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III.

THE FOREST;

A Description of TREES generally; with 16 Engravings, shewing the Form and Character of the principal Trees; and 10 Wood Engravings, illustrative of minor peculiarities. Price 3s. 6d. neatly bound in coloured cloth, square 16mo.

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FAMILIAR INSTRUCTION FOR THE LAYING OUT AND MANAGEMENT OF A FLOWER GARDEN.

With blocks, and 12 engravings of flowers, one for each month. Price 3s. 6d. half bound in cloth and leather, plain, or with the flowers coloured 4s. 6d.

INTRODUCTION.

MR. BENYON resided at a handsome marine villa, on the Hampshire coast. In early life he had been engaged in the busy pursuits of commerce, in the neighbourhood of London. These he had relinquished, in favour of a near relative. His state of health rendered the sea-air necessary to his welfare; and as his father had left him a considerable fortune, he was well able to give up the profits of trade to those who had more need of them.

And he was as willing to do so, as he was able; for he was fond of a retired contempla

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tive life. And especially was this the case, when he had lost his lady, who died after a long illness, leaving a fine little boy to his care. He determined, therefore, to gratify the best wishes of his heart, by devoting his leisure hours to the education of this child. His sentiments on this important subject, were in unison with those of an excellent writer of our own age; when conversing on this topic, he would often repeat the following lines, with much interest and animation;

"Then why resign into a stranger's hand
A task so much within your own command,
That God and nature, and your interest too,
Seem with one voice to delegate to you?

Why hire a lodging in a house unknown,

For one, whose tenderest thoughts all hover round

your own?

This second weaning, needless as it is,

How does it lacerate both your heart and his!

The indented stick, that loses day by day,
Notch after notch, till all are smoothed away,
Bears witness, long ere his dismission come,
With what intense desire he wants his home."*

Thus Mr. Benyon determined to be "Father, and Friend, and Tutor, all in one;" and he was well-qualified for the task.

His household was regulated very much in the style of the best of our forefathers. For example, he had a high degree of reverence for the Holy Scriptures; he believed, with Locke, that they "have God for their author, salvation for their end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for their matter." He felt, that the testimony of Sir W. Jones, in reference to the Bible, was well-founded; "I have regularly," said that learned man," and attentively read the Holy Scriptures; and am

* Cowper.

of opinion, that this volume, independently of its divine origin, contains more sublimity and beauty, more pure morality, more important history, and finer strains of poetry and eloquence, than can be collected from all other books, in whatever age or language they may have been composed."

The friends and relatives of Mr. Benyon often visited him in his retirement; but, whoever might be present, he assembled his household each morning and evening, to hear a portion of the sacred pages, and to offer supplication and thanksgiving to the great source of all good.

Harry was a very sensible boy, and apt to ask questions about every thing. His father encouraged him to do so, as it was one of his principal enjoyments to impart to him that

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