There is one great and general direction, which belongs to the improvement of other powers as well as of the memory, and that is, to keep it always in due and proper exercise. Many acts by degrees form a habit, and thereby the capacity or power is strengthened and made more retentive and ready. Due attention and diligence to learn and know the things which we would commit to our remembrance, is a rule of great necessity. There are some persons, who complain they cannot remember what they hear, when in truth their thoughts are wandering half the time, or they hear with such coldness and indifference, and a trifling temper of spirit, that it is no wonder the things which are read or spoken make but a slight impression, and soon vanish and are lost. If we would retain a long remembrance of the things which we read or hear, we should engage our delight and pleasure in those subjects, and use proper methods to fix the attention. Sloth and idleness will no more bless the mind with intellectual riches, than they will fill the hand with gain, the field with corn, or the purse with treasure. Such Some persons are conceited of their abilities, and trust so much to an acuteness of parts denominated genius, that they think it superfluous labour to make any provision beforehand, and they sit still, therefore, satisfied without endeavouring to store their understanding with knowledge. should remember that we are born ignorant of every thing. God has made the intellectual world harmonious and beauti ful without us; but it will never come into our heads all at once; we must bring it home by degrees, and there set it up by our own industry, or we shall have nothing but darkness and chaos within, whatever order and light there may be in things without us. Others, on the contrary, depress their own minds, despond at the first difficulty, and conclude that getting an insight in any of the sciences, or making any progress in knowledge, farther than serves their ordinary business, is above their capacities. The proper remedy here is to set the mind to work, and apply the thoughts vigorously to the business; for it holds in the struggles of the mind, as in those of war,—a persuasion that we shall overcome any difficulties that we may meet with in the sciences, seldom fails to carry us through them. Nobody knows the strength of his mind, and the force of steady and regular application, until he has tried. PLAN OF READING." All things are open to the searching eye Or flower new blown, or human face divine, PERCIVAL. QUESTIONS.-I. What does memory imply? 2. What general direction is given for the improvement of memory? 3. What is a rule of great necessity? 4. What is said of those who are conceited of their abilities? 5. What is the proper remedy for those who despond at difficulties? LESSON 5. Speculation, a train of thoughts formed by meditation. THE only method of putting our acquired knowledge on a level with our original speculations, is, after making ourselves acquainted with our author's ideas, to study the subject over again in our own way; to pause, from time to time, in the course of our reading, in order to consider what we haye gained; to recollect what the propositions are, which the author wishes to establish, and to examine the different proofs which he employs to support them. Such reasonings, as we have occasion frequently to apply, either in the business of life, or in the course of our studies, it is of importance to us to commit to writing, in a language and in an order of our own; and if, at any time, we find it necessary to refresh our recollection on the subject, to have recourse to our own composition, in preference to that of any other author. That the plan of reading, commonly followed, is very different from that which is here recommended, will not be disputed. Most people read merely to pass an idle hour, or to please themselves with the idea of employment, while their indolence prevents them from any active exertion; and a considerable number with a view to the display which they are afterwards to make of their literary acquisitions. From whichsoever of these motives a person is led to the perusal of books, it is hardly possible that he can derive from them any material advantage. If he reads merely from indolence, the ideas which pass through his mind will probably leave little or no impression; if he reads from vanity, he will be more anxious to select striking particulars in the matter or expression, than to seize the spirit and scope of the author's reasoning, or to examine how far he has made any additions to the stock of useful and solid knowledge. A proper selection of the particulars to be remembered is necessary to enable us to profit by reading. When we first enter on any new literary pursuit, we commonly find our efforts of attention painful and unsatisfactory. We have no discrimination in our curiosity, and by grasping at every thing, we fail in making those moderate acquisitions which are suited to our limited faculties. As our knowledge extends, we learn to know what particulars are likely to be of use to us, and acquire a habit of directing our examinations to these, without distracting the attention with others. It is partly owing to a similar circumstance, that most readers complain of a defect of memory, when they first enter on the study of history. They cannot separate important from trifling facts, and they find themselves unable to retain any thing from their anxiety to secure the whole. In order to give a proper direction to our attention to the course of our studies, it is useful before engaging in any particular pursuits to acquire as familiar an acquaintance as possible with the great outlines of the different branches of science; with the most important conclusions which have hitherto been formed in them, and with the most important desiderata which remain to be supplied. By such general views alone we can prevent ourselves from being lost amidst a labyrinth of particulars, or can engage in a course of extensive and various reading, with an enlightened and discriminating attention.-STEWARt. QUESTIONS.-1. By what method may our acquired knowledge be put on a level with our original speculations? 2. What reasonings is it important to commit to writing? 3. What plan of reading is commonly followed? 4. What are its disadvantages? 5. Why should a proper selection be made of the objects of knowledge? 6. What is useful before engaging in any particular pursuits? 7. What will an acquaintance with the great outlines of science prevent? LESSON 6. Hymn to Science. Scho'liast, a writer of explanatory notes. SCIENCE! thou fair effusive ray But first with thy resistless light The scholiast's learning, sophist's cant, The monk's philosophy. Oh! let thy powerful charm impart Devoted to thy sway; Which no weak passions e'er mislead, HYMN TO SCIENCE Give me to learn each secret cause Then to great nature's scenes apply, Next to thy nobler search resign'd And all their changes view. Her secret stores bid Mem'ry tell, In all her treasures drest; Say from what simple springs began Then range through being's wide extent, There, Science, veil thy daring eye, To faith content thy beams to lend, Then downward take thy flight again, Mix with the policies of men, And social Nature's ties |