PREFACE. to INFANCY Conducts to youth, youth mature life, and mature life to old age and immortality. In the two first of these periods, the preparation is regularly made for the succeeding state of action, and systems of tuition are adopted, to fit the tra veller for the progressive stages of his journey. But the close of life is seldom made the subject of preparatory contemplation. For while to some it is an object of terror, by others it is treated with affected neglect; and the greater part of mankind, immersed in the cares and concerns of the world, and in a contest for the toys and bawbles, the crowns and sceptres of the little scene in which they are acting a part, seem to have forgotten the great theatre to which they are ultimately destined. I AM aware that in the hurry of busy life, amidst those professional and political efforts and exertions, which are generally useful to the |