Advice in the Pursuits of Literature: Containing Historical, Biographical, and Critical Remarks (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Advice in the Pursuits of Literature: Containing Historical, Biographical, and Critical Remarks

IT is said that the Romans were the first people who set up mile stones along their roads into the country, for the benefit of the way faring man. The wealthy travellers could take guides, when they wanted them, to save themselves labour and trouble, on their excur sions; and the professed tourist had skill and science enough to find his way by the great guides of nature, - the rivers and mountains the sun, moon, and stars - and the landmarks set up by his pre cursors - but 'tlie busmess man required these speaking stories directly in his way, to guide him on his journey. So, in the paths of knowledge, those who have leisure, and are not uhder the noces Sity of measuring time by hours, or distances by time, can course along at Will, and find amusement and instruction in every thing they look upon; and the professed scholar knows the tracks of his predecessors in the walks of literature, and can examine all the monuments they have established without fear or anxiety, for he can easily correct his errors, if he should fall into any. But those engaged in the busy scenes of life, and to whom literature is inci dental, sufl'er for want of a few directions in getting the most inform ation from the best sources in the shortest possible time.' They are thankful for being directed to the most splendid epochs of human knowledge, and fairly introduced to some of the best authors of any age of intelligence. If there be no royal road to geometry, there is a short cut to a respectable share of knowledge, both ancient and modem.

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