Another great and peculiar advantage of mathematical learning is, that it accustoms us to a great diligence in study, whilst at the same time it renders our labors delightful. Indeed, a greater punishment could not be inflicted upon a mind thoroughly imbued with a love of science, than by compelling it to relinquish its object whilst engaged in the pursuit of it, although that pursuit be accompanied by the most severe mental labor. And it is no wonder, that, where an ardent attachment to abstract learning is firmly rooted in the mind, such should be the case; for as a great philosopher has beautifully observed, "whilst the mind is abstracted and elevated from sensible matter, it distinctly views pure forms, conceives the beauty of ideas, and investigates the harmony of proportions; the manners themselves are sensibly corrected and improved, the affections composed and rectified, the fancy calmed and settled, the understanding raised and excited to more divine contemplations." And what can be more delightful than to behold our minds increasing in knowledge, in a manner which appears to us really wonderful; to feel that we possess the power of unfolding the secrets of nature, and fathoming, as it were, the depths of omnipotence itself; to rise above the littleness of this terrestrial planet, and by the mere volition of the will, transporting ourselves into the immensity of space, to mark the courses of the planets as they journey onwards in their respective orbits; to know the causes which prevent them from wandering from their accustomed spheres; to follow the ellipse of the comet to the very boundaries of the universe. These are things worthy of the mind of man; and he who is destitute of them, whatever may be his other attainments, may be said to be a child, who has scarcely passed the alphabet of human knowledge. But the chief end of mathematical learning, as far as the interest and happiness of mankind in general are concerned, consists in its practical utility. It is owing to this, that a mariner is enabled to steer his vessel across the pathless ocean to a distant part of the globe, with a precision nearly equal to that with which a man would go from his own house to that of his neighbor. Hence flow our national and individual prosperities; a considerable portion of our necessaries and enjoyments; and our knowledge of the existence, and the relative situation of the different parts of our globe. It is to this that we are indebted for the magnificence and comfort of our public and private edifices. It is upon this base that our commercial systems are erected. In short, from this source spring almost all the advantages which we possess, and the greater part of the pleasures we partake of. But in addition to classical and scientific literature, it is necessary that a man of learning be acquainted with the different branches of historical literature, so as to be able to assign the rise, progress, and decline of empires to their respective causes, and to judge of the effects of different actions and events. He should also be somewhat skilled in the modern languages, and acquainted with modern literature; but these, together with some inferior attainments, are too obvious to all to require particular comment. It is thus evident, that he who aspires to the character of a man of learning, has taken upon himself the per formance of no common task. The ocean of literature is without limit. How then will he be able to perform a voyage, even to a moderatè distance, if he waste his time in dalliance on the shore? The path to eminence is not only long, but arduous; and how can any one rationally hope to arrive at its termination, unless he use diligence proportional to its difficulties? Our only hope is in exertion. Let our only reward be that of industry. Whatever may be our conduct in this respect, of one thing we are certain-That unless we are vigilant to gather the fruit of time, whilst the autumn of life is yet with us; we shall, at the close of its winter, descend into the grave as the beasts which perish, without having left a record behind us to inform posterity that we ever existed. APPENDIX. "ADOLESCENS eram, says Erpenius, annorum plus minus sexdecim, cum primum, quæ mea felicitas fuit, in libellum hunc incidi. Missus eram a fidelissimo parente, viro non erudito quidem, sed eruditionis tamen et eruditorum amantissimo, studiorum causa, Leidam, Ubi mox nescio quæ me satietas eorum cepit. Ita dum sum affectus parum diligenter, studia tracto, et tantum non negligo, unice desiderans Musis valedicere, Quem animum meum dum differo parenti aperire, forte fortuna in manus meas venit hic libellus. Qui vel leviter, tantum inspectus, ita me affecit, ut judicaverim eum non emendum tantum mihi, sed et attente perlegendum esse. Quod ut feci (feci autem non sine magna animi voluptate) incredibile dictu est quantum mutatus fuerim ab illo qui ante eram studiorum hoste. Nihil mihi placere cœpit præter studia: Discere, et alios, quod didiceram captata etiam ad id occasione, docere, summæ mihi voluptati fuit. Quid multa? Auctoris hujus consilium, quantum quidem pro rerum mearum ratione mihi licebat, per omnia sequatus, ad |