The good can never be unfortunate.
And be this maxim graven in thy mind;
The height of virtue is, to serve mankind.
But when old age has silver'd o'er thy head,
When memory fails, and all thy vigour's fled,
Then mayst thou seek the stillness of retreat,
Then hear aloof the human tempest beat;
Then will I greet thee to my woodland cave,
Allay the pangs of age, and smooth thy grave.

CONTENTS.

PART I.

PIECES IN PROSE.

CHAPTER I.

Select Sentences and Paragraphs.!

CHAPTER II.

Narrative Pieces.

GRAINGER.

Sect. 1. No rank or possessions can make the guilty mind happy

2. Change of external condition often adverse to virtue

3. Haman; or the misery of pride

4. Lady Jane Grey.

5. Ortogrul; or the vanity of riches

6. The hill of science

4. Motives to the practice of gentleness

Page

.... 17

•

•

5. A suspicious temper the source of misery to its possessor

6. Comforts of religion

7. Diffidence of our abilities a mark of wisdom

8. On the importance of order in the distribution of our time

9. The dignity of virtue amidst corrupt examples

10. The mortifications of vice greater than those of virtue

11 On contentment

12. Rank and riches afford no ground for envy

13. Patience under provocations our interest as well as duty

14. Moderation in our wishes recommended

15. Omniscience and omnipresence of the Deity, the source of

consolation to good men

CHAPTER IV.

Argumentative Pieces.

Sect. 1. Happiness is founded in rectitude of conduct

2. Virtue and piety man's highest interest

3. The injustice of an uncharitable spirit

4. The misfortunes of men mostly chargeable on themselves

5. On disinterested friendship

6. On the immortality of the soul

Bect. 1. The seasons

CHAPTER V.

Descriptive Pieces.

2. The cataract of Niagara, in Canada, North America

3. The grotto of Antiparos

4. The grotto of Antiparos continued

5. Earthquake at Catanea

6. Creation

7. Charity.

8. Prosperity is redoubled to a good man

9. On the beauties of the Psalms

10. Character of Alfred, king of England

11. Character of Queen Elizabeth

12. The slavery of vice

13. The man of integrity

14. Gentleness

CHAPTER VI.

Pathetic Pieces.

Sect. 1. Trial and execution of the Earl of Strafford

2. An eminent instance of true fortitude of mind

5. Exalted society, and the renewal of virtuous connexions,

two sources of future felicity

6. The clemency and amiable character of the patriarch Joseph . 09

2. Speech of Adherbal to the Roman Senate, imploring

their protection against Jugurtha

118

114

S. The Apostle Paul's noble defence before Festus and Agrippa. Mi

4. Lord Mansfield's speech in the House of Lords, 1770, on the bill

for preventing the delays of justice, by claiming the privi-

lege of parliament

120

. 121

5. An address to young persons

CHAPTER IX.

Promiscuous Pieces.

young woman

Sect. 1. Earthquake at Calabria, in the year 1638

2. Letter from Pliny to Germinius

3. Letter from Pliny to Marcellinus, on the death of an amiable

4. On Discretion

5. On the government of our thoughts

194

6. On the evils which flow from unrestrained passions

8. Excellence of the Holy Scriptures

7. On the proper state of our temper with respect to one another

by Christ on his disciples, in his sermon on the mount

137

199

9. Reflections occasioned by a review of the blessings, pronounced

140

12. On the true honour of man,

10. Schemes of life often illusory,

11. The pleasures of virtuous sensibility,

13. The influence of devotion on the happiness of life,.

Page

141

. 143

. 145

. 146

14. The planetary and terrestrial worlds comparatively considered, • 148
15. On the power of custom, and the uses to which it may be applied, 150
16. The pleasures resulting from a proper use of our faculties, .152

17. Description of candour,

.152

18. On the imperfection of that happiness which rests solely on

worldly pleasures,

. 154

19 What are the real and solid enjoyments of buman life,

. 157

20 Scale of beings,

.158

21. Trust in the care of Providence recommended,

. 161

22 Piety and gratitude enliven prosperity,

. 162

23. Virtue, when deeply rooted, is not subject to the influence of

fortune,

. 164

21. The Speech of Fabricius, a Roman ambassador, to king Pyrrhus, 165

25. Character of James I. king of England,

•

. 166.

26. Charles V. emperor of Germany, resigns his dominions, and

2. Verses in which the lines are of different length,

•

172

174

3. Verses containing exclamations, interrogations, and parentheses, 175

4. Verses in various forms,

5. Verses in which sound corresponds to signification,

6. Paragraphs of greater 'ength,

CHAPTER 11.

Narrative Pieces.

ect. 1. The bear and the bees,

2. The nightingale and the glow-worm,

3. The trials of virtue,.

4. The youth and the philosopher,

5. Discourse between Adam and Eve, retiring to rest,

2. Nothing formed in vain,

3. On pride,..

4. Cruelty to brutes censured,

5. A paraphrase on the latter part of the 6th chapter

10. That philosophy, which stops at secondary causes,

<

2. Rural sounds, as well as rural sights, delightful,

11. Indignant sentiments on national prejudices and hatred;

and on slavery,

Sect. 1. The morning in summer,

Pag

. 19

CHAPTER IV.

Descriptive Pieces

. 200

201

3. The rose,

. 202

4. Care of birds for their young, .

. 202

5. Liberty and slavery contrasted,

. 203

6. Charity. A paraphrase on the 13th chapter of the

First Epistle to the Corinthians,

.204

7. Picture of a good man,

. 205

8. The pleasures of retirement,

.207

9. The pleasure and benefit of an improved and well-

5. Verses supposed to be written by Alexander Selkirk,

during his solitary abode in the Island of Juan

Fernandez,

.213

6. Gratitude,.

214

7. A man perishing in the snow; from whence reflec-

9. Providence vindicated in the present state of man,

.229