fources of its fupport, its opulence, and its glory, are AGRICULTURE and COMMERCE; to have a knowledge of their leading principles must be allowed to be fingularly ufeful to an English Gentleman.

Since it is a prevailing fashion, particularly among the higher ranks of fociety, to complete the courfe of education by visiting foreign countries, it is ufeful to ascertain the advantages, which may be derived from the practice of TRAVELLING.

As attainments derive their greatest value from being directed to the purposes of active life, the qualifications requifite for a right conduct in the learned profeffions of LAW, PHYSIC, and DIVINITY, are taken into confideration.

And lastly, to point out the fources, from which the reader may draw more complete information upon all the preceding fubjects, the work is closed with lifts of THE MOST APPROVED AND INSTRUC

TIVE BOOKS.

The Order, in which my Chapters are difpofed, is adapted to the progrefs of the faculties of the mind, from childhood to riper years. The principles of Religion, of Language, and of History, are firft prefented to my Readers; and the elements of Science, Natural History, and Tafte, together with the various ftudies, which relate to the active fcenes of life, clofe the volumes of knowledge,

The

The foundation of the building is deeply laid, and composed of the most folid materials; the fuperftructure, raised to a proper elevation, difplays ornament, while it is adapted to convenience.

Such is the sketch of my design, in which it is intended to trace the regular progrefs of application, from puerile to manly ftudies-from elementary knowledge to profeffional duties. It is fufficiently finished to fhew, that the fields of inftruction are not only fertile, but the most various in their productions. Some spots bring forth the immortal fruits of Religion, fome the hardy plants of Science, and fome the delicate flowers of Tafte. Here then the active temper of youth, and their fondness for change, may find ample means of gratification, wherever they choose to wander and expatiate. Light pursuits may divert, after severe studies have fatigued the mind; and he who has been diligent to perufe the records of hiftory, to folve the problems of fcience, or afcertain the diftinctions of logic, may find an agreeable relaxation in surveying the beauties of nature, charming his ear with the delightful ftrains of mufic, pleafing his eye with the fair creations of the pencil, or delighting his fancy with the fictions of poetry.

With respect to my choice of books, I wish it not to escape the obfervation of the reader, that I have rejected fome works with as much readinefs as I have adopted others. Very few Novels will appear in my lifts, as I am well convinced of their pernicious tendency.

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tendency. If we take the most fuperficial furvey of the Circulating Libraries, we may observe, that the ingenuity of our own authors is fufficiently fertile in thefe flimfy and fhort-lived publications; and yet Germany and France contribute their aid to fatisfy the craving appetite of the British public, with fuch fuccefs, that fome of their productions are as popular as our own. It is to be lamented, that moft Novels do no fmall injury to the cause of found and wholefome literature, as well as to that of morality. They vitiate the taste of their readers, destroy their relish for useful books, and make the facts of hiftory, and even the defcriptions of poetry, appear dull and infipid. It were well if their bad effects terminated at this point: but as they are generally filled with licentious defcriptions, improbable incidents, falfe fentiments, and fuch fophiftical arguments, as may ferve to justify the most improper actions; they tend to excite a romantic fenfibility, pervert the judgment of the young and inexperienced, inflame the paffions, and corrupt the heart.

Let it likewife be carefully remarked, that I am under very few obligations to the founders of the new school of Philofophifm in France. So far indeed from withing to direct the attention of my readers to their works, it is my anxious defire to caution them against the infidious arts, the flimfy fophiftry, and the exceffive arrogance of the modern French writers, particularly Voltaire, Rouffeau, D'Alembert, Diderot, Helvetius, and l'olney; and

upon

their admirers and difciples, Gibbon, Paine, and Godwin. In direct and decided oppofition to their fpurious philofophy, their abuse of the powers of reason, their profligate and delufive fpeculations the momentous fubjects of Religion, Morality, and Government, their folly in rejecting whatever is old, and their precipitation in embracing whatever is new, I avow my firm conviction, that there is no greater or more fruitful fource of mifchief and mifery, than a wild, unreftrained ardour for innovation: I MAINTAIN THE TRUTH AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHRISTIAN REVELATION, THE VALUE OF ANCIENT LEARNING, THE DIGNITY OF SCIENCE, AND THE EXCELLENCE OF THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION. And in order to provide the most efficacious antidote against the poifon of their opinions, I recommend an intimate acquaintance with the eminent divines of the Church of England, fuch as CUDWORTH, BARROW, TILLOTSON, STILLINGFLEET, CLARKE, and PALEY; and with our great philofophers and moralifts, BACON, LOCKE, BOYLE, NEWTON, ADDISON, and JOHNSON. Thefe are the authors, whofe understandings I reverence, whofe opinion, upon the leading fubjects of Religion and Morality, I highly efteem, and whofe excellent works I earnestly recommend. These are the writers, whom, in decided preference to all arrogant fciolifts, and plaufible infidels, I hold up to general attention, as the luminarics of ufeful knowledge, the teachers of genuine wisdom, and the true friends of mankind.

Such are the inftructors, by whofe affiftance the ftudent is advised to extend the sphere of his application beyond profeffional knowledge, and to cultivate fome of the more open fields of useful and pleafing inftruction.

.

I confider myself as affuming the office of a Guide to the youthful and inexperienced traveller, and as undertaking to point out the interefting profpects of a charming country, without aspiring to the accuracy of a topographer, or the diligence of an antiquarian. I thall conduct him, who commits himself to my directions, from a low and narrow valley, where his views have been clofely con- . fined, to the fummit of a lofty mountain:—when he has reached the proper point of view, he will feel his faculties expand, he will breathe a purer air, enjoy a wider horizon, and obferve woods, lakes, mountains, plains, and rivers, spreading beneath his feet in delightful profpect. From this commanding eminence, I shall point out such places as are most deferving his refearches; and finally, I fhall recommend him to thofe, who will prove more inftructive, and more pleafing companions, through the remaining part of his journey.

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