can be conferred upon them. Every nerve should be strained to introduce them to the rudiments, at least, of practical knowledge. He who fails in this is charge able with want of due affection for his offspring, and with all the errors and miseries to which they are exposed by their ignorance.

The wild reveries of Rousseau, so improperly denominated a method of education, have been suffered to operate with a very pernicious influence throughout the civilized world. He has taught, and miserly or deluded parents, have imbibed the doctrine, that the mind in childhood ought to be left free, uncon-trolled by any authority; that it may advance to ma turity unincumbered with prejudice, and unshackled by any of the sentiments of times past or present. How is this possible, if the child grow up in such world as ours? But the scheme is in fact as mischiev-. ous as it is visionary. Great care doubtless should be used to guard the minds of the young from prejudices,. especially such as would be very injurious to their welfare. If, however, under this pretence, children. be not diligently led in the paths of truth and virtue, they will, they must become the prey of corruption and folly. O that the system of Pythagoras were rather imitated; that our youth were required to listen, with respectful silence, to the instructions of age and experience; to trace with untiring energy the course of science; to learn wisdom from the study of nature, and still more from the holy and merciful revelation of nature's God!

Good Pronunciation Recommended.

IT sometimes happens that men who have spent much time in studying the languages of Rome and Greece exhibit a very imperfect acquaintance with C

their own. Instances are yet more frequent of intelligent persons who pronounce their native tongue incorrectly. To this latter subject I wish to call the attention of my young readers; it being as real a point of propriety, in the use of our language, that we pronounce our words rightly, as that we choose them with precision, and put them together in a good style.

And here I am aware that I have various objections to encounter. It will be confidently demanded of me, first of all, what is the use of studying pronunciation ? Is it not enough to speak so as to be understood? In order to answer these, I will ask a few other ques tions. Why do you take care to have your dress agreeable to the existing fashion? What is the use of doing this, when your clothes might be constructed so as to ensure the substantial purposes at a much smaller expense? Why are you so unwilling to appear ignorant or awkward with regard to the customary forms of civility in social intercourse? Why do you blush at the consciousness of deficiency in these little things? The reply to all this is, that we perceive something disagreeable in the want of conformity to a settled standard; and therefore we feel that it is proper to shun singularity by following the current mode, when reason and conscience do not interpose with a prohibition. So it is in the pronunciation of our language. It is a point of conformity to a standard; and to those who know and respect that standard, every departure from it must appear improper and disagreeable.

But what is the standard? I answer, the Pronouncing Dictionary of Walker. Not many years have passed since the first attempts in this way were made, except as to the accent of words. Walker's book, Î may safely assert, has superseded all works of the kind which we had before; and, though not absolutely perfect, is now, in general, the acknowledged guide of pronunciation in every part of the world where our language is used. Hence it results that though we may pronounce our words according to the custom of

our little neighbourhood or district, we may be abundantly offending the ear of an auditor trained to accuracy on the subject.

But is not the pronunciation of the English language continually changing? And is it worth while to take any pains about a thing so mutable? I reply, every fashion is changing; yet we employ some care not to be out of the fashion of the day. Our language itself is as liable to change, and does actually change as much, in other and more important respects as in this; but we must not discard our esteem for it and study. of it on that account. The credit of Walker's valuable performance, I presume, will prevent the change of pronunciation from being near so rapid in future as it has formerly been. And after all, I should not urge the thing with much zeal, did I not know that the exchange of a very faulty for a good pronunciation is of easy attainment; not to the aged, I confess, but certainly to the young. If you desire to pronounce well, and happen to be so situated as to converse daily for a considerable length of time with a correct speaker, you will acquire the habit almost insensibly. But many have not this opportunity. I will, therefore, point out another method. And though I know that the superficial will deride the mention of any thing like reading a dictionary, I must venture it, and abide the consequence. The great difficulty is to find out the words of which our pronunciation has been defective. For want of this knowledge, I have heard even respectable scholars pronounce wretchedly, while they had the standard at hand, and professed to conforin to it. I propose, then, that you take a flying course through the columns of Walker; marking on a sheet of paper the words which you find you have hitherto pronounced wrong, together with the rectified pronunciation. Look over this sheet occasionally, until you have corrected your errors. The whole business will be ac complished in a very little time, and with little labour; sp little that I do not see how any studious youth, and

especially any one who is or aims to be a public speak er, can excuse himself in the neglect of a task so. easy. I have only to add, that whoever wishes to become a master of good pronunciation should use, with Walker's Dictionary, his Key to the Pronunciation of Proper Names.

No. 7. SEPTEMBER 16, 1813.

The Pleasures of Piety.

THE following letter was communicated by one who has been my friend from our earliest years. For the too strong expressions of encouragement which it contains, they who understand what friendship is will know how to make the due allowance.

SIR,

TO THE MOUNTAINEER.

I recognise in your writings the style and sentiments of an old friend, with whom, in the unanxious and joyous days of youth, I trod the walks of classi cal literature: and what affords recollections still more grateful, with whom I studied in that school where the lessons of heavenly wisdom are taught; where the vain philosophy of this world is demonstrated to be an ignis fatuus, which misleads its votaries to their own undoing; and where the attainment of true humility is evidence of the most honourable proficiency; even the school of Jesus Christ. This recognition warms my heart, almost as much as the countenance of the friend of my youth is accustomed to do it; and I say, not in the cold and formal way of the world, but in the sincerity of genuine friendship, success attend you! May you effectually oppose vice and folly. May you exorcise the foul fiend of party spirit from your happy valley; and be instrumental in promoting the culture of manly taste, sound morality, and un feigned piety, among its inhabitants.

I indulge the hope that, along with the other good fruits of your labours, you will convince your readers that no man is obliged to be dull because he is religious; and that the most refined taste is not in the smallest degree inconsistent with the most fervent piety. You will agree with me that such an achievement demands your utmost exertions. There are many persons, and among them some of no mean endowments, who have united so firmly in their minds the idea of religion with that of dulness, or want of taste, that they hardly think of the one without the other; a combination of very unhappy tendency, both to themselves and to all who are under their influence. Of the fact, that numbers have fallen into this obliquity of judgment, there can be no doubt; and it is not more certain than it is strange and inexcusable. We may remark, as we pass, that were religion and taste at war with each other, we need no oracle to tell us which of the two would be entitled to the victory. But they are in truth not enemies, but allies. That subjugation of the passions which is effected by religion is most fa vourable to the improvement of the understanding; and the objects of taste appear clothed with new charms to a mind powerfully impressed by the doctrines of the gospel, and call into exercise its most delightful sensibilities.

The pleasure afforded by objects of this kind depends more on the ideas and emotions habitually associated with them than on the objects themselves. For instance; when you, in your morning walk, hear your mountain groves and woody vales made vocal by the singing of birds, that rapture with which your heart exults does not proceed in any great measure from the mere sounds uttered by those little songsters; for these sounds are often quite unmusical, and sometimes very rough and harsh. But it is the voice of gladness that you hear; it suggests to you the idea of enjoyment. These notes, uncouth as they may be, are indeed expressive of all the happiness that can be enjoyed by