The next thing I would gladly recommend, is that of letter-writing, a branch of education, which seems to me of the utmost utility, and in which most of our youth are deficient at their leaving school; being suffered to form their own style by chance: or imitate the first wretched model that falls in their way, before they know what is faulty, or can relish the beauties of a just simplicity.
For their improvement in this particular, the teacher may cause every young gentleman to have a slate or paper before him, on Saturdays, and then dictate a letter to them, either of his own composition, or taken out of some book, and turn it into false English, to exercise them in the grammar rules if he thinks proper, which they shall all write down, and then correct and transcribe it fairly in their books.
After the young gentlemen have been accustomed to this some time, a supposed correspondence may be fixt between every two of them, and write to one another under the inspection of the teacher who may correct and shew their faults when he sees occasion; by such a method he will soon find them improve in epistolary writing. The same may be observed with regard to young ladies, who are very often deficient, not only in orthography, but every other part of grammar.
If something similar to this method be pursued, it will soon reflect honor on the teacher, give the highest satisfaction to judicious parents, and entail upon the scholar a pleasing and lasting advantage.
THE EDITOR.
CONTENTS.
[Pursuit of Knowledge recommended to Youth,]
[Directions how to spend our Time,]
[Mispent Time how punished,]
[Modesty],
[Affectation,]
[The same continued,]
[Good humour and Nature,]
[Friendship,]
[Detraction and Falshood,]
[The Importance of Punctuality,]
[Exercise and Temperance the best Preservative of Health,]
[The Duty of Secrecy,]
[Of Cheerfulness,]
[On the Advantages of a Cheerful Temper,]
[Discretion,]
[Pride,]
[Drunkenness,]
[Gaming,]
[Whisperers and Giglers complained of,]
[Beauty produced by Sentiments,]
[Honour,]
[Human Nature,]
[ The Advantages of representing Human Nature in its proper Dignity,]
[Custom a second Nature,]
[On Cleanliness,]
[The Advantages of a good Education,]
[The Disadvantages of a bad Education,]
[ Learning a necessary Accomplishment in a Woman of Quality or Fortune,]
[On the Absurdity of Omens,]
[ A good Conscience, &c.]
[On Contentment,]
[Human Miseries chiefly imaginary,]
[ A Life of Virtue preferable to a Life of Pleasure,]
[Virtue rewarded,]
[The History of Amanda,]
[The Story of Abdallah and Balsora,]
[Rashness and Cowardice,]
[Fortitude founded upon the Fear of God,]
[The Folly of youthful Extravagance,]
[The Misery of depending upon the Great,]
[What it is to see the World,]
[The Story of Melissa,]
[ On the Omniscience and Omnipresence of the Deity, together with the Immensity of his Works,]
[Motives to Piety and Virtue, drawn from the Omniscience and Omnipresence of the Deity,]
[Reflections on the third Heaven,]
[ The present Life to be considered only as it may conduce to the Happiness of a future one,]
[On the Immortality of the Soul,]
[On the Animal World, and the Scale of Beings,]
[Providence proved from Animal instinct,]
[Good-Breeding,]
[Further Remarks, taken from Lord Chesterfield's Letters to his Son,]
[Genteel Carriage,]
[Cleanliness of Person,]
[Dress,]
[Elegance of Expression,]
[Small Talk,]
[Observation,]
[Absence of Mind,]
[Knowledge of the World,]
[Choice of Company,]
[Laughter,]
[Sundry little Accomplishments,]
[Dignity of Manners,]
[Rules for Conversation,]
[Further Remarks, taken from Lord Chesterfield's Letters to his Son,]
[Entrance upon the World,]
[Advice to a young Man,]
[The Vision of Mirza, exhibiting a Picture of Human Life,]
[ Riches not productive of Happiness: The Story of Ortogrul of Basra,]
[Of the Scriptures, as the Rule of Life,]
[Of Genesis,]
[Of Exodus,]
[Of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy,]
[Of Joshua,]
[Of Judges, Samuel, and Kings,]
[Of Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah; and Esther,]
[Of Job,]
[Of the Psalms,]
[ Of the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Solomon's Song, the Prophecies, and Apocrypha,]
[ Of the New Testament,]
[Of the Example set by our Saviour, and his Character,]
[ A comparative View of the Blessed and Cursed at the last Day, and the Inference to be drawn from it,]
[Character of St. Paul,]
[Of the Epistles,]
[The Epistle of St. James,]
[Epistles of St. Peter, and the first of St. John,]
[Of the Revelations,]
[True Devotion productive of the truest Pleasure,]
[ A Morning Prayer for a young Student at School, or for the common Use of a School,]
[An Evening Prayer,]
[APPENDIX.]
[Of Columbus, and the Discovery of America,]
[ Speech of Romulus after founding Rome,]
[ Speech of Quinctius Capitolinus,]
[Caius Marius to the Romans,]
[Demosthenes to the Athenians,]
[The perfect Speaker,]
[On the Duties of School-Boys, from the pious and judicious Rollin,]
[Columbia.—A Poem,]
[The Choice of a Rural Life.—A Poem,]
[Hymns and Prayers,]
[Character of Man,]
[Winter,]
[Douglas's Account of himself,]
[ ------how he learned the Art of War,]
[Baucis and Philemon,]
[On Happiness,]
[Speech of Adam to Eve,]
[ Soliloquy and Prayer of Edward the Black Prince, before the battle of Poictiers,]
[Invocation to Paradise Lost,]
[Morning Hymn,]
[The Hermit, by Dr. Beatie,]
[Compassion,]
[Advantages of Peace,]
[The Progress of Life,]
[Speeches in the Roman Senate,]
[Cato's Soliloquy on the Immortality of the Soul,]
[Hamlet's Meditation on Death,]
[ Select Passages from Dramatic Writers.]
[Joy,—Distressed Mother,]
[Grief,—Distressed Mother,]
[Pity,—Venice Preserved,]
[Fear,—Lear,]
[Awe and Fear,—Mourning Bride,]
[Horror,—Scanderberg,]
[Anger,—Lear,]
[Revenge,—Merchant of Venice,]
[Admiration,—Merchant of Venice,]
[Haughtiness,—Tamerlane,]
[Contempt,—Fair Penitent,]
[Resignation,—Jane Shore,]
[Impatience,—Volpone]
[Remorse and Despair,—Busiris,]
[Distraction,—Jane Shore,]
[Gratitude,—Fair Penitent,]
[Intreaty,—Jane Shore,]
[Commanding,—Rinaldo and Armida,]
[Courage,—Alfred,]
[Boasting,—Every Man in his Humour,]
[Perplexity,—Tancred and Sigismunda]
[Suspicion,—Julius Cæsar,]
[Wit and Humour,—2d Henry 4, 1st Henry 4,]
[Ridicule,—Julius Cæsar,]
[Perturbation—Lear,]
[ELEMENTS OF GESTURE.]
[Section I,]
[Section II.]
[Section III.]
[On Reading and Speaking,]