Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-07-12
miliar to u., that we may eafly recall anG
apply them in every itation OF lie.

niliar to u., that we may eafily recall ani
apply them in every itatlon OF Life.
, 1nere are, however, books which with
out employing us on Objects 70 grave, fill
tuInilh tie heart with uielul sentiments,
and enrich the understanding with fold
inaruction. such are thoie writings which
aid US in che ttudy Of man-ot iurcunding
nature, and OF our own heart. They hfit
transPort US In an infant topaR ages, and
make US IN manner fpeetators and wiz
neiies OF thofe great revolutions which
have often changed The face OF the world.
and decided the fate Of nations. O,her
works OF this clais introduce US, as il were.
TO the acquaintance of men, who by their
knowledge, their talents, or their virtues
have teen an ornament 10 theI country,
and an honour 70 human natuf,. C,her
works, by piacing us in the midG OF ma.
tons the mott Iemote--oi thoie who in
hahit other continents, or other hemil.
pheres, prefent Us with picture of their
manners, their cuRoms, their religion,
their modes OF thinking ard acting, and
by the parallel which We are thus enabled
70 draw between them and ouri.iyes,
teach Us the imn,eme obligations we owe
10 Providence for the condition in whicfi
we are placed. Cher works Of this uls-
tui cat, develops, in degtee, the Won
ders Of nature which eicape fu2eshcial at
'ention, or which we Zee daily without
due confederation; they aiiiG US in admir-
ing The aton.lhihg itructure OF this var
univerie (; the exact proportion Of It's parts,
and the conitant harmony that prevails a.
mong them; tie variety, the beauty, the
uleIplneis OF The productions Of the earth;
the unvaying laws which govern the
world; the lnia,itabIe art, the incolnpre-
WIDEN which dllplays ulsN e.
qual!y in the fmallef created objects as in
re larset. The works of Other author S,
y unfolding to Us ourlelves, aid US in the
audy of the human heart teach US the
aie and value OF cur tacuItie: tie digni-
y .oi our nature, and the grandeur of that
dcflny 70 which we may look forward.
Other works On morals, by unfolding to
view cur errors and prejudices, teach Us
10 fsta jqt value on the goods CT this
world ; to apply them TO their true uies,
aid dlaule over our minds kindly Light
which guides Us in The path Of life. O.
theirs tead Us TO Differentiation, to dif-
ietfion Of our hearts, and the motives Of
or CONDUIT, and by exhibiting Our duties
and the means Of performing them, teach
US to regard oarltlyes as We truely are, and
Rut US o. our guard againa Our frail,;ss
and our faults. Finally, there are wri-
ters who, the more tfrongly to impreIs
Us with fcrtiments of truth and virtue, Of
juaice and honor, borrow the charms and
! he grace of poetry; who address them
ielyes at once to the imagination and the
heart, and difpofe US to the love and prac-
lice of gooinefs by elevating our fouls,
and filling them with pure and fubline
ientiments. Books OF this cait can never
fail to be ufeful. With fuch friends mould
We furround ouIlelves in folitude, and from
their refources draw thofe invaluable lights
which would direct US in the purfuit Of
happiness. But TO effect this end, there
are certain rules to be obfeIved in read
ing them, which in the fequel Of this ef-
tay will be pointed out.
(Cem. .4av.
(To be continued. !