley, with a preface and notes, in 5 vols. 8vo., an edition which has been condemned as interfering with the integrity of Cowley's works, and which certainly is not the most judicious of Hurd's undertakings. In 1775 he was, by the recommendation of Lord Mansfield, promoted to the Bishopric of Lichfield and Coventry, and consecrated early in that year; and soon after entering on the episcopal office, he delivered a charge to the clergy of the diocese, as well as a Fast sermon for "the American rebellion," which was preached before the House of Lords.

In 1759 Hurd published a volume of "Dialogues on Sincerity, Retirement, the Golden Age of Elizabeth, and the Constitution of the English Government ;" and this was followed by his "Letters on Chivalry and Romance;" which, with his Dialogue on Foreign Travel," are republished in the year 1765, with the author's name, and a In May, 1781, Bishop Hurd received a gracious preface on dialogue writing. In the preceding message from his Majesty George III., conveying year he had published another of those zealous to him an offer of the see of Worcester, with the tracts in vindication of Warburton which has added clerkship of the closet, both of which he accepted. little to his fame as a writer, and procured him Nor did his majesty's kindness stop here. For the reputation of an illiberal and unmannerly on the death of Dr. Cornwallis, in 1783, he was polemic. It was entitled, "A Letter to the Rev. offered the archiepiscopal see of Canterbury, with Dr. Thomas Leland, in which his late dissertation many gracious expressions, and was even pressed on the principles of human eloquence is criticized, to accept it; but he humbly begged leave to and the Bishop of Gloucester's idea of the nature decline it, "as a charge not suited to his temper and character of an inspired language, as delivered and talents, and much too heavy for him to sustain in his lordship's doctrine of grace, is vindicated in these times," alluding, we presume, to the disfrom all the objections of the learned author of the tractions arising from the conflict of political parDissertation." This, with Hurd's other contro- ties. In 1788, Hurd published a complete edition versial tracts, has been republished in the eighth of the works of Warburton, in 7 vols. 4to.; but volume of the authorized edition of his works, the life did not appear till 1795, when it came forth where we find prefixed to it, by way of advertise- under the title of a discourse, by way of general ment, the following lines, written by the author preface to the 4to. edition of Bishop Warburton's not long before his death. "The controversial works, containing some account of the life, writ

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Soldiers in the Camp after the death of his Daugh-
ter. I hope you will excuse the writing of the let-
I was playing with Mr. Arnold in the garden, and
ter and translation, as I fell down yesterday while
sprained and bruised my second finger on my right
hand very much. We hope to finish the first book
of Xenophon on Wednesday. I hope, as you love
hot weather, that your climate has been like ours;
last Friday, at two o'clock, our thermometer was
detain you any longer. Therefore I am,
eighty-seven. It is time for walking, so I will not

ings, and character of the author. This work York, and shows, in its kindness and good humor, excited considerable attention, and the style is that the child was father of the man." equally remarkable for its purity and elegance; Kew, August 5th, 1776. but the stream of panegyric is too uniform not to MY DEAR LORD-I hope you are now arrived subject the author to the suspicion of long-con- safe at Eccleshall, and that you are now quite recov firmed prejudices. Even the admirers of Warbur-ered of your fatigues. With this letter I send you ton would have been content with less laborious the translation of the Speech of Virginius to the efforts to magnify him at the expense of all his contemporaries. They conceived that age and reflection should have abated, if not wholly extinguished, the unworthy animosities of times gone by. But in this they were disappointed. Hurd was a true disciple of the great dogmatist; and hence it was with regret that they observed the worst characteristic of Warburton-his inveterate dislike, his fierce contempt, and his sneering sarcasm-still employed to perpetuate his personal antipathies, and employed, too, against such men as Secker and Lowth. If these were the feelings of those who venerated Warburton and esteemed Hurd, others, who never had much attachment for the Bishop of Gloucester or his school, found little difficulty in accumulating against his biographer charges of gross partiality and illiberal abuses.

The remainder of Hurd's life was spent in the discharge of his episcopal duties, and in studious retirement. He died on the 28th of May, 1808, being then in his eighty-ninth year. As a writer, his taste, learning, and talents have been universally acknowledged; and though, like his master, contemptuous and intolerant, he was, nevertheless, shrewd, ingenious, and original. In his private character ne was in all respects amiable; nor were the relations in life in any degree embittered by the gall and wormwood which so frequently flowed from his pen; an assertion which the following letters will abundantly prove; for they show that he was regarded with the warmest affection by the royal family who addressed them to him.

Your affectionate friend,

FREDERICK.

P. S. Since I wrote this letter, I have seen Mr.
Hawkins, who found that I had put out my finger,
and has set it again for me.
Good bye.

To the Right Reverend Father in God, Richard,
Lord Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry,
Eccleshall, Staffordshire.

And now follows a letter from the Prince of Wales, (afterwards George IV.,) by which it appears that he had not got far into the first book of Livy. His lesson seems to have been a teaser; for Romulus does not prate away at a fine rate

if by that expression he meant a long rateneither does he argue with the Sabine women, to whom he gives as sensible advice as possible, under the awkward circumstances of the case.

Kew, August 6th, 1776.

MY DEAR LORD-I am afraid that the enclosed

translation will not prove so delicious a morsel as your lordship expected to receive. However, I have tried to give it as good a relish as possible; but the author is very difficult, and I not at all versed in translation, as your lordship knows. Euclid goes

book; and as to Livy, I have just left Romulus prating away for marriage at a fine rate, though I think he has the best of the argument. We are in hopes of having a most glorious day at Windsor on Monday next. I have a new mare, which, without boasting, I may say is at least as good as your lordship's. We all long to see you again at Kew, and

The first letter requires a brief explanation. In the Gazette of June 8th, 1776, we find the follow-on very well, for we are in the middle of the third ing" St. James's. The king has been pleased to appoint his Grace George Duke of Montagu to be governor; Richard, Lord Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry to be preceptor; Lieutenant-Colonel George Hotham, sub-governor, and the Rev. William Arnold, B. D., sub-preceptor to their Royal Highnesses, George Augustus Frederick, Prince of Wales, and to Prince Frederick, Bishop of Osnaburg" (the Duke of York.)

Queen's House, June 2d, 1776. MY LORD-I have persuaded the Duke of Montagu to accept of the office his brother has declined. His worth is equal to that of the good man we both this day so much regretted. I hope this will also heal a mind I am certain much hurt at being the cause of much pain to me.

I am,

With the truest and sincerest affection, yours,
GEORGE P.

To the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop
of Lichfield and Coventry, Eccleshall, Staffordshire.
It would seem,
from the following, that Arnold,
the sub-preceptor, had made great way in the re-
gard of the king.

Mr.

Windsor Castle, August 24th, 1777. MY LORD-I cannot refrain from exercising the great comfort the human mind is capable of-the communicating pleasure to those it esteems. Arnold has gained the greatest applause from the excellence of his sermon he has just delivered, which could have been equalled by nothing but the decency and modesty of his deportment; indeed, this able, as well as valuable, man does the greatest justice to The next letter is from the young Duke of the propriety of your choice, and shows that your

I am now going to Kew to notify the change to my sons, and desire you will be here at ten this night, when I will introduce you to the Duke. The similarity of the brothers will, I trust, make this change not material even to you. GEORGE R. To the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry.

discernment into the characters of men is as con-
spicuous as your other great and amiable qualities.
GEORGE R.
To the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry.
We would now draw attention to a letter from
Queen Charlotte, which, bearing in mind that she
is writing in a language foreign to her, displays a
very lively ability.

of Salisbury, and subsequently was made Archdeacon of Winchester. He owed all his preferments to Bishop Hoadly. In 1775, he preached the sermon on the consecration of Hurd as Bishop of Lichfield. In 1781, the decay of his sight, which ended at last in total blindness, prevented his acceptance of the bishopric of Gloucester, to which the king, without solicitation, had nominated MY LORD-It will be difficult to decide whose him, on the death of Warburton. He died in 1795, a sincere and conduct deserves the most to be criticized, my eldest leaving behind him the character of " daughter's in sending you a present of a young exemplary Christian, a sound and accurate scholar, lady, or mine in encouraging her to do so? Sup- a strenuous and able defender of the Christian repose, then, I plead guilty! will that satisfy you? Iligion, and of the Church of England." think it will, for you remember well that last Wednesday we agreed that to acknowledge our errors was a virtue we should strive to obtain; but in order to keep up all the decorum necessary for this young lady to get admitted into an episcopal habitation: my daughter Augusta desires an old philosopher would conduct her safely, with hopes that you will take them both under your protection. CHARLOTTE.

Queen's House, Friday morning, January 26th, 1781.
To the Bishop of Worcester.

On May 1, 1781, at the Episcopal Palace, at
Chelsea, in the 85th year of his age, died Dr. John
Thomas, Lord Bishop of Winchester, clerk of the
closet to the king, and prelate of the most noble
order of the garter. He succeeded the celebrated
We read
Dr. Hoadly, in the see of Winchester.
that "the king and queen have for some years past
honored his lordship with an annual visit to Farn-
ham Castle."

Windsor, May 24, 1781.

MY GOOD LORD-I have this instant received the account of the death of my very worthy and much esteemed friend the Bishop of Winchester. To an heart like yours it is easy to conceive that the news could not reach me without causing some emotion, though reason convinces me that for him it is a most welcome event. I therefore lose no time in acquainting you that I cannot think of any person so proper to succeed him as clerk of my closet as yourself; and, indeed, I trust that any opportunity that brings you nearer to my person cannot be unpleasing to you. Relying on this, I have acquainted the lord chamberlain to notify this appointment to you, but I thought any mark of my regard would best be conveyed by myself. I trust, therefore, that this letter will reach you before any intimation from him. I have also directed Lord North to acquaint you that I propose to translate you to the See of Worcester. With all the partiality natural to the county of Stafford, I should hope you will allow Hartlebury to be a better summer residence than Eccleshall, and I flatter myself that hereafter you will not object to a situation that may not require so long a journey every year as either of these places.

Believe me, at all times, My good lord, your very sincere friend, GEORGE R. To the Lord Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. The Dr. Balguy referred to by the king in the letter we are about to present, was the son of a more eminent divine, who presented him the rectory of North Stoke, near Grantham, in Lincolnshire. He afterwards obtained from Bishop Hoadly a prebend at Winchester; became later Archdeacon

CCLXXXVIII.

LIVING AGE. VOL. XXIII.

23

MY GOOD LORD-On Monday I wrote to the Archbishop of Canterbury my inclination to grant Dr. Balguy a dispensation from performing the strict residence required by the statutes of the Chapter of Winchester, provided the archbishop and bishop of the diocese (whom I desired him to consult) saw n objection in this particular case to such an indul gence. On Wednesday the archbishop told me he had followed my directions, and that he and the bishop agreed in the propriety of the step, and thanked me for having first asked their opinion, which must prevent this causing any improper precedent. I have now directed Lord Shelburne to have the dispensation prepared for my signature. You may, therefore, now communicate my intentions to Dr. Balguy.

I have also acquainted the new lord steward of the right of the deputy clerk of the closet to dine at the chaplain's table, and his servant to dine with the servants. You may therefore acquaint the deputy clerk of the closet in waiting of things being now put on the same foot as previous to the dispute with Lord Talbot.

Queen's House, May 10th, 1782.

GEORGE R.

Heyne, to whom the king alludes in the following letter, was professor of poetry and eloquence in the university of Gottingen. Having the literary industry common to his learned countrymen, he wrote several ponderous quartos, all of which are to be found in the King's Library.

We would particularly request the attention of our readers to the just sentiments expressed by the king on war, and the education of the people.

Windsor, July 23d, 1782.

MY GOOD LORD-It is with infinite satisfaction I received on Sunday your letter; by which I find that at last the German books, wrote in Latin, and collected by Professor Heyne, by my directions, for you, are arrived at Hartlebury. I shall certainly continue to authorize him to send any others that he may think, from their subjects or styles, likely to meet with approbation. I own the reputation of the university of Gottingen I have much at heart, from an idea that, if ever mankind reflect, they must allow that those who encourage religion, virtue, and literature, deserve as much solid praise as those who disturb the world, and commit all the horrors of war to gain the reputation of being heroes.

Indeed, my good lord, we live in unprincipled days, and no change can be expected but by an early attention to the education of the rising generation. Where my opinion must be of weight-I mean, in

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