such is not the lot assigned to man. A wider field must be opened to us, we have nobler duties to perform, and other virtues to exercise. The gay images of childhood must melt away, the visions of youth be dissipated, and infancy ripen into manhood; and the bark which has long rode in the harbours of Security, be launched at once on the ocean of Life. Are there then in this awful voyage, no eddies to be avoided, no difficulties to be subdued? Will the rocks glide away before the helm of Innocence, the current yield to the oar of Simplicity, or the tempest cease to howl around the canvas of Confidence? Surely, if there be dangers, Ignorance and Inexperience can be little qualified to encounter them: for how will he who has been basking in the beams of parental Fondness, be able to elude the seductions of Voluptuousness, or penetrate the veil of Hypocrisy? Folly will entangle her minion in mazes, from which Fraud can alone extricate him; or Violence will terrify him into meanness, which will first appear useful, then necessary, and at last justifiable.

Yet let it not be imagined, that I am an advocate for the morals of publick schools; I know their depravity. Man is too corrupt to be innocent even when alone, and our propensity to ill is increased in proportion as it is countenanced. There is hardly a crime in the whole catalogue of enormities which does not pervade the walls of our publick academies; but, though the temptations are more, I am not sure that the dangers are greater, and though not so vain as to suppose, that the dreams of Philosophical Purity can ever be realized in these nurseries of Learning, yet I cannot but think that some enormities might be checked, and some virtues fostered. In the pre

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sent comparison, therefore, I am not bound to suppose the line of publick Education so impure, as at present it is: yet, even in its present state of depravity, it must not be forgotten, that many noble qualities, if I may not call them virtues, are necessarily inherent in it. Courage and Generosity, Candour and Activity, Obedience and Content, if not universal, are certainly prevalent; and though I can hardly venture to eke these out into a catalogue of merits, yet surely they may operate as a counterpoise to some of the deformities. Upon the whole, I believe, that though purity may in theory seem peculiar to domestic instruction, yet it will not often be found, that those who are estimable in life, owe their merits only to the privacy of their early years.

Should it be thought, that, after every deduction, the balance still preponderates in favour of that form of instruction, whence temptation is most excluded; some allowance must still be admitted for the superiority which the other side will claim in point of Science, and from which, if justly arrogated, an argument may perhaps be drawn in defence of its morality, since it is at least to be hoped, that as we grow wiser, we shall grow better. This superiority, however, will doubtless be contested, nor am I prepared to say that the contest will be rash. It is extremely difficult, in such cases, to balance exactly the claims of either party, since each peculiar excellence is opposed by some competitor. The principal advantages attendant on publick Schools and Universities, are: 1st. The learning of the Præceptors, for, as Quintilian justly observes, "Optimus quisque Præceptor, frequentiâ gaudet, ac majore se theatro dignum putat." 2dly. The company, conversation, and advice of many characters celebrated, at

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least in those pigmy stages, for Virtue, Learning, or Ta lents: such acquaintance serves, at the same time, to increase our knowledge, and repress our vanity, for Solitude is the nurse of Pride: necesse est enim sibi nimium tribuat, qui se nemini comparat." 3rdly. and principally, That spirit of emulation which "gives motion to the active, and elevation to the eminent;" that "fever of renown," which electrifies the most torpid, which calls the sluggard into action, and impels the heedless to exertion; that principle of ambition in short, "quæ licet ipsa vitium frequenter tamen causa virtutum est." He who sees excellence cannot but admire it, he who admires will envy, and he who envies will imitate; till, like the Czar, he is taught to conquer by the victories of his enemies. This is the nostrum which has formed the Hero, the Statesman, and the Scholar, and in this peculiarly rests the advantage of publick seminaries, where we catch the fire by a kind of attractive infection, and grasp that generous principle inculcated by the Prince of Poets," as agioteuliv, αριστεύειν, και υπείροκον εμμεναι άλλων.”

On the other hand it must be confessed, that the opposite system is not without its advantages. If the tutor is less able, he is generally more attentive; and it may even be started as a doubtful proposition, whether the greatest men make the best masters. If the society of Learning be excluded, the factions of idleness, and cabals of the ignorant, are also shut out; and, though I never can admit any principle to be of equal cogency with the spirit of emulation, yet, certainly, the respect and affection generally contracted for a private guardian, may operate powerfully, while leisure and abstraction from hurry and tumult will allow every good intention its full play. Thus

the characteristic excellencies of each, though differently distributed, are nearly equivalent, nor, in this general view, can it be easily decided to which superiority may belong. When, however, these qualities are considered in reference to any particular character, the motives of choice may become evident, since it is obvious, that peculiar forms will be suitable to peculiar dispositions: thus the timid must be animated by encouragement, and the licentious repressed by severity; yet, even here, the disparity is perhaps less than may be supposed, for diffidence may be roused by scholastic tumult, and riot circumscribed by tutorial vigilance. In comparing the acquirements for which each situation is celebrated, experience will be a better guide than theory, and, I believe, it will generally be found, that the publick scholar is superior in classical knowledge, and the private in general information; here then again contrarieties clash, and here again must comparison be waived. Perhaps it may be agreed, that a strong inference may be drawn in favour of Academical Institution from publick usage and universal approbation, but I know not whether much can be hoped from this evidence: that most practise it, is certain, but that most approve it, is, at least, problematical; and though it must be owned that the uniform consent of mankind forms in general a violent presumption in favour of that to which it has been annexed; yet, perhaps, the present case may be allowed as an exception; for the convenience, relaxation, and indolence allowed to the parent by the intervention of publick schools, offer so strong a temptation for preference, that the evidence is thereby rendered suspicious: and though the records of glory may be unrolled, and the titles of the illustrious displayed to

dazzle and confound us, yet surely that system can stand little in need of exculpation, in which St. Paul and St, Polycarp were educated; which has produced an Homer, a Paschall, and a Pitt. Such names, though they cannot ensure superiority, at least preclude contempt, and pour a cloud of glory round their tutoress like Venus before her

son:

Screen'd from the foes behind whose shining veil,

The swords wave harmless, and the javelins fail,

.. Thus far, then, if my conclusions be correct, little preeminence can be claimed by either party, and thus far, therefore, my proposition remains still disputable; but, however equal the immediate advantages may appear, a consideration is yet reserved which would incline the balance, were it less equally suspended. Surely, all who have been blessed with a liberal education must anticipate my sentiments, when I say, that the treasures to which I allude, are to be found in the acquaintance, connexions, and friendships usually contracted there, where choice is most widely diversified. With these no minute accomplishments can be set in competition. From these even the voice of envy dares not detract. It is vain to urge the dangers of combination of vice, and the evils resulting from the society of the wicked: all blessings must be attended with hazard proportionate to their eminence; and the same argument, if extended, would forbid us to act, to read, or to meditate. But shall the apprehension of possible misfortune rob us of those endearments which are the balm of life? Shall we never taste the cup of satisfaction for fear its beverage should be poison? or leave the rose to wither in neglect, because a thorn may wound