uch on such a subject in presence of Dr. Barlow, who is
silent through delicacy. I will only add, that a learned young clergyman
is not driven for necessary relaxation to improper amusements. His mind
will be too highly set to be satisfied with those light diversions which
purloin time without affording the necessary renovation to the body and
spirits, which is the true and lawful end of all amusement. In all
circumstances, learning confers dignity on his character. It enables him
to raise the tone of general conversation, and is a safe kind of medium
with persons of a higher class who are not religious; and it will always
put it in his power to keep the standard of intercourse above the
degrading topics of diversions, sports, and vulgar gossip."

"You see, Mr. Tyrrel," said the Doctor, "that a prudent combatant thinks
only of defending himself on that side where he is assaulted. If Mr.
Stanley's antagonist had been a vehement advocate for clerical learning
as the great essential to his profession, he would have been the first
to caution him against the pride and inflation which often attend
learning, when not governed by religion. Learning, not so governed,
might injure Christian humility, and thus become a far more formidable
enemy to religion than that which it was called in to oppose."

Sir John said, smiling, "I will not apply to the clergy what Rasselas
says to Imlac, after he had been enumerating the numberless qualities
necessary to the perfection of the poetic art--'Thou hast convinced me
that no man can be a poet;'--but if all Stanley says be just, I will
venture to assert that no common share of industry and zeal will qualify
a young student for that sacred profession. I have indeed no experience
on the subject, as it relates to the clerical order, but I conceive in
general, that learning is the best human preservative of virtue; that it
safely fills up leisure, and honorably adorns life, even where it does
not form the business of it."

"Learning, too," said I, "has this strong recommendation, that it is the
offspring of a most valuable virtue, I mean industry; a quality on which
I am ashamed to see pagans frequently set a higher value than we seem to
do."

"I believe, indeed," replied Sir John, "that the ancients had a higher
idea of industry and severe application than we have. Tully calls them
the _imperatoriae virtutes_, and Alexander said that slaves might indulge
in sloth, but that it was a most roy