THE HISTORICAL MIRROR; OR, A Chearnley Biographical Mifcellany : FOR THE INSTRUCTION and ENTERTAINMENT O F YOUT H. In which are exhibited the most striking UPON THOSE, AND ONLY THOSE, BRANCHES OF DUTY, Teachers, and those who have the Care of their Education, TREATISE on POLITENESS and GOOD-BREEDING. The Whole improved amd enlivened, at profer Intervals, with several DUBLIN: Printed for W. WHITESTONE, [No. 33] Skinner-Row M,DCC,LXXVI. PREFACE. I T has often been remarked, that Example is of greater Force than Precept; because the former proves what the latter only afferts, and convinces, by fatisfactory Evidence, that the Performance of our Duty is both a practicable Tafk, and attended with the most folid Pleasure and Advantage. But Example is more peculiarly neceffary to Youth than to those of a riper Age, for, as they have not had an Opportunity of making the Trial themselves, they cannot fee the Importance of a just Attention to their Duty, any other wife than by the good or ill Confequences of the Virtues or Vices of other Men, who have travelled through Life before them. Nothing, therefore, can be more useful to young People than a moderate Acquaintance with Hiftory, and particularly with fuch Parts of it as exhibit the good or ill Succefs, and defcribe the Happinefs or Mifery of those who have been most con-Spicuous for their Virtues or Vices; for Hiftory, as Lord Bolingbroke bas very justly obferved, is PhiloSophy teaching by Example.-Accordingly, many of thofe who have devoted their Studies to the Improvement of Youth, have published Collections of moral Anecdotes and Examples from ancient or modernHiftory. The most noted Performance of this Nature is a copious biftorical Mifcellany in Latin, which is A 2 ufed い |