wards be disposed to consider mankind in a pleasing point of view. The influence which the study of political knowledge tends to produce on the condition of society in general, must be extremely beneficial. Independent, therefore, of every other consideration, this particular part of study should he adopted into the general system of education, in order that every in dividual member of society may contribute to the welfare and happiness of the community. [Dr. Cowan.] Tully's Offices; Puffendorf's Duty of Man and a Citizen, his Law of Nature and Nations; and Grotius on War and Peace, may serve to instruct the young student in the common rights of mankind, the origin and design of society, and the several duties connected with it. From De Lolme on the English Constitution, 8vo, 8s, may be obtained an extensive view of the English constitution and government, Junius's Letters are considered as the most correct and polished composition ever produced on political subjects. Cambell's Political Survey of GreatBritain, 2 vol. 4to, 1/ 18s; and Goguet on the Origin of Laws, Arts, and Sciences, 3 vol. 15s sewed, 1762, are en* titled to close attention.

stone.

LAW.

He who pursues the study of the law merely as an accomplishment, in a comprehensive plan of education, will find all the necessary lights in the volumes of Grotius, Puffendorf, Taylor, Burns, and BlackTo the professed lawyer scarcely any book on the subject of law is uninteresting and useless. In his conduct, two rules should be strictly attended to, if he would look with confidence to a future state of reward, and enjoy the approbation of a pure conscience during life: they are these. Never affirm what is not strictly true, nor defend what you perceive to be unjust. The books which have been published in this department of learning

are multifarious and complex. The following may be mentioned as deserving more than ordinary attention.

Bridgman on the Study of the Law, 8vo, 4s 6d bds. Clarke, Blackstone's Analysis of the Laws, 8vo. Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England, by Christian, 5 vol. 21 2s bds. Curry's Abridgment of Blackstone's Commentaries, 9s bds. Beccaria on Crimes and Punishments, 8vo, 4s 6d, Montesquieu's Spirit of Laws, 7s bd bds.

BIOGRAPHY

is a highly important branch of history. The biogra pher, by his accurate researches, supplies the deficiencies of the historian. What the latter gives us only in outlines and sketches, the former presents in more complete and highly finished portraits. Their province does not merely extend to those who have acted upon the great theatre of the world, as sovereigns, statesmen, and warriors; but to all who have improved human life by their useful discoveries, adorned it by their works of genius, and edified mankind by their examples. With what pleasure do we select a Bacon, a Boyle, a Newton, an Addison, a Locke, a Radcliffe, a Howard and a Hanway, from the multitudes which surround them, and become acquainted with their particular characters and con duct!

To contemplate such men, not inflamed by vain ambition, or courting empty popularity, but seeking retirement, and giving dignity to the walks of private life by the efforts of genius, and the exer tions of philanthropy, is a high gratification to the mind, and inspires it with an admiration and a love of those virtues, which come within the reach of general imitation. No species of writing gives a more perfect insight into the minds of men,

than their LETTERS. We observe them as they thought in their retired moments, when, withdrawn from the bustle of the world, they gave free scope to their unrestrained opinions, and poured them, without reserve, into the bosoms of their friends. Among the numerous instances, which might be selected of epistolary excellence, we distinguish the letters of Cicero, which display the sentiments of a vigourous mind, and give an insight into the eminent characters of his eventful times. Pliny, in letters remarkable for neatness and precision of thought, expresses the dictates of a cultivated and generous mind. If we turn our attention to the epistolary literature of our own country, we shall find that the piety and affection of Lady Russel, the quaintness and pleasantry of Howel, the manliness and political sagacity of Stafford, the philosophical exactness and cool judg ment of Locke, the simplicity of Rundle, the moralising vein of Johnson, and the taste and elegance of Gray, mark their respective letters with the strongest characters of originality, and gives us the most pleasing pictures of their minds: [Mr. Kett's Elements.]

Besides the names elegantly enumerated by Mr. Kett, the following may be added, as justly celebrated letter-writers; viz. Pope, Swift, Addison, Steele, Arbuthnot, Gay, Shenstone, Sterne, Lyttelton, Lady Mary Wortley Montague, Richardson, Chesterfield, Cowper, Sevigny, and Maintenon. Biogra

phy is, in general, a most pleasing as well as instructive branch of literature.

it unveils man to man;

When faithfully written discovers the virtues and

vices, the nobleness and the meanness of which he is capable; and shews how the original sameness of human nature is varied by the operation of external

causes into ten thousand different shapes, and assumes as many shades and hues. Man, to be known, must be viewed in every situation; and whenever he is fairly exhibited, whatever may have been his rank, station, or circumstances of birth or fortune, a valuable addition is made to science. Whether the record respects the struggles of talents and worth through the chilling regions of obscurity and penury, up to the glittering eminences of fame and reward; or whether it details the operations of pride and ambition on minds born to wealth and power; it presents an useful lesson, which those who are disposed to exertion and virtue will not read in vain. [Mon. Rev.] I would begin the study of the human heart by reading the lives of particular men; for there the hero conceals not himself for a moment.. The biographer pursues him into his most secret recesses, and exposes him to the piercing eye of the spectator; he is best known when he believes himself most concealed. I confess the genius of a people is very different from that of man considered as an individual, and that we shall be imperfectly acquainted with mankind if we neglect the study of the multitude; but it is also true, that we must begin by studying man in order to know mankind; and that if we know the propensities of each individual it will not be difficult to foresee their effects when combin ed in the body of the people. The lives of kings may be written and rewritten, but we shall never see another SUETONIUS. PLUTARCH's excellence consists chiefly in those very minutiæ into which we dare not enter. There is an inimitable gracefulness in his manner of painting great men engaged in trivial employments, and he is so happy in the choice of his

incidents, that frequently a single word, a smile, a gesture, is sufficient to characterize his hero. MARSHAL TURENNE was incontestibly one of the greatThe writer est men of the age in which he lived.

of his life has had the resolution to render it interesting by relating some minute particulars which make his hero known and beloved; but how many was he obliged to suppress, which would have taught us to know and love him still more! I shall instance one which I had from good authority, and which Plutarch would by no means have omitted, but which Ramsay, if he had known it, would not have dared to relate. The Marshal happened, one hot day, to be looking out at the window of his antichamber in a white waistcoat and night-cap. A servant entering the room, was deceived by his dress, and mistook him for one of his under cooks. He crept softly behind him, and with a hand, which was not one of the lightest, gave him a violent slap on the breech. The Marshal intstantly turned about, and the fellow, frightened out of his senses, beheld the face of his master: down he fell on his knees. "Oh! my lord! I thought it was George!" "And suppose it had been George," replied the Marshal, rubbing his backside, "you ought not to have struck quite so hard." There are few people capable of conceiving the effect which reading, thus directed, would have on young minds. [Rousseau, b. iv.]

The best modern Biographical Dictionaries are Jones's, 5s bound; Watkins's 15s bds; and the "General Biography," now publishing in 4to. volumes, by Dr. Aikin, and others. Former Works of great repute are, The British Plutarch, 8 vol. 12mo, 1/4s. The New Biographical Dictionary, 15 vol. 8vo, 61. Payne. The Biographia Britannica, by Dr. Kippis, Vol. 1 to 6, folio, 9/ 19s in sheets. Robinsons.