Part 5 (1/1)
A book was advertised, called ”The Beauties of Don Juan, including those passages only which are calculated to extend the real faes that the poem itself, from the unpruned luxuriance of the author's powers, ”has reht_ to be a _sealed voluate_ selection, however, though it contains reat beauty, is a book which I should be sorry indeed to place in the hands of any young lady; and one against which I would _forewarn_ every young , at the shrine of genius, Christian faith, and Christian soberness, and Christian purity
The description of the shi+pwreck had been spoken of as particularly fine I read it Not long since several accounts of actual shi+pwrecks and disasters at sea were published[159:1] So and edifying narratives, that I ae, of unshaken endurance, of a noble disregard of self, of the warmest benevolence, and of the most exalted piety Don Juan see fro and painful facts, and then es and ludicrous rhy in some unexpected absurdity of sound or cadence
One of the most dreadful consequences of shi+pwreck is, when a remnant of the crew, cast off in an open boat, are reduced, by extreer, to determine by lot, which of them shall first be made the food of his companions Even in such calamity, this perverse and bitter spirit contrives to find hed in himself when he wrote the stanzas, and tries to nant with theive way to the is of Bishop Horne's ”He who sacrifices religion to wit, like the people mentioned by aelian, worshi+ps a fly, and offers up an ox to it” Again; ”Sir Peter Lelyfound, by experience, that, whenever he did so, his pencil took a tint from it Apply this to bad books and bad company”
However brilliant the talents of a writer may be, yet, if a book has a tendency to produce a bad effect upon the moral habits of the enius bright and base, Of tow'ring talents, and terrestrial ailorious frag in the dust”
I remain, My dear Nephew, Your affectionate Uncle
FOOTNOTES:
[147:1] Rev Hugh James Rose
[155:1] Childe Harold and the _four_ first tales (I aer works) are most free from objection, at the sa
[159:1] The Loss of the Kent, and Narratives of the shi+pwrecks of the Lady Hobart packet, the Cabalva, &c &c
PRAYERS
_A Prayer before Study_
(FROM DR JOHNSON)
Alivest understanding and takest it aho, as it seehts of the simple, and darkenest the meditations of the wise, be present with me in my studies and inquiries
Grant, O Lord, that I iven me on useless trifles, nor waste it in vain searches after things which thou hast hidden from me
Enable ence, that every day e part of the task which thou hast allotted me; and so further with thy help that labour which, without thy help, s such success as will lory, and the salvation of my own soul, for the sake of Jesus Christ
_Prayer after Time unprofitably spent_
(FROM DR JOHNSON)
O Lord, in whose hands are life and death; by whose power I am sustained, and by whose ive lected the duty which thou hast assigned to it, and suffered the hours, of which I ive account, to pass aithout any endeavour to accomplish thy will, or to promote my own salvation Make ht to be used according to thy coence, that I may obtain mercy from thee, and pass the tient perforh Jesus Christ _Amen_
_Prayer for Tehty God and gracious Father of s living with plenty; and hast provided for thy servant sufficient to satisfy all my needs: teach me to use thy creatures soberly and temperately, that I may not with loads of meat and drink make the temptations of my enemy to prevail upon me, or my spirit unapt for the performance of my duty, or my body healthless, or my affections sensual and unholy O ivest me may minister either to sin or sickness, but to health, and holiness, and thanksgiving; that in the strength of thy provision I ently serve thee; that I may worthily feast at thy table here, and be accounted worthy, through thy grace, to be adh Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeeovernue_
O God, watch over rant that I may so keep the door of my mouth that I may not speak unadvisedly with ue either against charity or purity Let , of evil-speaking or censoriousness, or of any other of the ue Grant that all my conversation may be such as becometh one who professes to be the servant and disciple of thy beloved Son, in whose name I beseech thee to hear my prayers