to regulate his pronunciation. (1) The feveral ftops, as they are used in printing, fhall be mentioned, with partic ular reference, however, to the obfervations under the fifth Rule. The points are the comma, the femicolon, the colon, the period, the note of interrogation, and the note of admiration or exclamation. A comma [] denoting, efpecially in long fentences, a little elevation of the voice, is the shorteft paufe, and may be held while you count one. A jemicolon [] denoting for the most part an evenness of the voice, may be held while you count two. A colon [:] marks a little depreffion of the voice, and requires a pause while you count three. The colon and femicolon are often used promifcuously. A period [] is a full ftop, denoting a greater depreffion of the voice, than the colon, and may be held while you count four. A note of interrogation [] is ufed when a question is asked, and denotes an elevation of the voice, attended with a forcible pronunciation. A note of admiration [!] is used after a sentence expreffing furprife or emotion, and denotes a tone of voice fuited to the fentiment. This and the note of interrogation require a pause while you count fo A quotation ['-' or "-"] includes a fentence, taken from an author. A parenthesis [] (to be avoided as much as poffible) includes a fentence, which may be omitted with.out injuring the fenfe, and denotes a depreffion of the voice, and a quick pronunciation. A caret [] denotes an interlineation, and fhows where to bring in what was omitted in the first writing. A hypen [-] joins the parts of a word together, especially fuch as are written partly in one line, and partly in another. The word in this cafe must be divided accord- (1) See Rule V. ing to the most approved rules of a good pronunciation. (1) An apoftrophe [] is a fign of the poffeffive cafe, and contracts words; as, lov'd for loved, A paragraph [] is sometimes used to distinguish a new fubject. A diarefis divides two vowels which otherwise would be sounded together; as, Raphaël. A fedion [§] divides a discourse, or chapter into lefs. parts. An index or hand [] points out a remarkable paffage, or fomething that requires particular attention. An Aflerisk or little far [*] directs the reader to the margin, or to the bottom of the page. Two or more afterisks generally denote the omiffion of fome letters in a word, or of fome bold or indelicate expreffion, or fome defect in the manufcript. An ellipfis [] is alfo ufed, when fome letters in a word, or fome words in a verfe, are omitted; as, “k—g” for king. An obelisk [+] parallels [1] and the letters of the alphabet, and figures, are used to refer the reader to the margin, or to the bottom of the page. (1) The best and easiest rule, for dividing the syllables in spelling is to divide them as they are naturally divided in a right pronunciation. See Staniford's Grammar, page 6th. CHAPTER I. SENTIMENTS. F the mind is well cultivated, it produces a store of fruit; if A wise man carries all his treasure within himself. What fortune gives, fhe may take away; but a wife man does not depend upon her mercy, and is therefore beyond her reach. 'Tis education forms the common mind, Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclin'd. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but fools defpife wisdom and inftruction. A great, a good, and a right mind, is a kind of divinity within us, and may be the bleffing of the flave as well as the prince. A good confcience is both the teftimony and reward of a good life. Human fociety resembles an arch of ftone; all would fall to the ground, if one piece did not fupport another. Of all the felicities attached to human nature, that of a firm and tender friendship ranks the firft; it fweetens cares, difpels forrows, and is an antidote against the feverest cal amities. To know how to fupport adverfity, is to deferve prosperity. Afflictions are fent for the exercife of virtue. We are all furrounded and befet with evils; and as they cannot be avoided, the mind ought to be prepared to encounter them. Beauties in vain their pretty eyes may roll, Charms strike the sight; but merit wins the soul. Beauty, as a flowery bloffom, foon fades; but the divine excellences of the mind, like the medicinal virtues of a plant, remain in it when all these charms are withered. The defire of pleafing may be termed the happiest of all defires, because it feldom fails of attaining its end, when not difgraced by affectation. 'Tis a fair ftep towards virtue and happiness, to delight in the fociety of the good and wife; and if those cannot be met with, the next point is to keep no company at all. It requires time to deliberate upon friendship; but the refolution once taken, my friend is entitled to the secrets of my heart; and I look upon my thoughts to be as fafe in his breaft as in my own. Never condemn a friend unheard, without letting him know both his accuser and his crime. Ingratitude is more baneful than a peftilential vapour, and more destructive to fociety than a band of robbers. Ingratitude is fo dangerous to itself, and fo deteftable to others, that one would imagine that nature had fufficiently provided against the practice of it, without the neceffity of enforcing it by law. Not to return one good office for another, is abfolutely inhuman; but to return evil for good, is diabolical. When a man lofes his integrity, he lofes the foundation *of his virtue. There is so wonderful a grace attached to virtue, that even the worst of characters, acknowledge its power though they are incapable of feeling its effects. So powerful is the influence of virtue, and so gracious the defigns of Providence, that every man has a guide within his own bofom for the practice of it. A contented mind is a continual feaft; and the pleasure of the banquet is greatly augmented by knowing that each man may become his own entertainer. Our paffions are a disease, which, by frequency and neg dect, becomes fatal. CHAPTER II. (1) T cofts as more to be miferable, than would make us virtue; and how dear do we pay for our vices. There is nothing honourable, that is not innocent; and nothing mean, but what has guilt in it. Anger may glance into the bofom of a wife man; but wels only in the bofom of fools. The temperate man's pleafures are durable, becaufe they are regular; and his life calm and ferene, because it is in nocent. A good confcience is to the foul, what health is to the body. (1) See Rule V. page 17. C It costs more to revenge injuries than to bear them. It often happens, that those are moft defirous of govễ erning others, who are leaft able to govern themselves. When much gratitude is found in a poor man, it may be taken for granted there would be as much generofity, if he were a rich man. When you see the anger of a friend begin to kindle, if you would do good, throw water thereon to cool, not wood to inflame it. Virtue is the greatest ornament; it is neceffary to the young, comfortable to the aged, ferviceable to the poor, an ornament to the rich, an honour to the fortunate, a support to the unfortunate. She enobles the flave, and exalts nobility itself. In fhort, let it be remembered, that none can be difciples of the graces but in the school of virtue; and that those who wish to be lovely, must learn to be good. The cheft of a mifer might as well contain bras as gold, unless benevolence fhould pour it into the lap of dif trefs, or generofity place it in the hands of merit. That friendship, which makes the leaft noife, is often the most useful; and a prudent friend is generally of more fervice than a zealous one. A man of virtue is an honour to his country, a glory to hu manity, a fatisfaction to himself, and a benefactor to the world. He is rich without oppreffion, charitable without oftentation, courteous without deceit, and brave without vice. The greatest wisdom of fpeech is to know when, and what, and where to speak; the time, matter and manner; the next to it is filence. As we should never conftrue that in earnest which is spoken in jeft, so we should not speak that in jeft, which may be conflrued in earnest. As, amongst wife men, he is the wife who thinks he knows kaft, fo, amongst fools, he is the greatest who thinks he knows moft. Virtue's the friend of life, the soul of health, The poor man's comfort, and the rich man's wealth. Clearnefs is the rule of Speaking, as fincerity is the rule of thinking. Too bright fallies of wit, like flafhes of lightning, rather dazzle than illuminate. Order is Heaven's first law, and 'tis confest, |