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Printed for J. JOHNSON, N° 72, St. Paul's Church-Yard.

M.DCC.LXXXVIII

821
083x
1788
V. 2

THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE history of the following production is briefly this: A lady, fond of blank verfe, demanded a poem of that kind from the author, and gave him the SOFA for a fubject. He obeyed; and, having much leifure, connected another subject with it; and pursuing the train of thought to which his fituation and turn of mind led him, brought forth at length, instead of the trifle which he at first intended, a ferious affaira Volume.

In the Poem on the fubject of Education, he would be very forry to stand fufpected of having aimed his cenfure at any particular school. His objections are fuch as naturally apply themselves to schools in general. If there were not, as for the most part there is, wilful neglect in those who manage them, and an omiffion even of fuch difcipline as they are fufceptible of, the objects are yet too numerous for minute attention; and the aching hearts of ten thousand parents, mourning under the bittereft of all disappointments, attest the truth of the allegation. His quarrel, therefore, is with the mischief at large, and not with any particular inftance of it.

ARGU

ARGUMENT of the FIRST BOOK.

Hiftorical deduction of feats, from the ftool to the Sofa.A School-boy's ramble.-A walk in the country.-The Scene defcribed.-Rural founds as well as fights delightful.-Another walk. Miftake, concerning the charms of folitude, corrected.-Colonades commended. -Alcove, and the view from it.-The Wilderness. -The Grove.-The Thresher.-The neceffity and the benefits of exercise.-The works of nature fuperior to and in fome inftances inimitable by art.-The wearifomeness of what is commonly called a life of pleasure. -Change of fcene fometimes expedient.-A common defcribed, and the character of crazy Kate introduced. -Gipfies. The bleffings of civilized life.That state most favourable to virtue.-The South Sea Ilanders compaffionated, but chiefly Omai.-His prefent ftate of mind fuppofed.—Civilized life friendly to virtue, but not great cities.-Great cities, and London in particular, allowed their due praife, but cenfured.Fete Champetre.-The book concludes with a reflection on the fatal effects of diffipation and effeminacy upon our public measures.

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