Mentoria, Or, the Young Ladies Instructor; In Familiar Conversations on Moral and Entertaining Subjects Calculated to Improve Young Minds, in the Esse - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1778. Excerpt: ... DIALOGUE VI, SATURDAY. On History; with the Life of Romulus and Remus. Mentoria. I Propofe, my dears, this morning, to give you a short dissertation on history; and shall endeavour to convince you of the necessity ot your making it your peculiar study. Lady Mary. Are there not many different kinds of history, my dear Mentoria? Mentoria. Undoubtedly my dear. I will proceed to consider them under their different classes, and shall begin with the scriptures, which are often called sacred hijlory; to which I shall oppofe the heathen mythology, which contains a deF 2 scription scription of the deities worshipped by the heathens; from hence called profane history.Lady Louisa. What history do you think is most proper for us to read? Mentoria. I shall pursue the discussion of each particular branch, and then determine my choice. Natural hijlory delineates all the productions of nature, and enables us to form an idea of all her works: such as animals, silhes, birds, infects, trees, plants, ores, fossils, &c. &c. Biography, or the history of famous, perfons, is very entertaining, and aWo instructive, as it inspires the mind with a desire to attain those qualities, which have fo eminently distinguished others. The history of your own countrv teaches you the progress of arts, manufactures, and commerce, and clearly proves the advantages which are derived from a well regulated state; is alfo insorms you of the various means which were used to form the system os the British constitution. The persecution and arbitrary measures authorized in former times, should excite in us joy and gratitude, for the lenity and freedom of the present go;, vernment. Ancient history, (particularly the Roman) enlarges the understanding, and qualisies fies us sor the perufal of polite autho...