Mr. Lefevre to John Graham..

The Gulf of St. Lawrance,

On board the

"MY DEAR Young Friend,

"The manner in which I parted from you in the streets of London, three months ago, has, on reflection, often given me distress. You must refer it, not to any unworthiness in you, or any variation of affection in me, but to strange disorder of body and mind-disorder brought upon me by my own errors.

"In coming to my right mind, one of my first wishes was, that my past miscarriages might be beneficial to you. I now write you, therefore, not merely to reassure you of my love, but to render my experience useful to the opening years of your life. And, if it shall, by the blessing of Him who alone teacheth us to profit, have this tendency, I shall not have suffered, even in relation to you, altogether in vain.

"How interesting does your situation appear to me! Young, eager, kind and

unsuspicious; yet surrounded by the artful, the fascinating, and the wicked. Exposed to trials under which many a lovely youth has fallen-to trials by which I fell; though sustained by the profession of religion, and friendships peculiarly favourable to my preservation. My dear John, in such circumstances, caution becomes you. In your path, there are pitfalls so nicely concealed, that the eye of experience can hardly detect them; snares so bewitching, that they will rather allure your confidence than rouse you to circumspection.

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Though I have been of assistance to you in your temporal prospects, I have criminally neglected your best interests. The pledge I gave to your excellent grandmother extended to a future, as well as the present life; and this pledge I would now, though late, endeavour to redeem. I am sorry that I know not, at this time, the exact state of your mind, as it gives me a disadvantage in advising you. However, till I know more about you, I shall content myself with making some observations on evils, with which I had to contend; and

by which you, with every young person, must, more or less, be endangered. The modesty which is natural to you, will preserve you from ridiculing or despising a letter, that professes to counsel you; and without apology, therefore, I shall freely impart my sentiments.

"Let me then, in the first place, as a point of the highest importance, entreat you-to beware what company you keep.. As one stream mixing with another, insensibly partakes its nature; so you will necessarily be influenced by your common associates. If you mix with the trifling, you will trifle; if you mix with the gay, you will be thoughtless; if you mix with the wicked, you will become wicked. Do not think it is enough to see their faults, and to resolve to avoid them; if you seek their society, and delight in it, whatever may be your resolutions, you will gradually be reconciled to them, and afterwards adopt them. Youth are too apt to be rash in their friendships. They meet together -sympathize on a few common pointsand then determine to be one for ever. This

is not wise. I would not have you basely suspicious of every body; but in forming your connexions, I would have your a‹quaintanceships grow out of a knowledge of character, and your friendships spring from tried and solid merit. This will be acting with prudence. You must not go by appearances; if you do, almost every thing will deceive you. You must go by experience and proof; and then you will go safely. Choose your friend--not because he is spirited and witty, clever and daring -not because he is of good presence or pleasing manners-not because he flatters your foibles, and applauds profusely your excellencies;-but choose him, because you have found him prudent and benevolent, pious and faithful-ready to admonish you of a fault, to warn you of a danger, and to encourage you amidst the duties and difficulties of life.

"Another caution should be directed -to the books you read. Books are the companions of retirement, and what I have said on the choice of your friends, may be well applied to your selection of

them. Indeed, in some respects, the books you peruse are of more importance than the company you keep. We pay more deference to the author than the companion; we have easier access to him; and we are less jealous of his opinions. Here, then, you should be very careful.—Affect not to read many books. This will feed your vanity, and leave you empty and superficial. Let your books be few; but well chosen and well read. Take the opinion of those, whose knowledge and real excellence qualify them to judge, before you de cide on reading any book.-Despise the affectation of a false liberality, in reading erroneous works. This shows an alarming presumption in young persons. Remember your mind is naturally inclined to error, and averse from truth. Your character is not yet formed; and, if we would venture 'to try the spirits,' we must first bé careful to know what manner of spirit we are of.' Reject, as you would arsenic, those books that exhibit sentiments, which you could not read without shame in good society. To touch them is to be polluted.