Belvidere! For three centuries since first found among the ruins of Antium has he stood the admiration of all beholders. Such is the beauty of his features, his grace of attitude, and the sublime mixture of agility and vigour, as to exceed all comparison with the fairest forms of individual nature. This collection will probably be soon farther enriched with that most perfect production of art, the Venus de Medicis, of which no model can convey an adequate image. This figure that enchants the world, gently bends her delicate form in the most graceful and modest attitude; beauty breathes its captivating animation into every limb, and the enraptured eye glides over the whole statue with unceasing delight and admiration.

The cabinets of the medalists call for his attention. There he traces the reigns of monarchs through successive ages, and sees the images of heroes, statesmen, and beauties, whose various actions were the interesting subjects of his previous studies, in the collections of the Grand Duke at Florence, and in the national library at Paris. The gold and brass medals of the latter exhibit the elegance of Grecian and Roman art. He will be struck with the youthful beauty of Alexander the Great, the stern aspect of Galba, the martial steadiness of Vespasian, the crowned head of Zenobia, and the lovely profile of Faustina. He sees the emblematical figures corresponding with the reigning mythology of ancient times; Abundance pouring forth mixed fruits ~from her horn; Victory waving her wings; and Honour encircled with a laurel crown. He fails not to notice the illustration which a series of medals afford to ancient manners, poetry, and history*.

The traveller qualifies himself for a constant source of entertainment by his fondness for the productions of the pencil. After having formed his judgment, by inspecting the best collections of which his own country can boast, he visits with delight the choice cabinets abroad, and tastes that refined pleasure which the incomparable productions of the best masters are alone capable of affording. The grand gallery of the Louvre enriched with the plunder of churches and palaces, will afford an ample field for the indulgence of his curiosity, as it contains nearly a thousand of the choicest productions of the Italian and Flemish schools. Upon all

*See Addison's Discourse on Medals, and Spanheim's very learned work, from which later writers have borrowed some of their best remarks.

these occasions he will examine whether the artist has given to the marble, the gem, the brass, and the canvass, a just representation of nature, passion, and beauty; and will be more attentive to general effect than to minute accuracy.

He will delight likewise to view the stores of literary productions, collected in public and private libraries: for there the wisdom, the science, the arts, and discoveries of successive ages, conveyed in the languages of all nations, are combined, and brought under one point of view. To him the Vatican and national Library of France will unfold their numerous treasures: there he may satisfy his curiosity, by inspecting the most ancient and curious manuscripts of the classic authors, the earliest and the most beautiful specimens of typography, and the choicest modern editions.

The present state of literature and of the arts will likewise call for his attention. He will examine how far a nation has risen above, or is fallen below its former condition; and in what respect it excels, or is inferior to others. He will inquire into the principal sources of its wealth and prosperity; for this purpose he must procure access to the statesman, the merchant, and the agriculturist, and from their reports derive just and accurate information. He will collect from their conversation the state of commerce and agriculture; and how far these sources of prosperity exceed in perfection and in extent those of his own country. He will also ascertain what are the particular religious and political establishments, the prevailing amusements,* remarkable customs, and what is their combined and general effect upon the sentiments, manners, prosperity, and happiness of the people.

"In your travels these documents I will give you, not as mine, but his (the accomplished Sir Philip Sidney's) prac* "In studying the character of a people, one inquiry should always be, what were their amusements? We here get hold of great features, which often unriddle the rest. This is indispensably necessary, where states have risen to cultivation. In the finer traces of the temperate regions of the earth you meet amusements that are elegant, and pleasures that are refined. Departing on either hand to the south, or to the north, you find taste to degenerate, and gratification to become impure. At length arriving at the extremities, refinement is utterly lost; to give pleasure is to stupify, or to intoxicate, here by opium, there by brandy and tobacco. The happy intermediate regions enjoy the yvresse du sentiment. Is the philosopher to set at nought these distinctions? Is he to lay no stress upon the different state of the arts? Is he to imagine it imports not that the peasant in Muscovy subsists on garlic, and solaces himself with ardent spirits; and in Italy that he feeds on a water-melon, and goes forth with the guitar on his back to the plough" Robertson's Inquiry into the fine arts, p. 187.

tices. Seek the knowledge of the estate of every prince, court, and city, that you pass through. Address yourself to the company to learn this of the elder sort, and yet neglect not the younger. By the one you shall gather learning, wisdom, and knowledge; by the other, acquaintance, languages, and exercise. This he effectually observed, with great gain of understanding." Sir Henry Sidney's Letters. The traveller will moreover embrace every opportunity of enlarging his knowledge of the world, or in other words, he will turn his knowledge of himself to the greastest use, by ascertaining how far the image of others is reflected by his own disposition, propensities, and passions. His constant intercourse with society will afford the most favourable means for the exercise of acuteness and discernment. He will not confine his observations to the exterior forms and superficial habits of society; but will endeavour to investigate the latent dispositions and characters of his associates he will conclude that men, like books, are not to be valued for their outward appearance, or splendid dress, but for their intrinsic excellence. He will look through national peculiarities; he will piece the veil of local customs, and endeavour to view mankind, as they really are, influenced by their general passions and dispositions. He will esteem those with whom he converses, rather for their moral worth than their intellectual powers; for their personal merit rather than their exalted rank, or dignity of station.

To every object he will not fail to direct such a degree of attention as is proportionate to its importance and utility. Whatever he thinks deserving his notice he will survey with an attentive eye; and the information he is eager to gain will be equally marked by its correctness and its extent. Convinced of the inestimable value of time, he will never be prodigal of the small portions of which it consists. He will be expeditious both in his movements and his remarks, but will not be precipitate in either. Ardent in his inquiries, but not frivolous or trifling, he will explore whatever is curious in nature or art with assiduity and diligence. In every place he will reap an intellectual harvest of its various productions, convey it to his own country, and make it the subject of pleasing recollection for the future years of his life, and the means of entertainment to his friends; and should he make any observations, which upon mature deliberation he may judge of sufficient importance, he will publish them for the general information of the world.

Thus the intelligent traveller will not fail to derive every advantage from his visit to foreign countries. On his return to his native shores his manners will be refined, but not formal; his dress fashionable, but not foppish; his deportment easy, but not negligent. Instead of importing the trifling fopperies of other countries, and displaying showy and superficial acquirements, as the substitutes for solid information and elegant accomplishments; and instead of endeavouring to excite the applause and admiration of the ignorant, by his exaggerated descriptions of distant places, and of his own extraordinary adventures, he will rather avoid every ostentatious display, as unworthy of his character and his sacred regard for truth.* His constitution, unbroken by vicious indulgence of any kind, will be invigorated by exercise, and his fortune will be unimpaired by extravagance. Scepticism will not undermine, nor bigotry contract, his religious principles. His prejudices in favour of his own country will rather be strengthened than worn away by extensive comparison, and enlarged intercourse with mankind; and his general knowledge will be augmented through every pure and original channel of information. His philanthropy will be ardent, and his patriotism not less spirited than rational. His various acquirements and his engaging manners will render him not only the delight of his friends, but the ornament of his country.

CHAPTER IV.

THE PROFESSIONS.

THE topics which have been considered in the preceding chapters present a sufficient choice of interesting subjects of application to a student, who is desirous that the

The traveller, especially if he has visited countries not commonly explored, would do well, both in his conversation and writings, to follow these remarks. "I have endeavoured to maintain the spirit with which I conducted my researches into facts; that is, an impartial love of truth. I have restrained myself from indulging any sallies of the imagination, though I am no stranger to the power of such illusion over the generality of readers: but I am of opinion that travels belong to the department of history, and not that of romance. I have not therefore described countries as more beautiful than they appeared to me; I have not represented their inhabitants more virtuous, nor more wicked, than I found them." Volney's Travels, preface, p. vi.

lights of useful knowledge may irradiate his mind from vari-" ous points.

Should his fortune be sufficiently ample to exempt him from the necessity of following a profession, he will have more leisure to pursue his classical and philosophical studies. Having improved his relish for useful reading by requisite application, he will not be compelled to have recourse to rural diversions, or insipid amusements, merely because he is ignorant of any other method to employ his leisure hours. He may enlarge his acquaintance with instructive books, and derive a pure and exalted pleasure from his general reading. In his intercourse with the world he will soon be convinced that his attainments give him great advantages over the vulgar and illiterate, that they qualify him to take comprehensive views of what is passing around him, and that they put him in possession of many particular facts, many useful observations, and many general principles, which may be applied with the best effect to his various concerns. In every stage of life he will experience the great advantage and satisfaction, which flow from an understanding refined by taste, cultivated by learning, and elevated by religion.

But the elementary parts of learning are most important, when considered as the groundwork of the professions. Few of these parts indeed can be said to be entirely unconnected with them; and there are none which do not communicate some important truth, annex, some pleasing appendage, or supply some elegant ornament to improve, adorn, and complete the professional character. And it is the exercise of a profession which will enable a young man to render his attainments immediately instrumental to the good and happiness of others, as well as of himself.

If such be the advantages resulting from application to classical learning and philosophy, of what high importance is it to the student, to explore with circumspection, and cultivate with diligence, the extensive and pleasant field of general knowledge, previous to pursuing the more confined path of professional research!

As preparatory studies are advantageously combined with professional pursuits, so may they impart great assistance to each other. The physician renders himself more extensively useful in the course of his practice by some knowledge of the laws of his country, and the clergyman by his acquaintance both with medicine and law*. And the occupation

Gisborne's Duties, vol. ii, p. 131. Percival's Medical Jurisprudence, p. 44. Blackstone's Comment. vol. i, p. 13.