EMPIRE, the welfare and profperity of which depend upon the usefulness of their attainments, and the refpectability of their conduct.

It is evident from general obfervation, that the principles of religion are congenial with the mind of man: for even among tribes the moft barbarous and uncivilized, whether we explore the wilds of Africa, or the thores of the Pacific Ocean, where the capacities of the inhabitants are narrow and limited, and very few virtues are remarked to expand and flourish; fome traces of religion, fome notions of an Omnipotent and Over-ruling Power, darkened as they may be by grofs fuperftition, are still found to prevail. And even in the civilized country of France, where the impious abettors of the Revolution proceeded fo far as to infult the reafon of an enlightened people, by compelling them to abjure their faith in their Creator and their Redeemer, how difficult has it been found to produce even external conformity to their decrees; and with what ardour are the people returning to the open profeffion of Chriftianity, now their rulers are fully aware of the expediency of its revival and public exercife! It appears therefore, that to inculcate thofe principles of religious duty, which the mind naturally invites, and to improve its capacity for the reception of the moft fublime truths, is no more than a juft attention and due obedience to the voice of Nature.

And as the truth of Christianity is founded upon the strongest arguments, and unites in the clofeft union our public and private, our temporal and eternal happiness, it justly forms the groundwork of Education. The attributes of the great Creator-his power as the Author, and his goodnefs as the Governor of the univerfe-the bright image of the Saviour of the world, as reprefented by the holy Evangelifts-his actions marked by the pureft benevolence, his precepts tending immediately to the happiness of man, and his promises capable of exciting the moft exalted and most glorious hopes, are peculiarly calculated to ftrike the imagination, and intereft the fenfibility of youth. Such fublime topics, inculcated upon right principles, cannot fail to encourage those ardent fentiments of love, gratitude, and veneration, which are natural to fufceptible and tender minds, Since therefore the fame principles which are congenial with the difpofitions of young men are most conducive to their happiness; fince, in fhort, the evidences of CHRISTIANITY are miraculous ;-fince it is an express revelation of the will of God, and as fuch we can have no pretence to reject its proofs, and no right to refift its claims to our observance; it must be unquestionably a subject of transcendent importance, and therefore ftands as the first and leading topic of my work.

As the knowledge of LANGUAGE is intimately connected with every other kind of information,

and

and as in the Languages of ancient GREECE and ROME are preferved fome of the nobleft productions of human genius, I affign to these subjects the next place.

In recommendation of OUR OWN LANGUAGE it is fuperfluous to have recourfe to arguments. All who are acquainted with it, foreigners as well as natives, muft be convinced of its excellence, particularly as it is the vehicle of productions eminently distinguished by Genius, Taste, Learning, and Science.

And as Language fhould be confidered not merely as a channel to convey our thoughts upon common occafions, but as capable of ornament to please, and of energy to perfuade mankind; and as fuch improvements are both gratifying and beneficial to fociety, proper attention is due to the study of ELOQUENCE,

Cicero, the most celebrated of Roman Orators, has very juftly remarked, that ignorance of the events and tranfactions of former times condemns us to a perpetual state of childhood: from this condition of mental darknefs we are refcued by HISTORY, which fupplies us with its friendly light to view the inftructive events of paft ages, and to collect wisdom from the conduct of others. And as there are particular countries, from which we have derived the most important information in Religion, in Arts,

in

in Sciences, and in Literature, we ought carefully to infpect the pages of their interefting records.

The most ancient people, of whom we have any authentic accounts, are the Jews: to them was communicated, and by them was preferved, the knowledge of the true God; while all other nations were funk in the most abject fuperftition, and difgraced by the groffeft idolatry.

The writers of GREECE and ROME have recorded fuch numerous and fuch eminent inftances of the genius, valour, and wifdom of their countrymen, as have been the juft fubjects of admiration for all fucceeding ages; for which reafon the accounts of THEIR MEMORABLE TRANSACTIONS ought to be carefully inspected before we proceed to furvey the HISTORY OF MODERN EUROPE, and oF OUR

NATIVE COUNTRY.

As Reafon is the nobleft faculty of the human mind, it is of the highest importance to confider its proper employment, more especially as upon its co-operation with Religion in controlling the flights of the imagination, and abating the violence of the paffions, depends the happinefs of life. That fyftem of LOGIC, therefore, which confifts not in abftrufe terms, or argumentative fubtlety, but in the manly exercife of the rational powers, juftly claims an important place in every fyftem of education.

The

The various difcoveries and improvements in SCIENCE and PHILOSOPHY conftitute a peculiar diftinction between ancient and modern times. Problems of fcience, like the arguments of Logic, employ the mind in the most vigorous exercife of its powers, and confirm the habits of clofe application, which are effentially neceffary in the profecution of every kind of ftudy. Such are the reasons for introducing and recommending due attention to the principles of the MATHEMATICS.

The human mind, not content with fpeculations upon the properties of matter alone, delights to furvey the wonderful works of the GREAT CREATOR, as displayed in the various parts of the universe. This employment is a fource of never-failing fatiffaction to perfons of every age. every age. The productions of the animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms are closely connected with the well-being, and are conducive to the fubfiftence of man; fo that NATURAL HISTORY claims his particular attention.

And as the elegant Arts poffefs a pleasing influence over the imagination, and furnish a conftant variety of amusement and pleasure, it is highly defirable to examine the principles, and confider the application of a refined and correct tafte to the beauties of PAINTING, POETRY, and MUSIC.

In the welfare and profperity of his native country every Briton is deeply interested. The two great fources