You remember I lately told you some things about Blaise Pascal, an eminent writer and mathematician, who was born at Clermont, in France, on the 19th of June, 1623. This, you may remember, was just two years and a half after the landing of our pious ancestors at Plymouth. You recollect how I told of the care which his father bestowed you on the religious instruction of his children, when they were young, and that those instructions afterwards proved to be of great benefit to Pascal. Let me now remind you of some other things which I then stated to you.
When he was a little boy, he showed a pleasant disposition, and an uncommon understanding. In his studies, he was earnest, persevering, and made good progress; for he loved to exercise his mind, and store his memory with