inftruction pursued in our schools and univerfities, we must be allowed to question.

On the moral part of education, Mrs. Macaulay Graham is more fuccessful. The following paffage, on the variety of difpofitions in children, does no difcredit to the pen of this celebrated writer:

The difpofitions of children are various, and thefe varieties require to be attended to with care, or the fruits of education will be blafted; for that mode of treatment which would rear some children up to honour and felicity, will be the ruin of others. This 1 take to be the fole caufe of that inequality of character and conduct which we daily fee take place among the members of the fame family.

There are fome perfons who poffefs a phyfical prudence, which begins its operations with the firft dawn of reafon. Whether this quality of the mind owes its origin to the flow motion of the animal fpirits, occafioning a cold and phlegmatic temperature, feldom difturbed by paffion? Whether it arifes from that equipoife of the affections, which prevents any fingle one from gaining a predominance? Whether it proceeds from a natural timidity of mind, from an anxious attention to felf-intereft, or from a natural fagacity, which points out with greater clearnefs, precision, and celerity, the evil to be avoided, and the good to be pursued? Whether it arifes from any one of thefe circumftances fingly, or from an union of two, or more of them, or from a happy combination of all? Certain it is, that the difference of character is great in this particular; and that fome perfons are born with the principles of this ufeful quality, without poffeffing great vigour of intellect, fhining parts, or thofe energies of the mind which give birth to admirable

actions.

Prudence has gained on these reafons, the appellation of common fenfe, though it is of fuch a determined utility, that none would gain by its exchange for what is called fine fenfe. And as its operations begin early in life, parents are not liable to mistake the tendency; but in order to make the most of their knowledge, it will be neceffary to obferve, that fine fenfe, when well managed, is better adapted to fofter the higher virtues of the foul, than common fenfe. That the fame moderation which prevents those who are poffcffed of phyfical prudence from falling into great evils, will be obftacles to their purfuing virtue with any degree of warmth. They will be apt to mistake the caution of wisdom for craft, subtlety, and deceit; and they will be fo far from attempting heroic virtue, that without care, their conduct will border on meanness. Of fuch pupils then who fhow fymptoms of poffeffing the quality of a phyfical prudence, the parent or tutor may reft fatisfied on the 'point of their worldly intereft; they ought confequently to postpone their lectures on difcretion, and endeavour to animate their feelings by ftimulating examples of great and towering virtue, and of thofe high and difinterefted parts of conduct, where the nobler paffions take the lead, and where the interefts of felf are facrificed

τα

equity or to general utility. When the cold infenfibility of fuch natures becomes animated, it will be then time enough to inculcate leffons of moral prudence, which is a very different thing from the quality abovementioned, as it depends on knowledge gained by experience or inftruction; and is never inimical, but favourable to virtue. For it is the ufe of the understanding in regarding all the rules of rectitude, in improving all our accomplishments and talents, and employing them ufefully to ourfelves and others. It is watchful in attending to the dictates of reafon, amidst the clamours of paffion; and lattly, it proceeds upon a judicious love of virtue, with fuch a careful examination of all its interefts, as to fuffer no eager pursuits of fome parts of it to be injurious to others.

There are other characters fq oppofite to the naturally prudent, that difcretion finds no place in their compofition. Thefe perfons in general have quick and lively parts, great activity of mind, with exquifite fenfibility; and their fpirits move with a velocity that deftroys all that frigidity which is fo favourable to the operations of the understanding. Thus their imagination is liable, not only to be inflamed, but deceived; every impreffion made on it from external objects, or which arifes from the action of the mind, is received with a vivacity that must be inconceivable to thofe of flower feelings; and their paffions are always ready to rise in an uproar, whenever they are ftimulated by defire. These characters, when they come under the tuition of very wife perfons, or are uncommonly favoured by accident, become of extenfive utility, and rife to the highett fame; but for want of the fame circumftances of fortune, they oftener act a mad and a ridiculous part in the world, and become objects of its derifion and perfecution.

As thefe characters form a contrast to those who are endowed with the quality of a phyfical prudence, it will be neceflary to give them a contrary treatment. Instead of endeavouring to encreafe fenfibility, or exalt the paffions of the mind, every ftimulus to defire fhould be kept as much out of the way as poffible, till the understanding has had time to ftrengthen, and till it has gained the habit of exerting its powers: otherwife it will be ever borne down by the torrent of paffion, and kept under by the tyranny of imagination. The mind fhould be kept active without intenteneis. The examples fet forth for admiration, should be exact pictures of practical imitation. Such an example as Genlis Laggaray would drive thefe inflammable tempers into enthufiafm or defpair. The fecrets of their heart fhould be drawn from them by fuch winning arts of feeming confidence, and real tendernefs, as fhould induce them to throw off every disguise. Obfervations on the advantage of difcretion, and the evils which attend temerity, fhould be made on every opportunity which prefents itself; and thefe propofitions fhould be varioufly illuftrated by appofite examples, drawn from ancient times, from the characters and conduct of acquaintances, and from the stories and anecdotes of the prefent day.

In fuch difpofitions as I have just now defcribed, is often engrafted a whimsical turn of imagination, which is fometimes an attendant on original genius; but which, for want of a proper at

Y 2

tention

tention and management, moft commonly degenerates into the worst fpecies of mental difeafe, viz. an infanity, which carrying the appearance of foundnefs in all the ordinary tranfactions of life, only fhews itself when the mind is oppreffed by a combination of unfavourable circumstances, and gives the colour of criminality to actions which really refult from the difordered ftate of the mental organs.

Children of this caft commonly show the turn of their difpofition early. The follies of childhood are tinctured with fingularity; their fpirits flow unequally. Sometimes very high, and low in the fame proportion, they feize every opportunity which the abfence of thofe they ftand in awe of prefents, to break through the rules which authority obliges them to follow. They are never left to them felves without entering into fome unlucky courfe of action, and this not proceeding from any vicious turn in their affections, but from an irregular imagination, which is ever prompting them to a mifchievous activity. This turn of difpofition, in all probability, proceeds from fome capital defects. in the conftitution, which affect the due circulation of the animal fpirits, and thofe finer juices which act on the brain. Thus the imagination grows irregular. Thus the ideas prefented to the mind, lofe their due magnitude, and become liable to distortion. The remedy for fuch evils lies in.a ftri&t care of the bodily health, particularly in an attention to the rendering it robutt and equal. The mind ought to be kept perpetually engaged in those innocent Occupations which amufe without tranfporting. Inftruction itself fhould wear the face of gaiety. A full confidence fhould be acquired, folitude avoided, and when the time of adolefcence comes on, very frenuous endeavours should be made to give the pupil an infight into the mechanifm of the human mind, and the methods of difciplining it.

Mr. Locke gives fome directions for the management of the flow and infenfible mind, and Madame Genlis for correcting an indolent one; but I imagine, that the qualities given in these three defcriptions, as they have been placed by me, or as they may be found otherwife blended and mixed in the variety which nature produces, give the ftamp of character to all human beings; and the judgment of the parent or tutor must be guided by their experience, which will teach them to adapt their conduct to the different modifications formed by the various mixtures of thefe qualities, and their different degrees. Fortunately for the happiness of mankind, infenfibility is the prevailing feature; and whilft fenfibility is often facrificed to ignorance and neglect, fhe boldly treads the ftage of life, and refts fecure in the fheiter of a torpid conflitution.

As most characters have a leading feature formed from the operations of the governing paffions, fo families are frequently marked by the prevalence of fome one or other of the feveral affections. Thus the natural virtues and vices of parents commonly defcend to their children. It ought therefore to be the talk of every parent to examine carefully their own character, to find out its propenfities, and to regulate the method of education in fuch a manner

as

as fhall guard particularly against the influence of thofe which they find cenfurable in themfelves, unless experience fhould prove to them, that their children have a contrary tendency.'

The remainder of that part of the prefent work which is new, is employed in remarking fome of thofe leading customs in ancient Greece and Rome, which ftamped a national character on their citizens; in tracing the caufes which have prevented Chriftianity from producing its full effect on the manners of fociety; and in enquiring into the moft likely means of advancing public and private happinefs. The authorefs here treats of penal laws; public charities; the management of private luxuries, public amusements, and the national religion; and other interefting topics. Many of her obfervations are ingenious and liberal, and may be worthy of attention: but others appear to us injudicious or romantic; particularly, the inftituting public baths at the expence of government; the transferring theatrical amufements from the evening, the natural feason of amufement, to the morning, when every one is, or ought to be, bufy; and the converting places of worship into public exhibitions for the amusement of our connoiffeurs, by decorating them with paintings and ftatues.

On the whole, we are of opinion, that Mrs. Macaulay Graham excels more in the character of an hiftorian, than in that of a philofopher. The prefent work will, we apprehend, add little to the wreathe of honour which already graces the brow of this literary heroine.

ART. XIV. Tour of the Isle of Wight. The Drawings taken and engraved in Aquatinta. By J. Haffell. 8vo. 2 Vols. About 230 Pages in each. 11. 11 s. 6d. Boards. Hookham. 1790. FE EW are now content to breathe their native air in their own grounds. Excurfions are univerfally the fashion. The inhabitant of the North explores the counties of the South; the inhabitant of the South traverfes thofe of the North; while the London citizen, bursting from the fmoaky temples of Plutus, travels over the kingdom in all directions, hoping to gather, in his rambles, the fragrant flowers of health and pleasure. I hat this paffion is carried to a great extent, and pervades all ranks, may be inferred from the multitude of Guides, Tours, Journeys, Excurfions, &c. which are continually publifhed. Authors lofe no opportunities; and if a particular diftrict or route attracts fingular attention, its beauties are certain of being collected in fome defcriptive volume. The work before us was probably defigned and executed in confequence of its having lately become fashionable to make the tour of the Isle of Wight; and

to those who meditate a furvey of its rich and extensive, its varied and picturesque scenery, we would recommend these volumes as ufeful and pleafing companions. We congratulate Mr, Haffell on having his fteps directed to this ifland, which, within a fpace of no great extent, exhibits both the fublime and the beautiful of prospect. He feems thoroughly fenfible of this circumftance, as his obfervations on its fcenery, conceived with taste, will sufficiently prove. We wish he had not detained us fo long on the Toad to it, and that his defcriptions had been given in greater plainnefs and fimplicity of language. More than one half of the first volume is occupied in relating the author's journey. from Hyde-park Corner to Portsmouth; and after he has conducted the reader round the Ifle of Wight, he does not take his leave of him till he has carried him through the New Foreft to Salisbury and Stonehenge; and thence through Farnham, Guildford, Kingston, and over Putney bridge, to the very spot whence they commenced their journey. The work, therefore, is properly, A Tour from Hyde-park Corner to the Isle of Wight, and back.

By thefe means, more pages are filled than neceffity required: but we object more to Mr. Haffell's poetic profe, which sometimes throws a pompofity over his defcriptions: Ex. gr.

We behold Nature flyly fporting in fome retired corner, where, as if fearful of being feen, fhe rears a ponderous grove, to overhang fome murmuring rivulet, to whofe chrystal ftream (fweet facred haunt!) the timorous fawns, or sturdy heifers, retire to fhun the fcorching rays of Phoebus. While fome ftand cheft-high in the rapid current, to avoid their annoying enemy the fly, others recline on the mofiy bank, and catch the paffing breeze. But if perchance the ruder breath of Zephyr ruftles through the leaves on the furrounding boughs, away fly the fearful fawns, and bounding over the flowery lawn, feek a fecurer retreat.' Vol. i. p. 42.

A briar had courted the embraces of the everlasting ivy; the feafon had tipped their leaves with the remembrance of September, but no more than added luftre to the union.' P. 209.

The evening clofing in, one of the heavy purple harbingers of approaching night had nearly dropt its aerial curtain before the declining fun.' Vol. ii. p. 55.

At this crifis, while the beams of the great luminary, rifing from his watery couch, threw over the fractured mountain's brow a variety of tints, both in chafte keeping and harmony of colours; we were prefented with one of thofe fcenes which a fudden view of nearly bereaves us, for an inftant, of every other faculty;-a fcene that, while we paufe upon it, enlivens every idea, and vibrates through the whole frame:

"In wilder'd rapture loft, and roving thought." P. 194. Mr. H. being a young writer, thefe fuperfluities are the more excufable. Some warmth we muft allow an artist to throw