HISTORICAL MIRROR; O R, A*Chearnley FOR THE Y o U Τ Η. OF In which are exhibited the most striking UPON v I z. BENEVOLENCE PATIENCE, JUSTICE, INDUSTRY, AND A · And particularly to their To which is added, a The Whole improved and enlivened, at proter Intervals, with several mentioned, from the Writings of the amiable Xenophon. DU B L I N: ,DCC,LXXVI. . P R E F A C E. JT has often been remarked, that Example is of greater Force than Precept; because the former proves what the latter only asserts, and convinces, by satisfactory Evidence, that the Performance of our Duty is both a praticable Talk, and attended with the mojt" Solid Pleasure and Advantage. But Example is more peculiarly necessary to Youth than to those of a riper Age; for, as they have not had an Opportunity of making the Trial themselves, they cannot see the Importance of a just Attention to their Duty, any otherwise than by the good or ill Consequences of the Virtues or Vices of other Men, who have travelled through Life before, them. Nothing, therefore, can be more useful to : young People than a moderate Acquaintance with: History; and particularly with such Parts of it as: exhibit the good or ill Success, and describe the Happiness or Misery of those who have been most con- . Spicuous for their Virtues or Vices ; for History, as Lord Boling broke has very justly observed; is Philo- Sophy teaching by Example. Accordingly, many of those who have devoted their Studies to the Improvement of Youth, have publised Collections of moral. Anecdotes and Examples from ancient or modernaHistory. The most noted Performance of this Nature is a copious historical Miscellany in Latin, which is A 2 used |