more important knowledge. "A great deal, to be sure," says an eloquent writer, "can be said in favour of the social nature of the fine arts. Music gives pleasure to others. Drawing is an art the amusement of which does not centre in him who exercises it, but is diffused among the rest of the world. This is true, but there is nothing after all so social as a cultivated mind. We do not mean to speak slightingly of the fine arts, or to depreciate the good humour with which they are sometimes exhibited; but we appeal to any man, whether a little spirited and sensible conversation, displaying modestly useful acquirements, and evincing rational curiosity, is not well worth the highest exertions of musical or graphical skill? A woman of mere accomplishments may, for half an hour, entertain with great brilliancy those who have the pleasure of knowing her; but a mind full of ideas, and with that elastic spring, which the love of knowledge only can convey, is a perpetual source of exhilaration and amusement to all who come within its reach, not collecting its force into single and insulated achievements like the efforts inade in the fine arts, but diffusing over the whole of existence a calm pleasure, better loved as it is longer felt, and suitable to every variety and period of life. Therefore, instead of hanging the understanding of a woman upon walls or hearing it vibrate upon strings, instead of seeing it in clouds, or hearing it in the wind; we would make it the first spring and ornament of society, by enriching it with impressions and attainments upon which alone such power depends." Much, very much, might still be said, yet I fear your patience is not quite so exhaustless as the subject. Before I conclude, however, suffer me to repeat the consideration that scarcely any education would seem too good for those who are, as it were, by a law of their nature, destined to rear the tender thought, To teach the young idea how to shoot, What education, then, let it be asked, can be too good for those to whom this task is committed-this task, at once so delightful and responsible? They are to plant in the soil of the youthful heart, those seeds which, in future years, are to present to the parents the accomplishment of their fondest hopes in the beauty and vigour of the tree; or else be the source of acutest misery and self-condemnation, if they spring up naught but noxious and unprofitable weeds. If such considerations as these had always received the attention to which they are by their impor tance most justly entitled, many parents would have been saved the misery of beholding the depravity of their children; many children would have become the ornaments of society, instead of the miserable victims of disgrace and infamy. "Train up a child," says the wise man, "in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Sow, then, the seeds of virtue and of knowledge in the youthful breast, and cultivate them with unremitted attention. Then, when the youth shall have sprung up into the man, the plant which, by your industrious care, has been nourished and brought to maturity, shall repay you with tenfold interest: for you shall soon behold it flourishing in the richest luxuriance, and in your declining years you shall find under its branches a grateful-a refreshing shade. While he was remarkably fond of original composition, and acquired, as is here seen, an uncommon facility in this branch of education, he paid great attention also to the cultivation of a talent for public speaking. To this he was particularly devoted, and gained thus an instrument of influence which was employed for purposes of great usefulness in his subsequent life. He possessed, undoubtedly, great natural powers in this department, and he manifested his judgment and wisdom in improving them. In this he may be considered particularly an example; and his attention to the improvement of his powers in oratory, may be prominently exhibited to the imitation of youth preparing themselves not only for the pulpit, but also for any other department of life. In our country, every youth of talent and correct deportment, has all the avenues of usefulness and influence opened before him; and no employment, even in the lowest mechanic arts, should be allowed to divert from the proper cultivation of the mind and address, those who have been endowed with powers which may be made productive of good to others. But especially in the case of young men preparing for the pulpit, is attention to the habit and ability of public speaking indispensable. Whatever may be the improvement of the mind, and the acquisition of knowledge, it becomes in the pulpit almost useless, without a reasonable facility of expression, and a distinct, intelligible, and impressive enunciation. The peculiar attributes of Dr. Bedell's oratory will be noticed in the proper place. The subject is here referred to simply that it may be seen how early he commenced that attention to its claims which resulted in such ripeness of excellence in the fulfilment of his ministry of the Gospel. Soon after his graduation at college, in 1811, he commenced his preparation for holy orders under the direction of Dr. How, one of the assistant ministers of Trinity Church, New-York. At this inter esting crisis of his life, it would be highly satisfactory to have had some adequate evidence of the development of that religious character which is so essential to a proper entrance on this holy work. But of this testimony we are entirely destitute. There is reason to believe that his own views had been turned towards the ministry from his childhood, and it is very certain that the wishes of his family were concentrated upon the same point. But at the time of his actual commencement of his preparation for it, there was no especial expectation of it in their minds, nor were they aware of any particular impressions of religion upon his own. His first attendance with them at the Lord's table, of which he had given them no previous notice, and which accordingly, in some degree, surprised them, was the first evidence which they received of any actual determination of his mind upon the subject of personal religion. He was remarkably averse through his whole life to the communication of his own feelings. Even with the most intimate companions and friends he abstained from conversation referring to himself, and it was only as they were drawn from him with some degree of skill and perseverance, that such statements were ever made at all. The knowledge of this accounts to us, for this ignorance of his state of mind and plans of conduct at this period of his history, even in those who were the most intimately connected with him in life. Destitute as we are of adequate information, in reference to the state of his mind as connected with these new circumstances of life, we have abundant reason to fear, from the very great change which subsequently occurred in the whole system of his views in regard to religious subjects, as well as from his habits of life after he had entered upon a preparation for the ministry, that there was a great deficiency in him of proper seriousness of character and principle in reference to this important step. And we cannot but adore the forbearing providence of that God who wisely and mercifully guided him through unexpected paths, to the adequate preparation for that high sphere of duty and usefulness which he ultimately attained, exhibiting thus his unsearchable riches of mercy to this individual soul, and his kindness and bounty to the many hundreds to whom this one was made the effectual messenger of grace and salvation. His buoyant and animated temperament, and his graceful and agreeable manners at the period of life which we are now considering, made society attractive to him, and himself attractive to others. He was thus led into much of that gaiety of habit and amusement, which so generally marks the associations of the young in the higher classes of society in large cities. He was never at any period immoral in his habits, according to the standard of men, but he was very destitute of a serious mind, and of what he would have himself subsequently considered as satisfactory evidence of religious character. Much as it ought to surprise us, that a young man should ever |