«Non sibi sed toti mundo se credere natum».

No one is born, or should think himself born, solely for himself. The helpless state in which we are produced into the world, might teach us this maxim, or should we happen to forget it, a very slight fit of sickness would be sufficient to bring it back to our memories. But even in health we are none of us able, without the assistance of others, to prepare every article necessary for our comfort, or even for our subsistence. Every thing we wear, and every thing we eat or drink, requiring the concurrence of several hands, to make them fit for our use. This doubtless was intended by Providence to encourage mutual benevolence. As we were indebted in early life to our parents, teachers, and friends, for our maintenance, and for all the knowledge that was instilled into us, it becomes our duty to shew our sense of the obligation, by doing every thing in our power that may contribute to their comfort, and by giving the like assistance to those who may have similar claims upon us. The chain linking us together, is by this means kept entire, and we become what nature intended, social beings. Plato is said to have first promulgated this adage, «Each of us owing», he says, «a portion of our time, and of our exertions, to our country, to our parents, and to our friends».