with farmers, artificers, and others, who procure subsistence by the labour of their hands.

6. On the contrary, he is directed to turn his attention to the literature of GREECE and ROME; to study languages, for which the bent of his genius is unfit; to commit to memory classic productions, the beauties of which his mind is not capable of perceiving; and to neglect those more congenial pursuits to which it is naturally prone: thus, the dissatisfaction occasioned by the restraint increases the disgust for the employment thus forced on him, and he becomes the grief of his parents, and a disgrace to his station.

7. It sometimes happens, likewise, that a youth, born in the lower grade of society, shall possess strong mental powers, a vivid imagination, and a love for literature. He eagerly catches every opportunity of improving his mind; he hails, as a blessing from heaven, any book that may offer itself for his perusal, which accords with the bent of his inclination, and affords valuable information: though he has no kind instructor to teach him the first principles of knowledge, to direct him in the pursuit of it, and to give regularity and method to his studies, he resolutely perseveres; and, from amongst the chaotic mass of information which, by his diligence, he acquires, forms something like a system of his own. Every fresh gratification of his thirst for learning, increases his love. for intellectual pleasures, and his appetite grows from the difficulty of gratifying it.

Any confused assemblage of various matters, without order or arrangement. (The term "CHAOs" was given by the ancients to the primeval mass of matter of which the universe now consists, and which was supposed to be in confusion, before it was divided by the CREATOR into its proper classes and elements.) Any thing where the parts are undistinguished.

8. Such a youth, had he the advantages of the former, would do credit to his instructors; would eagerly listen to their instructions; would feel rapture at the vast field of knowledge that lay in his view: but, alas! his narrow circumstances forbid; he is doomed to labour for his support; the faculties of his mind must be chained down to things which seem beneath his notice; he attends to them reluctantly; he performs his duty mechanically, but without interest; his thoughts are engaged on things which he considers infinitely superior to the drudgery to which he is destined: perhaps, in a hapless hour, he renounces it, devotes himself to the Muses, and appears before the world as an Author.

9. His works display superior genius, uncultivated, and ill-directed: men admire that such knowledge and talents should be displayed by one so humble in station, so deficient in advantages: they perhaps bring him forward into notice; they excite in him great hopes, and lift him out of his sphere; but the novelty soon wears off; other claims on their notice arise; his hopes are disappointed, his pride is wounded, his resources fail, and he becomes an useless member of society, a burthen to himself, and an object of compassion to his friends.

10. Thus, by the caprice of Fortune,* two persons, who, had they exchanged situations in life, would each have been enabled to pursue the bent of his genius, and become an ornament to society, unhappily prove the reverse: a good farmer, or mechanic, has been converted into a useless gentleman;t and a genius fitted for lofty flights has

That is, in appearance, only: all things are ordained by the unerring PROVIDENCE of GOD.

+ No unpleasant reflection is meant here. A gentleman who unites mental acquirements, with politeness of manners and personal accomplishments, and uses these ARIGHT, is a blessing to society.

been chained to earth, and compelled to drag on existence as an unskilful mechanic.

11. Although the institutions of society will not admit of every one following the inclination of his genius, and becoming eminent in that pursuit to which Nature seems to prompt him, it would perhaps be advantageous to themselves, if the higher classes were induced to look with less contempt on manual employments, and to suffer their children, who may show any indications of a genius for the mechanic arts, to practise them at their leisure moments. LOUIS XVI. of France was an excellent locksmith, and in framing those machines, passed, perhaps, some of the happiest hours of his life.

*

12. But it is necessary, likewise, to be on our guard, that we may not mistake Audacity for Genius, and believe that, because a person is bold, talkative, and boasting, he is superior to the ordinary race of mortals. TRUE Genius is modest, and requires to be fostered and cherished, before it will fully display itself. The flaunting+ SUNFLOWER glares in the eye of day, but sheds no sweets: the modest VIOLET hides itself beneath the shady bank, and discovers itself chiefly by its perfume.

13. Yet mankind, in general, are caught by the glare; impudent ignorance flourishes, while retiring genius frequently pines in obscurity, unnoticed and unknown. These are no new observations: they have been reiterated‡ again and again: but they cannot be made too often, while the evil, for which they are intended as a corrective, remains in full force.

Boldness; impudence; unwarrantable assumption or pretensions; spirit; self-confidence. + Making a false display.

Repeated again and again.

14. GENIUS was represented, on an ancient bas-relief,* found at Rome in the reign of Pope Pius IV., as a naked boy, of a cheerful countenance, crowned with poppies, with ears of corn in one hand, and a bunch of grapes in the other. Below it was this epigram;† Quis tu læte, puer? GENIUS. Cur dextera aristam, leve uvas, vertex quidve papaver habet? Hæc tria dona, Deum CERERIS, BACCHI, et Soporis. Namque his mortales vivitis, et Genio."

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QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION.

1. What is GENIUS? 2. What is UNIVERSAL Genius? Is Universal Genius common? Why not?

3. Why is it, that many persons, who really possess Genius, and many excellent qualifications, never realize their expectations?

4. What is there in every reasonable mind? Exemplify this.—What would be the consequences of diligently cultivating this natural bent of the mind?

5. What effect have the restraints of refinement upon the faculties of the mind?-5, 6. Exemplify this, by describing the fate of a youth of high birth, born with a taste for mechanical pursuits.

7. Describe a youth of the lower grades of society, born with high intellectual qualifications.-What is a CHAOTIC MASS? (Note.) 7, 8, 9. What is commonly the destiny of such a youth?.

10. What have you to observe on these two examples of perverted inclinations? By what are all things ordained? (Note.)

11. Of what will the institutions of society not admit? What would, probably, be advantageous to the higher classes? In what was LOUIS XVI. of France, expert?

12. What is it necessary for us to guard against? Exemplify the modesty of TRUE GENIUS, by a simile.

13. By what are mankind, in general, caught? What is too often the fate of retiring Genius ?

14. How is GENIUS represented? What is a Bas-relief? (Note.) What is an Epigram? (Note.)

Sculpture, the figures of which do not stand out from their ground in their full proportion.

A short poem, terminating in some pointed allusion.

MUSIC.

1. Music, that heaven-born science, which soothes our agitated minds, raises within us gay and exhilarating emotions, or lifts our thoughts, in solemn adoration and praise, to the DISPENSER of all good, may be divided into THEORETICAL+ and PRACTICAL.I

2. THEORETICAL Music may be defined, the inquiry into the properties of sounds, and their reciprocal § relations to one another. PRACTICAL Music comprehends the art of composition, and the manner of executing it.

3. MUSIC is again subdivided into melody and harmony the former being simply a succession of single sounds, producing an agreeable impression on the mind. through the organ of the ear; the latter, a combination of pleasing sounds.

4. There is little doubt but that vocal music is much more ancient than instrumental; and that many a pleas

Cheering; gladdening; enlivening; rendering cheerful

mirthful.

ог

+ Speculative; depending on, or terminating in, speculation or theory. THEORY is speculation; a plan, scheme, or system yet subsisting only in the mind, and not put in practice.

Not merely theoretical; relating to action.

§ Mutual; done by each to each; acting in vicissitudes; alternate; mutually interchangeable.

|| Any natural instrument; as, the TONGUE is the organ of speech, the LUNGS, of respiration; the SKIN, of the sense of feeling, &c.—Also, the sublime musical instrument, consisting of pipes filled with wind, and stops and keys touched by the hand, is termed, pre-eminently, THE ORGAN; as being the noblest and grandest of all musical instruments, which are, individually, artificial organs of sound, but distinguished by distinct names.

¶ Union; association; league; union of bodies or qualities; commixture; conjunction.