for no one who has a mean opinion of his own character and powers, will act above the standard which he has fixed on. Mr. Addison has truly said, that "there is not a more improving exercise "of the human mind, than to be fre

quently viewing its own great privi

leges and endowments; nor more ef"fectual means to awaken in us an "ambition, raised above low objects and "little pursuits, than to value ourselves as HEIRS OF ETERNITY. -There is yet a third species, which it seems necessary to notice; I mean those writings, which are calculated to vituperate our national character. All misrepresentations of the actions and motives, even of our enemies, are unjustifiable and criminal; but an attempt thus to degrade and paralyse our own country, goes as far beyond the

other, as the crime of a parricide exceeds that of a common murderer: and when this is committed under the pretence of patriotism and candour, the most abandoned guilt is aggravated by the most infamous hypocrisy. In selecting books,

therefore, for my perusal, I prefer those which supply the mind with cheerful and pleasing ideas: such as may not only furnish conversation in society, but most gratefully occur to the recollection, and provide intellectual pleasure at other times-such as may enliven solitude, and amuse a wakeful hour at night. In the first class of these I place the HOLY SCRIPTURES; and after them, the classic writers of different ages and countries.What solitary or heavy moment can that rational being experience, whose mind is stored with contemplations of the

power, wisdom, and benignity of the Divine Being,-animated by the hope of an happy immortality, and enlivened by the most pleasing and ingenious productions of the human mind? The aged, who for want of instruction in youth, or from indolent habits in mature life, are incapable of reading, and are thereby deprived of the intellectual comfort which it affords, are almost, if not quite, as much the objects of compassion, as those who have lost their appetite for bodily food.

BISHOP GIBSON. Yet I have met with some illiterate parents, who have had strange apprehensions of their children becoming too fond of books, lest they should injure their constitution by overstudy.

BISHOP HOUGH. Among the sources of health, at my advanced period of life, I reckon my constant practice of devoting certain hours every day to literature or science. Books are calculated, not only to meliorate the habits of society, but to tranquillize the mind, soften asperity of character, extend the benevolent affections, and to intellectualize the sensual part of our nature; and indeed it is an unfounded prejudice (as the indefatigable BISHOP HUET has observed) to imagine, that the pursuit of learning is injurious to health. Studious men are as long lived in general, as others. The literati, to whom we are indebted for the amusing collection known under the title of ANA, were long lived; two thirds of them passed the age of seventy-six ; and as many of them attained the age of

ninety, as died under sixty.

In fact, if excess of exertion be avoided (I address myself particularly to you, dear Bishop of London) and if exercise and temperance be not neglected, the kind of occupation which the love of literature supplies, and the regular, calm, and uniform course of life which it ensures, will conduce generally to health, and preclude many things which might otherwise impair it. But to return to my subject. He who can read the classical writers for taste, and the scriptures for devotion, need never be apprehensive of the tedium of age. For my own part, I make it a rule constantly to devote a certain period of the day to each of these studies. But I do not stop there. Fortunately for me, among some property left by a relation, was a large collection of voyages,