THOSE, AND ONLY THOSE, BRANCHES OF DUTY, And particularly to their Teachers, and those who have the Care of their Education, TREATISE on POLITENESS and GOOD-BREEDING. The Whole improved amd enlivened, at proper Intervals, with feverat DUBLIN: Printed for W. WHITESTONE, [No. 33] Skinner-Row PRE F A C E. T has often been remarked, that Example is of greater Force than Precept; because the former proves what the latter only aflerts, and convinces by fatisfactory Evidence, that the Performance of our Duty is both a practicable Tafk, and attended with the most folid Pleafure and Advantage. But Example is more peculiarly neceffary to Youth than to thofe of a riper Age; for, as they have not had an Opportunity of making the Trial themselves, they cannot fee the Importance of a just Attention to their Duty, any other wife than by the good or ill Confequences 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 Hiftory, and particularly with fuch Parts of it as exhibit the good or ill Succefs, and defcribe the Happinefs or Mifery of those who have been moft conSpicuous for their Virtues or Vices; for Hiftory, as Lord Bolingbroke bas very justly obferved, is PhiloSophy teaching by Example.-Accordingly, many of "those who have devoted their Studies to the Improvement of Youth, have published Collections of moral Anecdotes and Examples from ancient or modern Hiftory. The most noted Performance of this Nature is a copious biftorical Mifcellany in Latin, which is A 2. ufed |