or runs flat and low, let some one person take a book which may be agreeable to the whole company, and by common consent let him read in it ten lines, or a paragraph or two, or a few pages, till some word or sentence gives an occasion for any of the company to offer a thought or two relating to that subject: interruption of the reader should be no blame; for conversation is the business: whether it be to confirm what the author says, or to improve it, to enlarge upon, or to correct it, to object against it, or to ask any question that is akin to it; and let every one that pleases add his or her opinion and promote the conversation. When the discourse sinks again, or diverts to trifles, let him that reads pursue the page, and read on further paragraphs or pages, till some occasion is given by a word or sentence for a new discourse to be started, and that with the utmost ease and freedom. Such a method as this would prevent the hours of a visit from running all to waste; and by this means, even among scholars, they would seldom find occasion for that too just and bitter reflection, 'I have lost my time in the company of the learned.'

By such a practice as this, young ladies may very honorably and agreeably improve their hours; while one applies herself to reading, the others employ their attention, even among the various artifices of the needle; but let all of them make their occasional remarks or inquiries. This will guard a great deal of that precious time from modish trifling, impertinence, or scandal, which might otherwise afford matter for painful repent

ance.

Observe this rule in general: whensoever it lies in your power to lead the conversation, let it be

directed to some profitable point of knowledge or practice, so far as may be done with propriety; and let not the discourse and the hours be suffered to run loose without aim or design: and when a subject is started, pass not hastily to another before you have brought the present theme of discourse to some tolerable issue, or a joint consent to drop it.

X. Attend with sincere diligence while any one of the company is declaring his sense of the question proposed; hear the argument with patience, though it differ ever so much from your sentiments, for you yourself are very desirous to be heard with patience by others who differ from you. Let not your thoughts be active and busy all the while to find out something to contradict, and by what means to oppose the speaker, especially in matters which are not brought to an issue. This is a frequent and unhappy temper and practice. You should rather be intent and solicitous to take up the mind and meaning of the speaker, zealous to seize and approve all that is true in his discourse, nor yet should you want courage to oppose where it is necessary; but let your modesty and patience, and a friendly temper, be as conspicuous as your

zeal.

XI. When a man speaks with much freedom and ease, and gives his opinion in the plainest language of common sense, do not presently imagine you shall gain nothing by his company. Sometimes you will find a person who, in his conversation or his writings, delivers his thoughts in so plain, so easy, so familiar, and perspicuous a manner, that you both understand and assent to every thing he says as fast as you read or hear it; hereupon some hearers have been ready to con

clude in haste, surely this man says none but com-
mon things; I knew as much before, or, I would
have said all this myself. This is a frequent mis-
take. Pellucido was a very great genius; when
he spoke in the senate, he was wont to convey his
ideas in so simple and happy a manner as to in-
struct and convince every hearer, and to enforce
the conviction through the whole illustrious as-
sembly; and that with so much evidence, that you
would have been ready to wonder that every one
who spoke had not said the same things; but Pel-
lucido was the only man that could do it; the only
speaker who had attained this art and honor.
Such is the writer of whom Horace would say,
-Ut sibi quivis

Speret idem; sudet multum, frustraque laboret
Ausus idem.-De Art. Poet.

Smooth be your style, and plain, and natural,
To strike the sons of Wapping or Whitehall.
While others think this easy to attain,

Let them but try, and with their utmost pain
They'll sweat and strive to imitate in vain.

XII. If any thing seem dark in the discourse of your companion, so that you have not a clear idea of what is spoken, endeavor to obtain a clearer conception of it by a decent manner of inquiry. Do not charge the speaker with obscurity, either in his sense or his words, but entreat his favor to relieve your own want of penetration, or to add an enlightening word or two, that you may take up his whole meaning.

If difficulties arise in your mind, and constrain your dissent to the things spoken, represent what objection some persons would be ready to make against the sentiments of the speaker, without telling him you oppose. This manner of address carries something more modest and obliging in it

than to appear to raise objections of your own by way of contradiction to him that spoke.

XIII. When you are forced to differ from him who delivers his sense on any point, yet agree as far as you can, and represent how far you agree; and if there be any room for it, explain the words of the speaker in such a sense to which you can in general assent, and so agree with him, or at least by a small addition or alteration of his sentiments show your own sense of things. It is the practice and delight of a candid hearer to make it appear how unwilling he is to differ from him that speaks. Let the speaker know that it is nothing but truth constrains you to oppose him; and let that difference be always expressed in few, and civil, and chosen words, such as may give the least offence.

And be careful always to take Solomon's rule with you, and let your companion fairly finish his speech before you reply; "for he that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him."

A little watchfulness, care, and practice in younger life, will render all these things more easy, familiar, and natural to you, and will grow into habit.

NECESSITY OF HAVING FIXED PRINCIPLES.

THE surest guarantee of success in every great and laudable enterprise, is decision of character; and no one ever attained this enviable characteristic without acquiring the habit of acting upon fixed principles.

In all arts and sciences there are certain fixed principles, which must be known and carefully attended to, if a man wishes to be successful. A mechanic sometimes, by mere dint of habit and knack, becomes very expert; but it is only in some confined instance. Just in that track he proceeds with certainty, but cannot attempt any thing else, nor even aim at improvement in what he does. Nay, if he does not understand the principles on which his operations depend, he must sometimes fail: he is confounded by any new appearance, and knows not how to obviate the least difficulty. But if his knowledge precedes his activity, if he understands why things must so be done, and how the effect is produced, he becomes more adroit in his operations: he can remedy any mistake, can rectify any imperfection, can venture even beyond his accustomed limits, to improvement or new in

ventions.

Surely then, the art of living honorably, and filling in a respectable manner our station in life, must not be left to hazard, to habit, to custom, to chance, to caprice. He who would be successful and adroit, had need well understand what rules may guide him: else he may weary himself to no purpose, and fail even by excess of exertion.

Does a youth take up the noble resolution, and determine to be a valuable character, good at least, and great if circumstances permit; he has made the first step by such a resolution. Let him carefully examine by what principles he may guide himself, to secure so important an object. Let him be assured, that nothing really valuable will be obtained without care and labor. Chance, as it is called, is indolence in this case, and will certainly produce mischief.

D