GENERAL TABLE OF CONTENTS.

VOL. I.

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.

The design of the work. The various branches of literature and science considered with reference to young men in the higher classes of life, as they are, I. Christians; II. as Students, who enjoy the advantages of a liberal education; III. as Members of the British constitution. The consideration of these important relations in which they stand to society, has sug gested the choice of the following subjects. The pursuit of them, carried to such an extent as is compatible with due attention to professional studies, is calculated to improve the faculties of the mind, to inform the understanding, strengthen the judgment, engage the memory in an agreeable exercise, and prepare a young man for the best performance of his various duties in life. P. 1-11.

CLASS 1.

RELIGION.

CHAP. I.

THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION.

The reasonableness of instructing children in the principles of religion at an early age. The superior excellence of Christian knowledge. Six of the leading proofs of the truth of Christianity stated. I. Authenticity of the books of the New Testament. II. The character of our Lord and Saviour.

III. The prophecies of which he was the subject, and those which he pronounced. IV. His miracles. V. His precepts, or Christian ethics. VI. The rapid and extensive propagation of the gospel at its first preaching, under circumstances the most hostile to its success. P. 12-46.

CHAP. II.

THE SUBJECT CONTINUED.

Reasons why the doctrines and precepts of christianity have been attacked by infidels of all ages. Their cavils shown to be weak, and their arguments proved to be inconclusive. The character and conduct of modern infidels furnish additional evidence to the truth of christianity, as they are plainly foretold in scripture. Genuine christianity has produced the happiest effects upon the opinions, conduct, and institutions of mankind. It was darkened by superstition, and intermixed with error by the Papists, but was refined and brought back more nearly to the apostolical standard by the reformation, particularly by the Protestant establishment of the Church of England. Summary of the sublime truths of christianity. It comprehends the last revelation of the divine will to mankind; establishes the certainty of a future state; reconciles man to the dispensations of Providence, and qualifies him by a life of faith and obedience for the rewards of eternity. P. 47-68.

CLASS II.

LANGUAGE.

CHAP. I.

LANGUAGE IN GENERAL.

Advantages resulting from a knowledge of various languages. The theories of lord Monboddo and Adam Smith relative to their origin examined. All languages derived from one original source. The most rational system of the origin of speech accords with the scriptural account of Moses. Alpha

betical characters are the most perfect representation of ideas: their origin and progress: those of modern Europe may be traced to one source. The distinctions between ancient and modern languages. Origin of the Italian and French languages. The rise of the modern languages forms a curious part of the history of the dark ages. P. 69-86.

CHAP. II.

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

Its origin and progress. The simplicity of its grammatical construction. Has been brought more nearly to a regular standard by the writings of Bishop Lowth, Dr. Johnson, and Mr. Horne Tooke. Is both copious and energetic, and well adapted to poetry. Its imperfections: inferior to Greek and Latin as to the arrangement of words in composition. Strictures on those writers who have unnecessarily introduced into their works many words of Latin derivation, particularly Sir Thomas Browne and Dr. Johnson. The practice of the latter, especially in his Rambler, seems inconsistent with his remarks in the preface to his Dictionary. The style of Gibbon considered. Several of the Scotch popular writers have deviated from the idiom of our language. P. 87-104.

CHAP. III.

THE SUBJECT CONTINUED.

Some of the purest writers of English recommended. Ascham, Raleigh, Speed, Taylor, Clarendon, Temple, Barrow, Locke, Dryden, Swift, Addison, Pope, Melmoth. The excellence of the English translation of the Bible. The practice of writing gives to conversation correctness and elegance. The standard of the English language. Disagreement between our orthography and pronunciation. How they ought to be regulated. The excellence of our language, when considered as the vehicle of some of the most instructive and delightful productions of the human mind. The settlement of the English colonies in North-America and the East-Indies will probably contribute to its perpetuity. P. 105-113.

VOL. I.

X

CHAP. IV.

THE LATIN LANGUAGE.

Its utility. It was formerly the general language of all persons of education for conversation as well as writing. Its origin: inferior to Greek. Its beauties and discriminating features. The progress of its improvement. Sketch of the purest writers: Terence, Lucretius, Cicero, Nepos, Cæsar, Livy, Virgil, Horace, Ovid, Catullus, Tibullus, Phædrus. Points in which Latin are inferior to Greek writers. A degeneracy of style remarkable in Tacitus, Suetonius, Pliny, Lucan, Seneca. Many beauties of the classics are lost in translations. The wide extent of the Latin language before and after the fall of the Roman empire. Periods of its rise, progress, and decline. The best models of imitation for writers of Latin are Cicero and Virgil. Rules necessary to be observed in this elegant species of composition. P. 114-133.

CHAP. V.

THE GREEK LANGUAGE.

Its origin: dialects: the theory of its derivation as stated by lord Monboddo considered. Its characteristics: harmony and wonderful copiousness. Various examples of the Greek classics prove how admirably it was adapted to subjects of poetry, eloquence, history, and philosophy. The peculiar beauties of Greek composition. The causes of the extraordinary duration and wide extent of ancient Greek as a living language. Modern Greek. Comparative view of the Greek, Latin, and English languages. P. 134-151.

CHAP. VI.

ELOQUENCE.

Fine encomium on eloquence by Cicero.

Four different

heads under which the productions of eloquence may be considered. I. The sources of argument. II. The nature of style.

III. The arrangement of the different parts of a discourse. IV. Proper action and delivery. The eloquence of ancient and modern times. What examples to be proposed for the imitation of a public speaker: Demosthenes, Cicero, lord Chatham, lord Mansfield, Burke, &c. P. 152-170

CLASS III.

HISTORY.

CHAP. I.

HISTORY IN GENERAL.

Historical information is calculated to gratify that curiosity which is common to all periods of life. The methods adopted in the early ages of the world to transmit the knowledge of events to posterity. The defects of such methods completely remedied by history. The advantages of a knowledge of history. Its most important branches, I. The history of the Jews. 11. Of Greece. III. Of Rome. IV. Of Modern Europe. V. Of England. Statistics, biography, and the letters of eminent persons, are highly useful and pleasing in an historical point of view. Chronology and geography are the lights of history. Coins, medals, and laws, furnish it with strong auxiliary evidences. P. 171-196.

CHAP. II.

THE SUBJECT CONTINUED.

Comparison between ancient and modern historians. Sketch of a complete writer of history given as a standard whereby to ascertain the merits of historians. P. 197-204.

CHAP. III.

THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS.

The accomplishment of some remarkable prophecies, relating both to the affairs of the Jews, and to the christian revela