Remarks on the Books mentioned in the first column.

Wingate's Arithmetic. This book is designed for an introduction to mathematics, and is one of the plainest in its kind and because arithmetic and geometry are requisite to a thorough knowledge in philosophy, I refer them to that head.

Euclid may follow, or be begun at the same time with the former, if your tutor reads lectures in it; otherwise let it alone till he does. I shall not trouble you with the reasons why I prefer Euclid to any other elements of geometry as most proper to begin with; see Mr. Whiston's preface to Tacquet, with which I agree entirely, for other reasons besides those there mentioned. You may, if you have time, when you have gone through five or six books in Euclid, take Pardie's Geometry, and you will be pleased to find the same things you have learnt before in a different and somewhat shorter method; besides some other things, which will be new and diverting.

Wallis's Logic, or some other, I suppose, may by this time be read by your tutor: the use of it chiefly lies in

explaining words and terms of art, especially to young beginners. As to the true art of reasoning, it will be better learnt afterwards by other books, or come by use and imitation. The most proper way will be to read reasoning authors, to converse with your equals freely upon subjects you have read, and now and then to abridge a close written discourse upon other subjects, as well as sermons. The conduct of the understanding is admirably taught by Mr. Locke, in a posthumous discourse that bears his name. The study of the mathematics also will help more towards it than any rules of logic.

Keill's Trigonometry may now be read, but I suppose your tutor to help you. Trigonometry is very necessary to prepare you for reading of astronomy, which cannot be competently understood without it. Some insight into other parts of the mathematics, particularly Conic Sections, if you have time and inclinations for it, may be highly useful, and you may carry on mathematics and philosophy together through the whole four years. suppose you have some notion of Algebra, from the rudiments of it in arithmetic; but it would now be very proper to advance somewhat further in it, for the better understanding the books of philosophy mentioned hereafter; for which I shall name Hammond's, Maclaurin's, and Simpson's Algebra; but the former may be sufficient.

Remarks on the Books contained in the second column.

Terence is as easy as any to begin with, and the most proper, because you must read it very often, to make yourself master of familiar and pure Latin.

Xenophon comes next, as being pure and easy Greek; and you are to take care so to read alternately the Greek and Latin authors, that you may improve in both languages.

By the way, let me here mention one thing relating to the Hellenistical language: it would not be improper to bring your Septuagint with you to chapel every day, to read the lessons in Greek. I need not add any thing

I

about the other classics in this column, the reasons being much the same with what hath been observed of the two first; but read over the general directions given for the study of classics, and apply them as you see oc

casion.

Remarks on the third column.

It being almost indifferent what Sermons are read first, provided they be good, I have not been curious about placing them. If some of these Sermons may be sooner had than others, begin with which you please.

A short character of the Sermons is this: Sharp's, Ca-. lamy's, and Blackhall's, are the best models for an easy, natural, and familiar way of writing. Sprat is fine, florid, and elaborate in his style, artful in his method, and not so open as the former, but harder to be imitated. Hoadly is very exact and judicious, and both his sense and style just, close, and clear. The other three are very sound, clear writers; only Scot is too swelling and pompous, and South is something too full of wit and satire, and does not always observe a decorum in his style.

Remarks on the first column.

Harris's Astronomical Dialogues, and Keill's Astronomical Lectures, are plain and intelligible, and will give a good general view of that science.

Locke's Human Understanding must be read, being a book so much (and I add so justly) valued, however faulty the author may have been in other writings.

Simpson's Conic Sections may be read by any one who understands Euclid, and will be necessary to those who would understand astronomy. I have also mentioned Milnes's Conic Sections.

Keill is more difficult, and perhaps not to be attempted proprio marte, or without the help of your tutor.

Cheyne will for the most part be very easy, after you understand the two former: and you may join Bentley's Sermons, and Huygens's Planetary Worlds, if you have time; which will at once improve and entertain you. Rohault's Physics are chiefly valuable for the optics, which are there laid down in the easiest and clearest manner: as to the rest, the excellent notes that go along with it are its best commendation. You may pass over many chapters with only a cursory view, and entirely omit the three last parts, only observing the notes at the bottom of the pages, which are every where good. Read Desagulier's and Rowning's Mechanics, Statics, and Optics, along with Rohault, which will very much contribute to the right understanding such parts of him, or his editor, as are upon those subjects. You may add Bartholin's Physics for the heads of a system. But I suppose by this time you will be able to observe some defects, and correct some mistakes of that author, as you read him.

Remarks on the second and third columns.

Cambray on Eloquence, or some other rhetoric, should be read; not only to learn oratory, but to be able to read any orations with judgment, and to improve by them. Yet Vossius may serve, if you want time to peruse the

other. You may add to both these, Rapin's Works in two volumes, which will give you a good taste of oratory and polite writing, and direct you to form a judgment of authors ancient and modern. And this is all I need say of the books mentioned in the second column.

The third contains only Tillotson's Sermons; the character of which is too well known to need any enlargement. There is one or two a points of doctrine, particularly that of hell-torments, justly exceptionable; but that has been so much taken notice of, and so fully confuted by other writers, particularly by the learned Mr. Lupton, in a Sermon before the University of Oxford, and Dr. Whitby, in his Appendix to the Second of the Thessalonians, that it is needless for me to caution you any further against it. He seems to have followed his author too close; the most exceptionable part of the sermon being almost a verbal translation of Episcopius.

a A second point I had in view concerns the Satisfaction, which is modestly and judiciously examined by an ingenious Lady, in a very good book, entitled, The Religion of a Church of England Woman, p. 339, &c.