into this account the mutilated limbs and agonizing, wounds of furvivors; the forrowing parents widowed wives, and helpless orphans; living fubjects, who partake of, and fuffer under this dreadful carnage; how widely do fuch feelings

become extended!

Leaving fuch pictures, as cruel as to us incomprehenfible in this vale of darknefs; let us rather fearch for fome quality in this character deserving our imitation.

Among the children of men, we frequently perceive fome strong characteriftic marks, fo widely diftant from the reft, that we are at a lofs to account for their existence in the fame perfon.

"William was cruel, vindictive, rapacious, stern, and haughty in his deportment, and jealous in his difpofition; but cool, deliberate, and indefatigable *"

* Smollett,

However

However we may condemn fome of these qualities, we cannot too much recommend the concluding part of the above quoted paffage to the confideration of youth.

- For, PERSEVERANCE in the most ardous undertakings, with deliberate proceeding, joined to coolness of conduct, will, almost to a certainty, ensure a fuccessful iffue. But the remove from the foftering care of parental affection may have been too rapid; and the timid youth feels himself embarraffed upon entering the path of active life; with perceiving furrounding and unexpected difficulties; the falfity of pretended friendship, and the obftruction of open enmity, which too evidently disclose the "bafelefs foundation of some vifionary fabric."

Then Difcontent fummons a council ; in this court of enquiry, Senfibility repines

3

repines at its own peculiarly unhappy ftate; Despair, with forrow, looks up to the countenance of a plodding neighbour; but without PENETRATION to difcern the hidden care of the heart. Whilft Self-complacence is thus palliating its defects, Indolence steps in; when, lo! on the back-ground, Infamy and Shame, Poverty and Mifery, appear at no great

tance.

dif

My young friends, be not too much intimidated; for, furely as you are born to tread the path of life," will offences. "come." Inftead of repining, or yielding yourselves up to fuch weakness, obferve rather the progrefs of industry. ONE, it may be, of inferior abilities to yourself, but who fubmits to the drudgeries of his particular profeffion, methodical in the conduct of his affairs; bearing with, and overcoming, present difficulties; turning not to the right

hand,

hand, neither to the left; refusing to listen to the voice of the charmer, charming ever fo finely attains at last a fituation in life refpectable-himself refpected.

Such examples, for they are not rare, should serve as leffons to ftimulate you to early action, perfeverance, and refolution, diligently to difcharge your duty in your respective fituation in life, as the certain means of crowning your labours with fuccefs; for WILLIAM was "cool, "deliberate, and indefatigable; and "the throne is ftill filled by his de"fcendants."

*

NOTES HISTORICAL.

*The fimplicity of this age may be collected from the tenure of fome land held of William the Conqueror, by one William Aylesbury of Aylefbury.

To provide the king's bed-chamber when he fhould come thither; fweet herbs for litter; and

two

two green geese if he came in fummer; and three eels in winter; all which he was bound to do thrice in a year, if the king came so often,

A. D. 1080, The following brief charter granted to London by William the Conqueror.

"That all burgeffes, French and English, be law-worthy, as in king Edward's days; and that each child be his father's heir; and I will that no wrong be done you."

A. D. 1081. About this date, in a time of tran quillity, was taken the famous furvey of England, entered into Doomsday book. The furvey was conducted by commiffion, taking information upon oath in each county; the name of every town and village; who held it in king Edward's days; who now poffeffed it; how many freemen, villains, and cottagers were in it; how many hides of land in each manor; how many of thefe were in the demefne; how much woodland, meadow, and pasture; how much it paid in taxes in king Edward's days, and how much now; how many mills and fish ponds; and in fome places they took an account of the horses, black cattle, fwine, fheep, and hives of bees. This invaluable work has lately been given to the publick by the munificence of parliament.

WILLIAM