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boys, if the good passages were not disgraced by others so ridiculous, as almost bring the writer under the imputation of lunacy. His literary enthusiasm had certainly transported him, in several instances, beyond the limits of his own reason.

I will select a few hints from the little tract, which may not only serve as a curious specimen to the English reader, but may rouse him from his indolence. The whole is, indeed, more valuable for the spirit and fire which it conduces tó raise, than for its particular directions. It is rather exhortatory than didactic.

"How mean," says he, speaking of the scope at which students ought to aim, "how timid, how ab “ject, must be that spirit which can sit down con"tented with mediocrity! As for myself, all that "is within me is on fire. I had rather," he proceeds in his strong manner, "be torn in a thousand pieces, "than relax my resolution of reaching the sublimest

heights of virtue and knowledge. I am of opinion, "that nothing is so arduous, nothing so admirable "in human affairs, which may not be obtained by "the industry of man. We are descended from "heaven; thither let us go, whence we derived our "origin. Let nothing satisfy us lower than the "summit of all excellence. This summit," then says he, "I point out as the proper scope of the student."

"But labour must be beloved, and the pleasures "of luxury despised. Shall we submit to be extin"guished for ever without honour, without rememσε brance, άνδρωδες οὐδὲν ἐπιδεδεγμένοι, without having "done any thing like men?" The whole of this

chapter is written in a very uncommon style of literary enthusiasm, and I think it can hardly fail of inflaming a youthful imagination. If such ideas were early infixed in the bosom of an ingenious and ingenuous boy, what improvement in virtue, and in all useful qualities, might not be expected?

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"That we must never despair," is the title of his third chapter. "If in our ascent, we should fall "headlong a thousand times, we must begin to "climb again every time more ardently, and fly to "the summit with recruited vigour! Let no one "be dejected if he is not conscious of any great ad"vancement at first. The merchant thinks himself "happy if, after a ten years voyage, after a thou "sand dangers, he at last improves his fortune; and "shall we, like poor-spirited creatures, give up all "hopes after the first onset. Quodcunque imperavit "animus obtinuit. Whatever the mind has com "manded itself to do, it has obtained its purpose.

"Riches must have no charms, compared to the "charms of literature. Poverty is favourable to the "success of all literary pursuits. I mean not to "throw contempt on money in general, but on that

exorbitant wealth which allures the mind from "study. But your parents," says he, "rather chuse "that you should be guilty of perjury or murder, ❝than not know how to value money.

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"The student must be desirous of praise. It is a promising presage of success to be roused by praise "when one shall have done well, and to be grieved "and incited to higher aims, on finding himself "blamed or outdone by another. He who aspires "at the summit must be passionately fond of glory. VOL. III.

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"Thus have the first qualities, indispensably re"quisite in a youth devoted to study, been men"tioned. He must aim at the highest points, he "must love labour, he must never despair, he must

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despise riches, he must be greedy of praise. It "remains that we prescribe the methods. There "are then three gradations in the modes of study; "hearing, teaching, writing. It is a good and easy: "method to hear, it is a better and easier to teach, "and the best and easiest of all to write. Lectures "are dull; because it is tedious to confine the "liberty of thought to the voice of the reader. But "when we teach or write, the very exercise itself pre"cludes the tædium."

Though the treatise of Ringelbergius is short, yet to make an useful abbreviation of it would require more room than the limits I usually prescribe to my papers will allow. I mean only to give a little specimen of the manner in which this very extraordinary writer has composed his once celebrated treatise. There are certainly many things in it which can scarcely fail to stimulate an honest mind, sincerely and seriously devoted to letters. A severe critic, or a lover of ridicule, will find much, both in the matter. and the style, to censure and deride. But still there is something so honest and so warm in this writer, that a good-natured mind cannot help being entertained even with his absurdities, and inclined to overlook them amidst the greater abundance of valuable advice. › I believe the copies are not very scarce, and earnestly recommend, both to the young student and the lover of literary curiosities, to devote half an hour to the perusal. of it, if it should fall into their hands.

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Ringelbergius was a very ingenious man, not only in polite learning and in the sciences, but in the arts of mechanical writing, painting, and engraving. Indeed these were his first pursuits and employments, and he did not apply himself to learning Latin till his seventeenth year; but such was the force of his genius, that he then made a rapid proficiency. He was certainly a man of genius, and though not quite correct in his language, yet he wrote Latin with much more spirit and vivacity than most of the Dutch and German writers of his age. He acquired the Greek language, and could almost repeat Homer from beginning to end. He was well versed in various sciences, and wrote ingeniously upon them; but his tracts are, I believe, more curious than useful. He would have been an excellent writer, and profound philosopher, had he lived in an age when the follies of judicial astrology were exploded, and hypothesis reduced to the test of experiment.

NO. CLVII. ON THE FOLLY OF SACRIFICING COMFORT TO TASTE.

THERE are certain homely, but sweet comforts and conveniencies, the absence of which no elegance can supply. Since, however, they have nothing of external splendour, they are often sacrificed to the gratification of vanity. We live too much in the eyes and minds of others, and too little to our own hearts, and too little to our own consciences, and too little to our own satisfaction. We are more anxious to appear, than to be, happy.

According to the present modes of living, and ideas of propriety, an ostentatious appearance must be at all events, and in all instances, supported. If we can preserve a glittering and glossy varnish, we disregard the interior materials and substance. Many shew a disposition in every part of their conduct, similar to that of the Frenchman, who had rather go without a shirt, than without ruffles; rather starve as a count, than enjoy affluence and independence as an honest merchant. Men idolize the great, and the distinctions of fashionable life, with an idolatory so reverential and complete, that they seem to mistake it for their duty towards God. For, to use the words of the Catechism, "do they not ap66 pear to believe in them, to fear them, to love “them with all their hearts, with all their minds, "with all their souls, and with all their strength; to "worship them, to give them thanks, to put their "whole trust in them, to call upon them, to honour "their names and their words, and to serve them "truly all the days of their lives?" As they worship false gods, their blessings are of the kind which corresponds with the nature of their deities. They are all shadowy and unsubstantial; dreams, bubbles, and meteors, which dance before their eyes, and often lead them to perdition.

It is really lamentable to behold families of a competent fortune, and respectable rank, who (while they deny themselves even the common pleasures of a plentiful table; while their kitchen is the cave of cold and famine; while their neighbours, relations, and friends pity and despise, as they pass, the comfortless and unhospitable door) scruple not to be

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