Lein.

be learn'd by a young Man in this Method, whilst others of his Age are wholly taken up with Latin and Languages, I may also set down Geometry for one, having known a Young Gentleman, bred something after this way, able to demonstrate several Propositions in Euclid before he was Thir

teen.

§. 158. But if such a Man cannot be got, who speaks good Latin, and being able to instruct your Son in all these Parts of Knowledge, will undertake it by this Method; the next best is to have him taught as near this way as may be, which is by taking some easie and pleasant Book, such as Æsop's Fables, and writing the Engli Translation (made as literal as it can be) in one Line, and the Latin Words which answer each of them, just over it in another. These let him read every Day over and over again, till he perfectly understands the Latin. (But have a Care still, whatever you are teaching him, of cloging him with too much at once; Or making any thing his Business but down-right Vertue; or reproving him for any Thing but

Vice) and then go on to another Fable Latin till he be also perfect in that, not o mitting what he is already perfect in, but sometimes reviewing that, to keep it in his Memory. And when he comes to write, let these be set him for Copies, which with the exercise of his Hand, will also advance him in Latin. This being a more imperfect way than by talking Latin unto him; the formation of the Verbs first, and afterwards the declensions of the Nouns, and Pronouns perfectly learn'd by heart, may facilitate his acquaintance with the genius and manner of the Latin Tongue, which varies the signification of Verbs, and Nouns, not as the Modern Languages do by Particles prefixt, but by changing the last Syllables. More than this of Grammar, I think he need not have till he can read himself Sanctii Minerva with Scioppius's Notes.

§. 159. When by this way of interlining Latin and English one with another, he has got a moderate Knowledge of the Latin Tongue, he may then be advanc'd a little farther to the reading of some other easie Latin Book, fuch

0 4

Latin. fuch as Justin or Eutropius, and to make the reading and understanding of it the less tedious and difficult to him, let him help himself if he please with the English Translation.› Nor let the Objection, that he will then know it only by roat (which is not when well consider'd of any moment against, but plainly for this way of learning a Language) fright any one. For Langua ges are only to be learn'd by roat; and a Man who does not speak English or Latin perfectly by roat, so that having thought of the thing he would speak of, his Tongue of course without thought of Rule or Grammar, falls into the proper Expressions and Idiom of that Language, does not speak it well, nor is Master of it. And I would fain have any one name to me that Tongue, that any one can learn, or speak as he should do by the Rules of Grammar. Languages were made not by Rules, or Art, but by Accident, and the common Use of the People. And he that will speak them well, has no other Rule but that nor any thing to trust to, but his Memory, and the habit of speaking after

dom

the

the Fashion learn'd from those, that Latin. are allow'd to speak properly, which in other Words is only to speak by

roat.

§. 160. For the exercise of his Wri ting, let him sometimes translate Latin into English: But the learning of Latin, being nothing but the learning of Words, a very unpleasant Business both to young and old, join as much other real Knowledge with it as you can, beginning still with that which lies most obvious to the Senses, such as is the Knowledge of Minerals, Plants, and Animals and particularly Timber and Fruit Trees, their parts and ways of propagation: Wherein a great deal may be taught a Child, which will not be useless to the Man. But more especially Geography, Astronomy, and Anatomy..

§. 161. But if, after all, his Fate be to go to School to get the Latin Tongue, tis in vain to talk to you concerning the method I think best to, be observed in Schools; you must submit to that you find there; nor expect to have it changed for your Son: But yet by all means obtain, if you can, that be be

not

Latin. not employ'd in making Latin Themes and Declamations, and least of all Verfes of any kind. You may insist on it if it will do any good, that you have no design to make him either a Latin Orator,or a Poet;but barely would have him understand perfectly a Latin Aur thor; and that you observe, that those, who teach any of the modern Langua ges, and that with success, never amuse their Scholars, to make Speeches, or Verses, either in French or Italian, their Business being Language barely, and not Invention.

Themes.

6.162. But to tell you a little more fully, why I would not have him exercis'd in making of Themes and Verses 1. As to Themes, they have, I confess, the pretence of something usefull, which is to teach People to speak handfomly and well, on any subject; which if it could be attained this way, I own, would be a great advantage; there being nothing more becoming a Gentleman, nor more useful in all the Occurrences of Life, than to be able, on any occasion, to speak well, and to the purpose. But this I say, That the making of Themes, as is usual in

2

Schools,