rather go backwards than forwards in every useful attainment. I am, sir, with great esteem, Your faithful friend and humble servant, G. SPENCER. The Andrometer, mentioned by Lady Spencer to have been invented by Mr. Jones, affords a striking specimen of the extent of his views in the acquisition of intellectual excellence. It may be defined, "a scale of human attainments and enjoyments:" he assumes seventy years as the limit of exertion or enjoyment; and, with a view to progressive improvement, each year is appropriated to a particular study or occupation. The arrangement of what was to be learned or practised, during this period, admits of a four-fold division. The first, comprising thirty years, is assigned to the acquisition of knowledge, as preparatory to active occupation. The second, of twenty years, is dedicated principally to public and professional employment. Of the third, which contains ten years, the first five are allotted to literary and scientific composition, and the remainder to the continuation of former pursuits. The last ten, constituting the fourth division, which begins with the sixty-first year, are devoted to the enjoyment of the fruits of his labours; and the conclusion of the whole is specified to be a preparation for eternity. The Andrometer is to be considered as a mere sketch, never intended for publication: in the construction of it, Mr. Jones probably had a view to those objects, the attainment of which he then meditated. We are not to conclude, that the preparation for eternity, which stands at the top of the scale, was to be deferred until the seventieth year; it is rather to be considered as the object to which he was perpetually to look, during the whole course of his life, and which was exclusively to engross the attention of his latter years. Neither are we to suppose, that moral and religious lessons, which constitute the occupation of the eighth year, were from that period to be discontinued, although they are not afterwards mentioned; but the meaning of Mr. Jones probably was, that they should be seriously and regularly inculcated at an age, when the intellectual faculties had acquired VOL. I. F strength and expansion by preceding exercises. That the order of arrangement in the Andrometer could never be strictly adhered to in the application of our time, and cultivation of our talents, (if it were intended) is evident; but to those who, from their situation, are enabled to avail them"selves of the suggestions which it furnishes, it will supply useful hints for improvement, and serve as a standard of comparison for their progress. 5 10 15 20 25 ANDROMETER. 3 169 12 received through the senses. Speaking & pronunciation Moral & religious lessons. Hist. of his own country. French and Italian. Compositions, ver. & pro. Logic and mathematics. Historical studies contin. Public life. Private and social virtues. Virtue as a citizen. Historical works. Oratorical works. Philosophical works. Political works. Mathematical works. Continuation of former pursuits. [joyed. Fruits of his labours en- Consciousness of a virtu [ous life. Perfection of earthly happiness. Preparation for eternity. XL. To C. Reviczki. * London, Feb. 1775. Do not suppose that I have forgotten you, because I write to you so seldom : I have not met with any person to whom I could entrust my packet, and I have no inclination to risk my familiar letters by the post. I doubt if this will ever reach you, and I fear, therefore, to write to you on any subject with my usual freedom, as your last letter of January, from Warsaw, was delivered to me opened: it is probable that you will receive this in the same manner. I am so constantly occupied with law and politics, that I have no leisure for literature. I have published two books, and only want a safe opportunity to send them to you. Write to me, I beseech you; for your friendship is my greatest delight. How much I wish that you were in England, or I in Germany, that we might live together! After all, I could not think of accepting the Turkish embassy. I will live in my own country, which cannot easily spare good subjects: it is scarcely yet free from commotion. O! how I Written in Latin. should rejoice if I could see you here in a diplo matic character! I should not then envy the monarchs of Europe or Asia. Farewell again and again. XLI. From C. Reviczki.* If you are fully sensible of the very great regard I entertain for you, you will then conceive how much pleasure I felt at the receipt of your highly valued letter. Incessantly occupied for a long time, I have been compelled to forego the pleasure of corresponding with you; and I the more readily acknowledge your kindness in writing to me, when I could have no expectation of hearing from you. Though I think it more prudent not to say any thing, the disclosure of which might be attended with unpleasant consequences, I impute the opening of my letter, which you mention, rather to accident than design. Your business as a lawyer must necessarily engage your closest attention; I cannot, therefore, ask you to write to me often; but thus much I wish you to know that I shall soon have more leisure for cor Written in Latin. |