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PERSONAL DUTIES.

[Part IV.

and resources of the older world, and came off victorious.They have handed down to us a country and a constitution, andhave put us upon a national career, affording boundless prospectsto every citizen, and calling every individual to do for himself,what our fathers unitedly did for the country. What young mancan start in life, with so few advantages, as our country startedwith, in the race of independence ? Over whose private pros-pects, can there hang a cloud so dark as that which brooded overthe cause of colonial British America ? Who can have less toencourage, and more to appal and discourage him, than the sagesand chieftains of the revolution ? Let our young men, then, en-deavour to walk in their path, and each, according to his meansand ability, try to imitate their illustrious example, despising dif-ficulties, grasping at opportunities, and steadily pursuing somehonest and manly aim. They will soon find, that the obstacleswhich oppose their progress, sink into the dust before a firmand resolute step ; and that the pleasures and benefits of knowl-edge are within the reach of all, who seek this invaluable treas-ure. In these observations, however, on the cultivation of themind, I of course do not mean to say, that the condition, inwhich persons are placed, is a matter of indifference. Thiswould be going much too far. Unquestionably there are limits,beyond which, the doctrine I have laid down and attempted toillustrate, does not apply. There are circumstances of birthand general condition, against the adverse influence of which,children, who are affected by them, cannot be expected, compara-tively often, to make their way.

There are two classes of persons, in particular, whose childrenare called, in the providence of God, to overcome special ob-stacles to mental cultivation ; and whose situation, in this respect,may be made the just subject of still further remark; — thevery wealthy ;

“ cuncta exsuperans patrimonia census,

Quanto Delphinis baleena Britannica major;”

and those who are either paupers, or are but just above thedepths of pauperism,

“ quorum yirtutibus obstat,

Res angusta domi.” *

Juvenal. X. 13. Idem, III. 164.