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dividual may be called upon to take a part in public af- faithful guides and impartial judges, an honourable fairs, and there to maintain his own character, and the competition with his equals, in virtuous exertion, and a character of the state or nation. And even should not conscientious observance of the laws of the institution this occur, still he is to mingle in the intercourse of pol- - these are the habits which will lay a deep foundation ished society, where his station in the esteem and res for the structure of future usefulne:s and eminence.pect of others, will be assigned to him, according to the The honours of the College, their first fruits and their measure of his improvement and worth, estimated by just reward, are the gratifying proofs of a capacity for the scale of his opportunities. Being, as it were, a part (further triumphs, and constitute the richest, and most of the Corinthian capital of society, lie will be unworthy acceptable offering which filial duty can present as an of his place, if he is destitute of the ornaments and gra- acknowledgment and requital of parental care. ces that belong to his station.

(To be continued.) But upon the plan that is now in question, who is to choose for the youth the studies he will pursue? Sure

AMERICAN SILK.-No, 7. ly it cannot be gravely asserted, that, at the usual age of entering into Colleges the choice ought to be left to America is destined to be a rich silk growing and silk himselt. Why has Providence committed the care of manufacturing country. But her advances towards that children to the affectionate intelligence of parents. Why desirable state of things must be gradual and systematic. have human laws provided for them tutors & guardians? Every attempt to do that at once which can only be Why have schools, and seminaries of learning been es. effected in a course of years, must ultimately fail; while tablished, and courses of education and discipline pre patriotisin and enterprise will be discouraged by the scribed, but to give them the benefit of that experience enormous expense and fruitless labour that will be inand knowledge which they do not themselves possess? curred. To suppose that a youth, at such an age, is competent

It is an old and a trite adage, that in every thing the to decide for himself what he will learn, is to suppose end is to be considered, but it is no less true that the that he has already had the experience of manhood, un-beginning also requires the most serious attention. How der the most favorable circumstances—that he is compe. a thing is to end almost always depends on the inanner tent to educate himself-nay, that he is already educa- in which it is begun. Hence when we take a view of ted—and instead of needing instruction, is qualified to the numerous and various branches of science and art of impart it to others. Is the choice then to be made by which the silk business consists, from the planting of parents? To them it undoubtedly belongs, as a right, the mulberry tree, to the producing of those elegant to determine for their children, whether they will send and delicate stuffs, which daily issue from the European them to College or not-hut there their authority ter- looms, it is natural to ask ourselves by which of these minates. It cannot be pretended that every parent, or branches is a nation to begin? that any parent has, or ought to have, or can have a As far as I am able to understand what has been said right to decide upon the discipline and instruction to be and written in this country upon this interesting subadopted in a College, though he has the power of with. ject, it seems to me that it is an opinion pretty generaldrawing his child, if he think fit to do so.

ly diffused that all these things may be done at the same Admitting parents to be fully competent to resolve a time. I have heard of projected establishments for question of so much depth and difficulty,

-as many un- planting mulberry trees, raising silk worms, and manuquestionably are—and admitting, too, that their views facturing silk stuffs of every description. Such an estabare more wise and accurate, and entitled to greater de. lishment can never succeed. The two great divisions ference than the collected and continued wisdom which of human labour, agriculture and manufactures, require has devised, and which preserves the system in being, to be carried on separately and by different hands. A still it would be obviously impracticable to indulge nursery of mulberry trees and silk worms can never be them. There could not, in such a case, be statutes, or profitably attached to a manufacturing establishment. laws, or discipline, or system. In short, there could be To say nothing of the immense expense which this comno government. To some, it may seem harsh, but it is plex system would occasion, it must be evident that the believed to be perfectiy true, that when a youth is once profits of the manufacturer should not be dependent on placed in a College, selected after due deliberation, the the success of the agriculturis!; the risk would be too less interference there is on the part of the pareni, ex. great; one hard winter, one bad crop of cocoons, would cept in cases of manifest wrong done to bim, (which reduce to nothing the earnings of the artist, and he could rarely or ever occur in our principal institutions,) and not with safety carry on his business in such a perilous the inore unreservedly the pupil is committed to the situation. The raising of silk worms, therefore, must authorities of the institution, the better it will be both be left entirely to the farmer, and the mechanic must for parent and child.

apply bimself solely to those branches which are within Above all things, a parent should sedulously guard the proper line of lois business. against the introduction of a doubt into the mind of a But I have shown in my former numbers that these student, of the justice and necessity of the authority ex- branches are various, and that the mechanical part of ercised over hin, or of the excellence of the studies he the silk business is susceptible of divisions and subdiviis required to pursue. Such doubts must inevitably pro- sions. I have mentioned the three principal branches: duce insubordination and indolence, and will end in the 1. The making of raw silk. 2. Its preparation for the disappointment of bis hopes. Enthusiastic and ardent weaver's loom, called thrown silk. 3. The manufacturzeal, an estimate even exaggerated, of the excellence of ing of silk stuffs. This last branch alone is completely a given pursuit, amounting almost to folly in the judg- entitled to the name of manufacture. To attempt all ment of by-standers, are the needful stimulants to suc. three at once would require enormous capitals, and such cessful enterprize. Nothing great is achieved without an immense undertaking could hardly end otherwiso them. The heart must go along with the understand than by a failure, which would indefinitely postpone the ing. A strong passion must take possession of the soul, success of the silk business in the United States. Manuinspiring it with warmth, and with enduring energy, factures are of slow growth, and in their beginnings parand unconquerable resolution; so that all its faculties ticularly, require great means and powerful support. may be fully and steadily exerteds and overcoming the Recent experience in the case of cotton and woollen visinertiæ of our nature, and deaf and blind to the temp- stuffs, has sufficiently proved the truth of this positations that would seduce it from its course, it may press tion. forwards continually towards the prize which is to be I am therefore of opinion that the produce of the the reward of its toils. Such ought to be the feelings i American silk worm should be employed as an article of the youth who is favoured with the opportunity of a of foreign commerce, before it is attempted to manufac. liberal eduoation. Devotion to liis studies, as excellent ture it either for home consumption or exportation. in themselves, affectionate respect for his teachers, as

1829.)

METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER.

Great profits are to be derived from this branch of in. of theoretical men–the practical man takes a shorter dustry, and when it shall have arisen to a certain de road; he knows how long a time it would take to congree of strength and prosperity, manufactures will vey instruction in that slow manner from Maine to Flo. gradually and successively follow in its train. Every rida, and from Philadelphia to Cincinnati or St. Louis, attempt to force them into existence before the proper he trusts to the intelligence, the industry, the observatime shall have arrived, will prove ruinous and unsuc- tion, and, above all, to the interest of those who are to cessful.

supply him with the material that he is in need of, and It is by this slow and gradual course of proceeding in such a country as the United States none of these that the cotton business has risen in the United States grounds of reliance will ever prove vain. to the degree of prosperity that it has attained. For The plan, therefore, that I propose, is, that the silk more than twenty years cotton was prepared and sold produced in the United States be, in the first instance, as a raw material, without any attempt to convert it and for some years at least, employed exclusively in the into manufactured stuffs. All the labour that was be. form of raw silk, properly prepared, as an article of stowed upon it was that of drying, ginning, picking, foreign commerce, until out of the profits which must cleaning, packing, compressing, in short, of preparing necessarily arise from that trade, the means be provided it for exportation, under the name of raw cotton. While to proceed to the application of that material to other the country was following that course, American genius and still more profitable branches of industry, which, I displayed itself by the invention of the invaluable ma- am free to say, will take place gradually, and, as it were, chine called Whil ney's saw-gin, of which an American of itself, provided no forcing or hol-bed schemes are writer has said, "that the difference between its ope allowed to interfere and nip these fair prospects in the ration and the ordinary manual operation, is as one thou- bud. I maintain, that a regular market being once estasand to one.". During that period of twenty years the blislied in this country for the purchase of cocoons, the exportation of raw cotton produced immense profits to production of that article will soon be broug!rt, without this country. The business at last was overdone, the any effort, to its highest degree of perfection, and this profits diminished, and manufactures were recurred to country will reach an hitherto unexampled degree of This was the natural order of things, yet those manufac. wealth and prosperity. tures have had, and still have, to encounter, many bard I shall, in the sequel, explain myself further upon struggles. Their trials are not yet at an end.

these subjects. Thus instructed by experience, as well as convinced

J. D'HOMERGUE. by the reason of the thing, I would recommend the same 8th August, 1829. course to be pursued with regard to silk. Nothing should be attempted at first beyond preparing it in the form of Mammoth Radish -A White Radish was raised this raw material for exportation. I shall by and by endea season by Adain Kuntz, in Mahoney, Northampton Co. vor to show the profits that will arise and the results measuring in circumference 17 inches, length 16 inches, that will follow this mode of proceeding:

weight 64 lbs. So much for Mahoney. I have said nothing as yet (except a few words, inci

Mauch Chunk Pioneer. dentally,) respecting the planting of the mulberry tree, or the raising of the silk worm for the production of

METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER. cocoons; neither is it my intention to expatiate upon the subject. Although, undoubtedly, nothing can be done, JULY, 1829.

-KEPT IN CHILISQUAQUE, BY J. P. in the way of silk, without a sufficient quantity of cocoons, I do not see any necessity, at present, for be

Barometer. 17 hermometer Atmosp. Vuriations. stowing much attention upon this agricultural topic. I have observed with astonishment, during my short resi

9 12 3 9 12 | 3 dence in this country, that although there is not the least encouragement for the farmers and planters to attend to

1 29 429 4 29 4 | 63 | 67 | 63 Cloudy | Showersj this production, nevertheless the mulberry tree is culti

2 29 5 29 5 29 5 | 63 68 | 69 Cloudy | Rain vated, and silk worms are raised in all parts of this

3 29 6 29 6 29 6 64 70 74 Clear Clear country, from the north to the south, and from the east

4 29 629 6 29 6 64 | 66 | 65 | Rain Rain to the west; I have examined the cocoons produced in

5 this State, and have extracted silk from them, which I

6 29 529 5 29 5 70 73 72 Sunshn. Cloudy have found superior in quantity and quality to any that

7 29 5 29 5 29 5 | 67 74 76 Clear Clear I have ever seen; I think, therefore, that this part of the

8 29 2 29 329 3 74 79 80 Cloudy | Cloudy business may be in a great measure left to itself. The

9 29 4 29 429 4 69 74 77 Clear Clear main object is to find employment for the silk produced ) 10 29 5 29 5 29 5 69 79 82 Clear Clear by the American citizens, and to establish, in some cen

11 29 5 29 5 29 5 71 7982 Clear Clear tral place, a regular market for their cocoons. Their

12 industry, stimulated by their interest, will do the rest.

13 29 529 529 563 67 72 Sunshn. Clear The planting of the mulberry tree and raising of the silk

14 29 5 | 29 429 4 70 76 82 Clear Clear worm are not mechanical arts, like the other branches

15 29 429 5 29 569 86 90 Clear Clear of the silk business. Many excellent books have been

16 29 5 29 529 5 80 81 76 Cloudy Rain published, and I find are disseminated in translations

17 | 29 6 29 6 29 679 80 81 Sunshn. Sunshn. and abridgments through this country, containing direc

18 29 5 29 4 29 4 68 70 72 Cloudy Cloudy tions which need only be attended to, to be successful.

19 Experience and observation will soon make the Ameri

20 29 6 29 6 29 671 76 79 Clear Clear can farmers perfect in that business. When they find

21 29 5 29 5 29 5 72 80 | 84 | Clear Clearthat their bad or imperfect cocoons do not sell for so

22 29 5 29 5 29 4 77 88 86 Clear Clear bigh a price as the good ones, they will naturally inquire 23 29 4 29 4 29 4 74 80 73 Rain Rain into the causes of the deficiency; it will be the interest

24 | 29 5/29 6 29 671 75 | 76 | Cloudy Cloudy of the purchaser to give them the necessary information; 25 29 7 29 7 29 7 65 72 78 Clear Sunshin. and in the course of a few years the best cocoons will

26 be every where produced in the United States, without

27 29 8 29 829 769 76 79 Clear Cloudy the necessity of erecting dandolieres, as they are called

28 29 5 29 5 29 5 68 73 77 Cloudy Cloudy in Europe, or pattern nurseries: these are the playthings 29 29 4 29 429 4 69 7678 Cloudy Cloudy

30 129 4 29 429 4 74 81 86 Cloudy Cloudy • Tench Coxe on the Manufactures of the United 31 | 29 4 29 4 29 4 78 | 81 83 Sunshn. Sunshń States, p. 9.

SANDERSOX.

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A. M.

P. M.

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at. I will now give you a statement of a part, so far as I know, all of which is raised on a farm not exceeding 300 acres. His people are, one grown man, and one not grown, but able to plough, one distiller, and two girls about the house, no slaves, no coloured people does he keep about him. During hay-making and har vesting, he is obliged to get a few more hands, say five or six, for about fifteen or twenty days. Mr. does not work himself, but is always present to see it

go on right.

The proceeds of whiskey sold in Baltimore, $2,533 67 hogs,

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Wheat, say 500 bushels, at $1.55,

569

775

$3,877

In addition to this he takes many other articles to market which, I am not able to make an estimate of. There is oats, barley, hay, fruit and butter; and he fattens from twenty to thirty head of large cattle every year; his land at this time will produce better crops than it did some years ago-you hear no noise, no bustle or confusion, about his house or farm; every thing moves on quietly. We have a hundred farmers in our county that do as well as Mr. and better too.

STATEMENT

Of Flour and Meal exported from the Port of Philadel phia, during the month of July, 1829.

61

50

54

80 72

52

76 70

10,

51

73

11,

55 82

75

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barrels barls.hhds/bars

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11,770

20,

54

82

70

British American Colonies,

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100 162 269

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717 5381,313

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25,

26,

55 75 70

27,

60 76 69

28,

58 66 70

29,

66 75 75

30,

67 80

72.36

31,

70 82 78

Before 6 o'clock-1782 is the number of degrees of Comparative Import from New Orleans, from 1st October, the Thermometer during the month.

Days.

1782-31-57 add before 6.

2359-31-76 add at Noon.

2173-31-69 add at Sunset.

3)203

67 add mean average per day, during the

Sixth month.
The quantity of Rain that fell-Inches, 2.70.
Note. On the night of the 4th there was a fall of 0.31.

Profitable Farming in Pennsylvania.

[The following extract of a letter, is from one of the most respectable gentlemen of Pennsylvania, who may be relied upon for the correctness of the facts asserted. The articles produced on the farm, exclusive of the whiskey, hogs, and wheat, would certainly amount to sufficient to pay the expenses of the farm, and transportation of the three principal articles to market-the cattle would be worth about $30 a head--$ 600, if only twenty were fattened. With the article of butter alone, we learn verbally, he pays all his grocer's bills. A brief remark on this subject is sufficient-if we had more such farmers, we should hear less of hard times.]

Amer. Farmer.

Extract-Columbia, July 16, 1829. Some time since I mentioned something respecting my son-in-law's farming, which you seemed surprised

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Although this is generally considered the most unhealthy season of the year, our citizens continue to en joy better health than they have done for a number of years-at present we do not know that any are confined by indisposition, and the business of our Physicians is s dull that two of them are now absent on excursions of pleasure. We have not recorded any deaths in our Borough since the 26th of June last. Report says that the country is much more infected with the Fever and Ague than this place. Herald.

Printed every SATURDAY MORNING by WILLIAM F GEDDES, No. 59 Locust Street. Philadelphia; where, and at the PUBLICATION OFFICE, IN FRANKLIN PLACE, second door back of the Post Office, (back room) subscriptions will be thankfully received. Price FIVE DOLLARS per annum, payable annually by subscribers residing in or near the city, or where is an agent. Other subscribers pay in advance.

THE

REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE.

VOL. IV.-NO. 8.

EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.
PHILADELPHIA, AUGUST 22, 1829.

NO. 86.

SERGEANT'S DISCOURSE ON EDUCATION. cipal, and however ignorant was the argument of the

[Continued from page 110.]

"student of arithmetic," yet, for him, it was not in a wrong spirit. Arithmetic was his pursuit, and it was fit of Latin! What could be expected from his labours in that he should think well of it.-But the poor student

ciated; and the head of it, from whom he was to look tiusly, no doubt,) in having nearly expelled it from for encouragement and assistance, gloried (conscienhis school? The teacher might, and probably did, endeavour to perform his duty; but it must have been coldly and heartlessly done. Instead of breathing warmth and animation into the atmosphere, to invigorate the tender plants entrusted to his care, they must have been in imminent danger of being stunted in their growth, by chilling and withering indifference.

Of the opinions which have been mentioned, the one' proposing entirely to exclude the ancient languages from a course of liberal instruction-and the other, to reduce the time and attention devoted to them, it would be difficult to say, that as applied to this country, the one is more to be deprecated than the other. Are the languages overtaught now? Will they bear a reduction? The reverse is known to be the fact. Compared with the teaching in the German schools, where the design is to make scholars, compared with the teaching in the schools of England, where the design, in addition to this, is to qualify men for all the higher employments of life, as well as for a life without particular employment, it can scarcely be said that here they are taught at all. Excepting in the profession of divinity, is it too strong to affirm that there is scarcely such a thing as scholarship? And even in that profession, how many are there, in proportion to the whole number engaged in its sacred duties, who would be able to encounter a learned Infidel with the weapons of ancient learning? We have eminent lawyers-we have distinguished physicians-enterprising and intelligent merchants-and a fund of general talent, capable of the highest elevation in every employment or pursuit of life. Occasionally we meet with one among them, commonly of the old stock, in whom are discerned the elegant influences of Classical literature.

That part of a course of liberal education, however, which has been most frequently assailed, is the study of the Greek and Roman Classics-what is emphatical ly called Classical learning. Some have insisted that ita Seminary where the study was systematically depreought to be altogether excluded; and others, that it does not deserve to occupy so much of the time and attention of youth. Mr. Locke, who himself enjoyed the full benefit of the treasures of ancient learning, seems to make a compromise of the matter; for while he admits that the languages may be useful to those who are designed for the learned professions, or for the life of a gentleman without a profession, he seems to consider that they, as well as philosophy, are calculated rather to have an injurious effect upon the general character, than otherwise. The broader ground of entire exclusion, however, as has already been said, has had its advocates Many years ago, a distinguished citizen of the United States, whose memory, let it be said, is entitled to great veneration, among other things for the example he gave of untiring industry and youthful vigor in his varied pursuits, continued to almost the last day of a long life, published an Essay, in which, with his usual ingenuity and force, he contested the value of Classical learning as a branch of education. It appears from a subsequent publication, by the same author, that this Essay produced many replies, and that it also produced a complimentary letter (now published with the Essay,) from a gentleman who is stated to have been at that time the Principal of an academy. In this letter, after complimenting the author, the writer proceeds as follows-"There is little taste for them (the learned languages,) in this place. In our academy, where there are near ninety students, not above nineteen are poring over Latin and Greek. One of these nineteen was lately addressed by a student of Arithmetic in the following language-Pray, sir, can you resolve me, by your Latin, this question! If one bushel of corn cost four shillings, what cost fifty bushels? A demand of this kind, from a youth, is to me a proof of the taste of Americans in the present day, who prefer the useful to the ornamental!" This was surely an extraordinary triumph over the poor Latinist, and a very singular evidence of But where are our eminent scholars? Where are the what the good Principal was pleased to call "American greater lights, ruling with a steady and diffusive splentaste!" Who ever imagined that the study of the Greek dour, and vindicating their claim to a place among the and Latin would teach a boy the first rules of Arithmet-constellations which shine in the firmament of learning? ic? Or who was ever absurd enough to contend that Nay, how few are there among us, of our best educated Greek and Latin were to be taught to the exclusion of men, who, if called upon to bring forth their stores, the simplest elements of pure Mathematics? They have would be able to say with Queen Elizabeth, that they their appropriate uses and advantages; but they do not had "brushed up their Latin," or would have any Latin profess to be themselves the whole of education, nor to brush up? The truth is that this branch of study is to accomplish every thing that is desirable. They do already at the very minimum, if not below it. It will not give sight to the blind, nor hearing to the deaf, nor not bear the least reduction. It positively requires to speech to the dumb; but when these faculties exist in be increased in teaching, and raised in public esteem. their usual perfection-as is happily the case with the Classical learning neither falls in showers, nor flows in far greater part of mankind-and there is the ordinary streams. Here and there a solitary drop appears, sparkportion of talent, they furnish an occupation, which is ling and beautiful to be sure, like the last dew on a both useful and ornamental, which is not inconsistent leaf, but too feeble, without the support of its kindred with the necessary attainments in mathematics, and element, even to preserve itself, and utterly powerless which may not only well go along with the acquisition to enrich or fructify the neighbouring soil. To propose of our own language, but is deemed to be indispensa- a reduction, is therefore equivalent, at least, to an enble to its accurate knowledge, and highest enjoyment. tire exclusion, if it be not worse. Less taught than it But however feeble was the commentary of the Prin-now is, or less esteemed, the teaching would be almost

Vol. IV.

15

a false pretence, and the learning a waste of time. It would be as well at once to blot it from the course, and, as far as in our power lies, to let the Greek and Latin languages sink into oblivion, and be lost in profound darkness, like that from which, by their single power, they have once recovered the world,

This would be a parricidal work for civilization and science. But if it is to be accomplished, the mode is not what is to characterize it as unnatural. Before we advance to a conclusion of such incalculable importance, let us first consider what it is, and then endeavour to be fully assured that it is right. If it be once decided that the study of the ancient languages can be dispensed with in a Collegiate education, and the honours of a College obtained without it, there is no difficulty in perceiving it must also be dropped in the preparatory schools. Why begin it, if it is not to be pursued? Why take up time in acquiring what is afterwards to be thrown aside as rubbish, and forgotten? Forgotten it inevitably will be, if it be entirely discontinued at the time of entering College. By what motives or arguments will a boy be persuaded to apply himself to learning in a Grammar School, what is not necessary to obtain for him the honours of a College, and what he is distinctly told will be of no use to him in life? It is absurd to think of it. The youngest child has sagacity enough to understand an argument, which coincides with his own inclination, and to apply it to the indulgence of his own natural love of ease. Tell him that he might as well be unemployed, and, without having ever studied logic, he will be very apt to jump at once to the seductive conclusion of idlenesss.

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more signally exhibited by the old Romans, when Hannibal, triumphant, & seemingly irresistible, from the slaughter at Canna, was thundering at the gates of Rome, than they have been by that nation, which Mr. Locke's genius has contributed to illustrate and adorn. This same study has gone hand in hand with every profession and pursuit, refining, exalting and dignifying them all. Theologians, statesmen, lawyers, physicians, poets, orators, philosophers, the votaries of science and of letters, have been disciplined and nourished by it, and under the influence of its culture have attained the highest excellence. The arts of life have, at the same time, kept on with steady pace, so that the people whom Cæsar spoke of as, in his Britannos toto orbe divisos," now, if not in all respects at the very head of the European family, are certainly Let those who cavil not inferior to any of its members. at a liberal education, and those especially who question the value of the Greek and Latin languages, answer this fact. The tree cannot be bad which produces such fruit. It is unphilosophical to doubt the adequacy of a cause to produce a given effect, when we see that the effect is constantly produced by that cause; and it is unphilosophical to search for another cause, when we have found one that is sufficient. If the study of the ancient languages has been found, by long experience, to discipline and nourish the intellectual faculties, why should we doubt that it is efficacious for that purpose? Why should we go about to seek for something else, that if it succeed will but answer the same purpose-and if it fail, leaves us entirely destitute? One will flippantly tell us that it is spending too much time about words, which could be better employed about things. The great British lexicographer has unintentially given some countenance to this notion in the Preface to his Dictionary. A man, who had accomplished such a labour, might be permitted, at its close, to feel the departure of the spirit which had sustained him in its progress, and in the pathetic melancholy of taking leave, so eloquently expressed as almost to draw tears from the reader, he might be allowed even to depreciate his own work, by admitting that "words are the daughters of earth, and that things are the sons of heaven." But even the authority of Dr. Johnson cannot be permitted thus to degrade the pedigree of words, or diminish their importance. Articulate sound is from heaven. Its origin is divine. The faculty of speech is the immediate gift of Him who made us, and its destitution (which his good Providence sometimes allows to occur) is felt to be a great calamity. Language-words-are the exercise of this faculty, as thought is the exercise of the faculty of thinking. The one is worthy of improvement as well as the other-nay, we can scarcely conceive of their separate existence, or their separate cultivation-and hence the first step in the instruction of the dumb is to teach them the use of language. Words without thought are idle and vain. Thought, without the power of expres sing it, is barren and unproductive. "Proper words in proper places, is the point we all strive to attain; and this is what constitutes the perfection of the power of communicating with each other. It is true, therefore, that "words are things;" and there is no better proof of it than this, that the most extraordinary, may I not say the most vulgar error sometimes obtains currency, by What can we reason from, but what we know?" means of an epigrammatick sentence,by the mere charm of the collocation of words. The fact is, that they occuThis proof is manifest, in respect to nations, as it is in py our attention throughout our lives, and a greater or respect to individuals. It is astonishing, that Mr. Locke less command of them is one of the chief visible discould have entertained the suggestion for a moment,that tinctions that mark the different orders of intelligence. the study of the languages and philosophy was unfriend- The child is taught to speak, to spell and to read-the ly to the formation of prudent and strong character, when youth to declaim and to compose-and the man strives he looked around upon his countrymen, and perceived, perpetually to improve and perfect himself in the use of as he must have done, that they are not less distinguish-language, by frequent exercise, and the study of the ed for their attachment to these studies, than for what Burke has called "the family of grave and masculine virtues." Constancy, resolution, unconquerable spirit, a lofty determination never under any circumstances of adversity to admit the betraying counsels of fear, were not

These languages, let it be remembered, have hitherto not merely formed a part, they have been the very basis of a liberal education. I might almost say they have been education itself. From the revival of letters to the present time, they have held this station, through a period of five hundred years, not in one country only, but in all the civilized world. They gained it by their own merits, and they have kept it by their unquestionable success. Would it be wise or prudent to cast them off, unless we were fully prepared to supply the large space they have occupied, by something equal, at least, if not superior? This is no metaphysical question; nor does the answer to it require the peculiar powers of Mr. Locke, mighty as they confessedly were. It is eminently a practical question, which common sense is fully able to decide. It may be stated thus; Education, having a given end, and a certain plan of education, having approved itself during some hundreds of years, and still continuing daily to approve itself to be well suited to attain that end, is it wise or rational to require that it shall be vindicated upon original grounds, and be rejected like a novelty, unless it can be justified to our complete satisfaction, by arguments a priori? That is a good timekeeper which keeps good time, no matter how constructed. That is good food which is found to nourish the body, whatever peptic precepts may say to the contrary. And that is good exercise, which gives vigour and grace to the limbs, even though a Chinese lady might not be allowed to use it. Against such a fact, once well established, argumentative objection ought to be unavailing, or there is an end to ail just reasoning.

best models. Demosthenes is said to have copied the history of Thucydides eight times with his own hand, and to have committed the greater part of it to memory, merely to improve his style. His orations were composed with the utmost care; and they were

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