Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-03

Diodorus Sicuius This shall form the hrst
stage Of your historical reading The next will
be Roman History. Sallust, Cesar, Cicero
Epistles, Suetonus, Tacitus and Gibbon. From
that, we will come down to Modern Histo-
ry. In Greek and Latin. poetry, you have read,
or will read at school, Virgil, Horace, Terence,
Anacreon, Homer, Euripides, and Sophoces.
Read also Milton's Paradise Lost, Shakespeare,
Ossian, Pope, and Swift, to form your style In
your own language. In Morality, read Epic
tetus Zenophontis Memorabilia, Antonius, and
Seneca, of the Antients In order 10 ensure a
certain progress in this reading, consider what
hours you have free from the school and the ex-
ercises of the school. Give about two ofthem
every day to exercise--for health must not be
sacrificed to learning. A strong body makes
the. mind strong. AS 10 the species otexercise,
advice the gun. While this gives moderate
exercise TO the body, it gives boldness, enter
prise, and independence TO the mind. Games
played with the ball. and others of that nature,
are too violent for the body, and stamp no
character on the mind. Let your gun, there
fore, be the constant companion Of your walks;
never think ortakng book with you. The
object of walking is 10 relax the mind
you should therefore not permit yourself even
tention by the objects surrounding you. Walk
ing is the best possible exercise Habtuate your
self to walking far. The Europeans value them
selves on having subdued the horse to the uses of
man, bu; doubt whether we have not lost more
than we have gained by the use of this animal
No one has occasioned so much the degenera-
cy of the human body. An Indian goes on foot
nearly as far in a day for long journey, as an
enfeebled white does on his horse, and he will
tire the best horse. There is no habit you will
value so much, as that of walking far without
fatigue. | would advise you 10 take your exer-
else in the aiternoon-not that it is the best time
for exercise. for certainly it is not, but because
it is the best time 10 be spared from your stu
dies; and habit will soon reconcile it TO health,
and render it nearly as useful as if you gave to
that the more precious hours of the day. A lit
tie walk in the morning of about half an hour,
when you first rise, is advisable also. 1t shakes
off sleep, and produces other good effects in the
animal economy Rise at a fixed and early hour,
and go to bed at fixed hour also: Sitting up
late at night is III urious 10 the health and not
useful to the mind. Having ascribed proper
hours to exercise, divide what remains, q mean
Of your vacant hours) into three portions. Give
the principal TO history; the, other two, which
should be shorter, to philosophy and poetry.
Write to me once every month or so, and let
me know the progress you make. Tell me in
what manner YOU employ every hour in the day.
The plan have proposed to you, is adapted to
your present situation only; when that is chan
ged, shall propose corresponding change of
plan. You are now, expect, learning French.
You must push this, because the books which
will be put into your hands, when you advance
into mathematics and natural philosophy, will
be mostly French-these sciences being supe-
riorly treated in that language. Our future con-
nexons with Spain render that the most neces-
sary of the modern languages, after the French.
When you become public man, you may have
occasion for it, and the circumstance Of your
possessing that language, may give you pre-
ference over other candidates.
have nothing further to add for the present,
than TO husband well your lime. Cherish your
instructors, strive to make every body your
friend; and be assured, that nothing will be so
pleasing as your success, to
Dear Peter,
Your affectonae uncle.
tn: JEFFERSON.