THERE is not a more honorable or desirable attainment with which the intelligence of man is connected, than a wise and discerning knowledge of the culture and agency of his nature. Whatever serves to facilitate the study of this important science indubitably claims the highest suffrage of moral discrimination.

With a view to perfect this design, the following system of Moral Maxims

has been composed. These Maxims are not of imaginary filiation, but derive both suggestion and corroboration from common experience and collateral adjustment of facts: and their mode of illustration will be found conducted by certified instances of practice, rather than ingenious speculations of theoretical paradox, or catachrestical deduction.

If severity of stricture, or depreciation of human congruity be considered as giving tendency and impulse to occasional indignation, it is presumed, that the imputation will devolve, not on ill-nature or malevolent vituperation, but on fervency of zeal for true

dignity of principle and rectitude of conduct, in opposition to the wiles of cupidity, or the machinations of malignity and selfishness.

In ethical philosophy, as well as in the more obvious rules of advice, instruction finds the happiest confirmation in the coincidence and example of individual experience: for then the mind rests on the conviction of its own judgment, which is, with most men, a relevant criterion in the consummation of opinion; and by an accommodation of parts, models the whole to the adaptation of principle, and the intensity of special or general application.

It has been the Author's endeavor

to copy nature, to commend virtue, and to reproach vice; and to designate each characteristic, favourable or adverse, with appropriate inference, as succinct as ordinarily pertain to a concatenation of apophthegms: how far this attempt is entitled to public approbation, awaits the judicial assent of public scrutiny-consciousness of intention is the only apology he offers for freedom of epithet, or pungency of remark. As brevity of expression is a distinguishing merit in all sententious writing, it is hoped, that this has been duly exercised in the present perform

ance.