BOY'S MANUAL, COMPRISING A SUMMARY VIEW OF THE STUDIES, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND PRIN- CIPLES OF CONDUCT. BEST SUITED FOR PROMOTING RESPECTABILITY AND SUCCESS IN LIFE. NEW-YORK: PUBLISHED BY D. APPLETON & CO. 1842. 30 THE BOY'S MANUAL. INTRODUCTION. It is sincerely to be lamented, that while languages are taught with the utmost grammatical accuracy, and the sciences, which are capable of demonstration, are precisely defined and inculcated, the noblest of all sciences,the knowledge of ourselves and our duties, is left to be picked up by chance, is liable to be distorted by prejudice, and sullied by falsehood. Lectures on Moral Philosophy are less frequent, even where some attention is paid to this important subject, than on any other branch of human learning. From what does this baneful defect arise? Is it presumed, that men are born perfect in morals, or that the school of the world will sufficiently teach them? Or is the study considered as laying primitive restraints on human action; and therefore incompatible with that liberty of choice, which some so foolishly wish to inculcate? |