Xenophon and Ælian, and afterwards to make trial of Herodotus, Polyænus, and Thucydides; and last of all, to peruse the passages selected from the philosophers, orators, and critics.

Till he has formed a tolerably familiar acquaintance with the Greek radicals, he will find Hedericus's Lexicon the best adapted to the exigencies of the general study of Greek authors. In process of time, he will derive more pleasure, as well as profit, from the philosophic arrangement of Scapula.

When he has read the historical extracts from Xenophon, he may, by way of variety, apply himself to the study of the poetic Collectanea. This elaborate work is introduced by extensive extracts from Homer's Odyssey. The diligent perusal of these extracts will, with the assistance of Mr. Dalzel's copious annotations, give him a very competent acquaintance with Homer's style. The constant consultation of the Tabella Dialectorum, in the Eton grammar, will soon familiarize him with the variations from the standard, that is, the Attic dialect, which perpetually occur in the works of the mighty master of epic song.

When he has carefully studied the extracts from the Odyssey, he will be well qualified, and, in all probability inclined, to read the Iliad. The Lexicon of Schrevelius was drawn up with a particular reference to this work and to the unassisted reader of Homer, this manual will frequently be found of great service. The most convenient edition of the Iliad is Heyne's, two vols. 8vo. Many of Clarke's notes are very instructive; but the dangerous allurement of a Latin translation, renders his edition a very ineligible book for a tyro.

During the perusal of the Iliad, however, considerable portions of Dalzel's two volumes of Collectanea Majora should be daily read. These books, the Greek student may be earnestly exhorted

Nocturna versare manu, versare diurnâ.

When the first volume has been thoroughly digested, the student will be able with ease and pleasure to read Xenophon's Anabasis. The most useful edition of this interesting work is

that printed at Oxford, in 1788, in octavo. In the notes, and especially in the Index Græcitatis, they, who are yet inexpert in the Greek tongue, will find many difficulties elucidated, and many uncommon senses of words and peculiarities of phrase satisfactorily explained.

A very elegant work was printed at Oxford in 1768, entitled των παλαιων Επιτάφιοι, or, Funeral Eulogies upon military men. The index and notes to this work contain a treasure of learning, and the editor has manifested great industry and attention in their composition.

Considerable benefit may also be derived from the notes on a small collection entitled Пoxin Iσrogia, published by Pote, of Eton, in 1785. It will, however, be advisable for the scholar to cut out the Latin translation, which in a great measure destroys the utility of this otherwise valuable manual.

During the whole of the course of reading which has been delineated, it is indispensably requisite that the student should daily exercise himself in parsing. Inattention to this exercise will be ruinous in its consequences. The method of double translation recommended in the study of the Latin tongue, may be with advantage practised in the study of Grecian literature. Bos's Ellipses Græcæ, and Vigerus de Idiotismis, should be always at hand, as they exemplify and interpret a vast variety of instances of difficult phraseology.

It is presumed that this course of introductory study will qualify the scholar to extend, in almost any direction, his researches into Grecian Literature.

CHAP. I.

ON THE STUDY OF THE BELLES LETTRES.

What is included in the Belles Lettres-Five periods in the progress of knowledge—A fine taste necessary to the accomplished scholar➡ Utility of the study of the Belles Lettres-The foundation to be laid in Grammar, and a knowledge of the languages-Importance of the Belles Lettres to different characters.

IF we examine into the frame of the human mind, we shall perceive that the Supreme Being has not only given us a desire of knowledge, but has also implanted in us a sense of beauty, harmony, and proportion, so that we cannot help receiving a high pleasure from a masterly piece of music, an expressive picture, a sublime poem, and a finished oration, though we are unacquainted with the sources from which that pleasure is derived. But though the liberal and elegant arts afford us an agreeable entertainment, even when we are ignorant of their principles; it is certain that our enjoy'ment of them will be more just, lively, and delicate, if we have cultivated our taste, and acquired an accurate and enlarged view of the several qualities which contribute to their excellence. Hence the importance of a general, not to say an extensive and accurate acquaintance with what are denominated the Belles Lettres, which will enable us not only to judge of the works of others, but in a certain degree, to excel in composition ourselves. Every person who has enjoyed a good education, or whose situation in life presupposes the ad

vantages of early and solid instruction, will be expected to speak and to write his own language with fluency, judgment, and taste. To assist the reader in the attainment of this perfection will be the object of the following chapters.

The term Belles Lettres is so vague and indeterminate, that we scarcely meet with two writers who have meant by it the same thing. Some persons have maintained that the true Belles Lettres are Natural Philosophy, Geometry, and other branches of Mathematics: some have included in this department of learning, the polite, or fine arts and others comprehend under the term in question, all those useful and instructive branches of learning, which occupy the memory and judg ment; such as Geography, Chronology, History, and Heraldry and some have given it a more confined meaning, restricting it to Rhetoric, Criticism, Poetry, and Oratory. We shall follow the latter arrangement in our account of the Belles Lettres, without neglecting, in the other parts of the work, those other subjects connected with General Knowledge.

Had we nothing farther to urge in favour of polite learning, than that it furnishes an innocent, easy, and refined amusement, even this would render it worthy of attention. In the present state of our nature, it is a happiness to find recrea tions which are always within our reach, and which result from the situation of our own minds. The Belles Lettres, in the more extensive use of the term, may however be con sidered in a much superior point of view, than merely as ad ministering a relaxation from severer studies: they deserve to be regarded as matters of no small importance, as having promoted in the highest degree the benefit and glory of indivi-duals and nations, We cannot be insensible, that the periods, and the countries in which the liberal arts have been cherished, and carried to a high degree of perfection, are of all others, the most illustrious and distinguished.

If we look into the history of the world, we shall perceive five periods that have been particularly famous for their progress in knowledge and taste, which are thus enumerated;