woman could plan so extensive an education as that given by her to the present King of the French, who is allowed, (perhaps it is no great pre-eminence), to be the most talented and best informed monarch now in Europe. I should feel very jealous of putting Madame de Genlis's works into the library of any young person. Her Botanique Historique et Littéraire,' contains some curious information respecting flowers-and is, as far as I recollect, free from objectionable passages.

says-(remark well that I lean with double emphasis on she says,) that the celebrated Humboldt expressed himself surprised at the research which the little work displays. Her Memoirs of Henry IV.' I might also mention, but it is mingled with popery. In fact the poor lady seems to have called together all her popish zeal, in order to speak against the much calumniated Huguenots. As to her tales, I would rather that you should read the history of Jack the Giant Killer. There, at least, the wickedness of a most wicked age, is not openly unveiled; the principles of truth are not sapped at the very foundation by the unblushing recommendation of falsehood;-right is not called wrong, and wrong is not called right. And yet this very

woman could talk about morality; pretend to religion, the religion of Rome; she had her works circulating as works of education through Europe, and she was entrusted with the education of the princes of the blood!

The French language, from its clearness and precision, is admirably adapted to scientific details; and, indeed, many of the French works on science, possess a European reputation. The possession of the French language is therefore an acquirement of no small importance to all those persons, who either by the duties of their profession, or the bent of their natural taste, are led to scientific pursuits. In that delightful department of knowledge, natural history, you will find, if you require them, many valuable works; but I would forewarn you, (for we are apt to be led astray by names,) that Buffon, unrevised, is unsuitable to a lady's library.

In glancing over my letter, I must add another remark. In these days of liberalism, I fear that many may accuse me of endeavouring to infuse a sectarian spirit, or a party feeling into the minds of young people, because in my remarks on books written by Romanists, I have spoken of the leaven

of Rome. It is with no bitterness of feeling, that I have thus spoken. Many individuals, doubtless, in that corrupted church, have found the pearl of great price, even though hidden under a heap of rubbish; but it is right, it is reasonable, nay, it is a Protestant duty to warn our young people against those corruptions, and not to permit them to breathe a tainted atmosphere, without being furnished with a preservative against infection. Are my words too strong? Of that pretended liberalism which throws its misty veil over truth and falsehood, and then pronounces them to be the same, I desire to know nothing; of that true liberality, which, standing firmly on the side of truth, stretches forth the hand of Christian affection to every Christian brother, and wishes grace to" all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity," I would desire and pray to be a partaker.

In my present letter and in a former one, I have mentioned Pascal's Thoughts. Pascal is one of the highest ornaments, as well as one of the most interesting characters in French literature. He is a man of undoubted piety, but he is a Romanist, and you must be careful to separate the precious from the vile. With strong powers of

reasoning, so strong, that his arguments in favour of the truth of Christianity possess, even in the judgment of such men as Fontenelle and Montesqieu, the weight of mathematical demonstration, he is a believer in the pretended miracles of Port Royal, giving another proof of the bewildering effects of the cup of Babylon, on men of even the highest inteliects.

I feel it necessary to add this caution; for it is dangerous to recommend. Bossuet, whose Discourse on Universal History gained for its author the title of the "Eagle of French Literature," by the masterly rapidity with which he observes and classes events, is, nevertheless, as I before hinted, a thorough Romanist. When he touches on the history of the Church, I advise you to compare his statements with those of our own eeclesiastical historian, Milner.

But I am lingering too long on this ground; we will consider French poetry in another letter.

LETTER VIII.

IN continuing my observations on French literature, I must necessarily speak of French poetry; but my views on the subject of that kind of reading for a young lady are not at all changed from what was stated in a preceding letter. I need not re-tread the ground. Some poetry ought to be read for the sake of forming the taste; much poetry should not be read lest it should interfere with the regulation of the mind; and poetry should, on no account, be read indiscriminately-from the consideration of the respect due to the religious and moral principle, and the sedulous care with which that ought to be guarded.

In studying a foreign language, I fear that we sometimes read merely for the sake of elegance of style. This ought not so to be. Having once