the higheft Character a Mortal can fuftain, the Character of a PATRIOT KING.

The Language of Truth, tho' moft worthy the Ear of Princes, is that to which they are least accuftom'd. In the future Progress of

your

Life you

will be

12

approach'd by few but fuch as have either fome immediate Dependence on, or Expectations from you; and a Prince will hear from Thefe, nothing but the Voice of Praife. It is therefore highly important, that the Voice of your own Heart do not contradict their Encomiums. For this Purpose may your ROYAL HIGHNESS employ this early and most proper Season of your Life, in adorning your Mind with useful Knowledge, in warming your Heart with the Love of Virtue, and in cultivating in your Breaft that truly Royal Difpofition of encouraging and rewarding Merit. May you never fuffer the falfe Charms of A 3

Eafe

Eafe and Pleasure, to divert you from this glorious Purfuit, nor confider your exalted Birth as exempting you from the Neceffity of thefe noble Attainments.. For it is thefe alone, that can render your Dignity truly graceful, and place you as the just Object of public Efteem

and Admiration.

If this Introduction to Polite Learning, which I here beg Leave to lay at your ROYAL HIGHNESS'S Feet, and which fues for the Honour of your Patronage, fhall have the good Fortune to be thought in any Degree worthy the high Diftinction to which it afpires; the Pleasure of having afforded the least Affiftance to your ROYAL HIGHNESS in the Acquifition of Knowledge, and of having been in any Degree ferviceable to the Public in fo important a Point as the EDUCATION of YOUTH, will give me the highest Satisfaction, as I fhall think I have

I have not been altogether an ufeless Member of Society.

May your ROYAL HIGHNESS, as you grow in Years, advance and improve in every Princely Endowment! And as you are, next to your ROYAL FATHER, the Hope and Expectation of these united Kingdoms; fo may you live to be, after Him, their Guardian and their Glory. I am, with great Refpect,

[ix]

PREFACE.

T

HE Importance of Education is a Point fo generally understood and confeffed, that it would be of little ufe to attempt any new Proof or Illuftration of its Neceffity and Advantages.

At a time when fo many Schemes of Education have been projected, fo many Proposals offered to the Public, fo many Schools opened for general Knowledge, and fo many Lectures in particular Sciences attended; at a time when Mankind feems intent rather upon familiarifing than enlarging the feveral Arts; and every Age, Sex, and Profeffion, is invited to an Acquaintance with those Studies, which were formerly fuppofed acceffible only to fuch as had devoted themselves to literary Leifure, and dedicated their Powers to philofophical Enquiries; it seems rather requifite that an Apology fhould be made, for any further Attempt to smooth a Path so frequently beaten, or to recommend Attainments fo ardently purfued, and fo officiously directed.

That