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qualifying her for a station in which she will never appear, and at the same time incapacitating her for that retirement to which she is destined. Learning, if she has a real taste for it, will not only make her contented, but happy in it. No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting. She will not want new fashions, nor regret the loss of expensive diversions, or variety of company, if she can be amused with an author in her closet. To render this amusement complete she should be permitted to learn the languages. I have heard it lamented that boys lose so many years in mere learning of words: this is no objection to a girl whose time is not so precious: she can not advance herself in any profession, and has therefore more hours to spare; and as you say her memory is good, she will be very agreeably employed this way. There are two cautions to be given on this subject: first, not to think herself learned when she can read Latin, or even Greek. Languages are more properly to be called vehicles of learning than learning itself, as may be observed in many schoolmasters, who, though perhaps critics in grammar, are the most ignorant fellows upon earth. True knowledge consists in knowing things, not words. I would no further wish her a linguist than to enable her to read books in their originals, that are often corrupted, and are always injured, by translations. Two hours' application every morning will bring this about much sooner than you can imagine, and she will have leisure enough besides to run over the English poetry, which is a more important part of a woman's education than it is generally supposed. Many a young damsel has been ruined by a fine copy of verses, which she would have laughed at if she had known it had been stolen from Mr. Waller. I remember, when I was a girl, I saved one of my companions from destruction, who communicated to me an epistle she was quite charmed with. As she had naturally a good taste, she observed the lines were not so smooth as Prior's or Pope's, but had more thought and spirit than any of theirs. She was wonderfully delighted with such a demonstration of her lover's sense and passion, and not a little pleased with her own charms, that had force enough to inspire such elegancies. In the midst of this triumph, I showed her that they were taken from Randolph's poems, and the unfortunate transcriber was dismissed with the scorn he deserved. To say truth, the poor plagiary was very unlucky to fall into my hands; that author being no longer in fashion, would have escaped any one of less universal reading than myself. You should encourage your daughter to talk over with you what she reads; and as you are very capable of distinguishing, take care she does not mistake pert folly for wit and humour, or rhyme for poetry, which are the common errors of young people, and have a train of ill consequences. The second caution to be given her (and which is absolutely necessary), is to conceal whatever learning she attains, with as much solicitude as she would hide crookedness or lameness: the parade of it can only serve to draw on her the envy, and consequently the most inveterate hatred, of all he and she fools, which will certainly be at least three parts in four of her acquaintance. The use of knowledge in our sex, besides the amusement of solitude, is to moderate the passions, and learn to be contented with a small expense, which are the certain effects of a studious life; and it may be preferable even to that fame which men have engrossed to themselves, and will not suffer us to share. You will tell me I have not observed this rule myself; but you are mistaken: it is only inevitable accident that has given me my reputation that way. I have always carefully avoided it, and ever thought it a misfortune. The explanation of this paragraph would occasion a long digression, which I will not trouble you with, it being my present design only to say what I think useful for the instruction of my granddaughter, which I have much at heart. If she has the same inclination (I should say passion) for learning I was born with, history, geography, and philosophy will furnish her with materials to pass away cheerfully a longer life than is allotted to mortals. I believe there are few heads capable of making Sir Isaac Newton's calculations, but

the result of them is not difficult to be understood by a moderate capacity. Do not fear this should make her affect the character of Lady or Lady

or Mrs.

-; those women are ridiculous, not because they have learning, but because they have it not. One thinks herself a complete historian, after reading Echard's Roman History; another a profound philosopher, having got by heart some of Pope's unintelligible essays; and a third an able divine, on the strength of Whitfield's sermons; thus you hear them screaming politics and controversy.

It is a saying of Thucydides, that ignorance is bold, and knowledge reserved. Indeed it is impossible to be far advanced in it without being more humbled by a conviction of human ignorance than elated by learning. At the same time I recommend books, I neither exclude work nor drawing. I think it is as scandalous for a woman not to know how to use a needle, as for a man not to know how to use a sword. I was once extremely fond of my pencil, and it was a great mortification to me when my father turned off my master, having made a considerable progress for the short time I learned. My over-eagerness in the pursuit of it had brought a weakness in my eyes, that made it necessary to leave off; and all the advantage I got was the improvement of my hand. I see by hers that practice will make her a ready writer: she may attain it by serving you for a secretary, when your health or affairs make it troublesome to you to write yourself; and custom will make it an agreeable amusement to her. She can not have too many for that station of life which will probably be her fate. The ultimate end of your education was to make you a good wife (and I have the comfort to hear that you are one); hers ought to be to make her happy in a virgin state. I will not say it is happier, but it is undoubtedly safer, than any marriage. In a lottery where there is (at the lowest computation) ten thousand blanks to a prize, it is the most prudent choice not to venture. I have always been so thoroughly persuaded of this truth, that, notwithstanding the flattering views I had for you (as I never intended you a sacrifice to my vanity), I thought I owed you the justice to lay before you all the hazards attending matrimony: you may recollect I did so in the strongest manner. Perhaps you may have more success in the instructing your daughter; she has so much company at home, she will not need seeking it abroad, and will more readily take the notions you think fit to give her. As you were alone in my family, it would have been thought a great cruelty to suffer you no companions of your own age, especially having so many near relations, and I do not wonder their opinions influenced yours. I was not sorry to see you not determined on a single life, knowing it was not your father's intention; and contented myself with endeavouring to make your home so easy, that you might not be in haste to leave it.

I am afraid you will think this a very long insignificant letter. I hope the kindness of the design will excuse it, being willing to give you every proof in my power that I am your most affectionate mother.

Lecture the Chirty-Sixth.

ISAAC WATTS-EDWARD YOUNG-WILLIAM OLDYS-RICHARD SAVAGE-ROBERT BLAIR-JOHN DYER-DAVID MALLET-JAMES THOMSON-ROBERT DODSLEY.

THE period upon which we now enter, extending from the close of the

reign of George the Second to the commencement of the nineteenth century, produced more men of letters, as well as more men of science, than any other epoch, of similar extent, in the past literary history of England. It was also a time during which greater progress was made in diffusing literature among the people at large, than had been made, perhaps, throughout all the ages that went before it. Yet while letters, and the cultivators of letters, were thus abundant, it must be conceded that the age was not, by any means, marked by such striking features of originality or vigor as some of the preceding eras. Perhaps,' in the language of Sir William Temple, 'the multitude of assistances afforded in all kinds of composition rather depresses than favours, the exertions of native genius.' 'It is very possible,' proceeds that ingenious author, 'that men may lose rather than gain by these; may lessen the force of their own genius, by forming it upon that of others; may have less knowledge of their own, for contenting themselves with that of those before them. Who can tell,' he adds, 'whether learning may not weaken invention, in a man that has great advantages from nature? Whether the weight and number of so many other men's thoughts and notions may not suppress his own; as heaping on wood sometimes suppresses a little spark, that would otherwise have grown into a flame.' In the case of ordinary intellects this may, no doubt, be true; but where the higher powers of genius are possessed, they will, as in the case of Milton, spurn the trammelling of acquired knowledge, to whatever extent it may be carried.

While these remarks are applicable to the great mass of poets of the period upon which we are now entering, the age affords a few noble exceptions; such as Watts, Young, Thomson, Gray, Collins, Akenside, Goldsmith, Beattie, Cowper, and a few others whose names the sequel will develop. Watts had much vigor and activity of imagination, as the 'Dacian Battle' abundantly proves; and had he devoted his powers chiefly to poetry, he would have occupied a higher place among his contemporary poets. Young,

in his best performances-his startling denunciations of death and judgment, his solemn appeals, his piety, and his epigram-was strikingly original. Thomson's enthusiastic descriptions of nature, and his warm poetical feeling, seemed to revive the spirit of the elder muse, and to assert the dignity of genuine inspiration. Gray and Collins aimed at the dazzling imagery and magnificence of lyrical poetry, and were both eminently successful. Akenside descanted on the operations of the mind, and the associated charms of taste and genius, in a strain of melodious and original blank verse. Goldsmith blended morality and philosophy with a beautiful simplicity of expression and numbers, pathetic imagery, and natural description. Beattie portrayed the romantic hopes and aspirations of youthful genius in a style formed from imitation of Spenser; and Cowper completed what Thomson had begun. In our remarks upon the poets of this period, though we shall not include all the names that have descended to us, dignified with that title, we shall omit none whose literary history is important or instructive.

ISAAC WATTS, whose sweet lyric strains are familiar to every English heart capable of sympathizing with the spirit of pure Christianity, was born at Southampton, on the seventeenth of July, 1674. His father kept a boarding-school for young gentlemen; and besides being remarkable for piety, was in such circumstances as to afford his son all the advantages of a liberal education. Isaac's studies were commenced at home; and so precocious was his understanding that he began his Latin grammar when he was only four years of age. He was afterwards taught Latin, Greek, and Hebrew by the Rev. Mr. Pinhorn, master of the free-school at Southampton, to whom the gratitude of his scholar, some time after, inscribed a Latin ode. His proficiency at school was so conspicuous that a great desire was evinced by his friends to have him go to the university; but he declared his resolution to take his lot with the Dissenters; and thereforere paired, in 1690, to an academy of that order, conducted by the Rev. Thomas Rowe, in London. After passing two years at the academy, he returned to his father's house, and devoted himself closely to the study of divinity, until 1694, when he was invited, by Sir John Hartopp, to become private tutor to his son. He remained in the family of Sir John four years, during which he prosecuted his theological studies with great devotion, especially to the Greek and Hebrew Scriptures.

In 1698, Watts, having now entered the ministry, was chosen assistant to Dr. Chauncey, the pastor of an independent congregation, at Southampton; and on the death of Chauncey, which occurred four years after, he succeeded to the full charge. The weakness of his constitution soon, however, rendered it evident that the proper performance of the arduous duties thus imposed upon him, would be more than his feeble health could bear; and in his turn he himself soon required an assistant. His health still continuing to decline, he was received, in 1712, into the house of Sir Thomas Abney, of Abney Park, where he passed the remainder of his life. The residence

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