76 , Natural History in Foreign Countries, 



a brilliant invention encircles the head of the inventor with rays of imme- 

 diate glory. 



The defects in the natural character of the French, are to be counter- 

 acted by the progress of civilisation, and more especially by inducing, 

 among all ranks, a greater taste for vs^hat an Englishman calls the solid 

 comforts of life. To improve the country people to the utmost in a 

 physical point of view, it is necessary that they should eat a greater pro- 



Eortion of animal food, drink better wine, cider, or beer, and that their 

 ouses should be more commodiously planned, and more fully stocked with 

 furniture. The introduction of an improved agriculture, and of useful 

 manufactures, will effect both these objects ; and if, while this improve- 

 ment is taking place, care be taken to educate, not slightly, but effectually, 

 every individual, so as to elevate the moral character and taste of the 

 laborious classes, and prevent them from falling into that state of de- 

 gradation and misery which is connected with improved agriculture and 

 the extreme of manufacturing industry in England, every thing will be at- 

 tained which the friends of human nature could desire. 



The grand principle wanting to develope every other in France, is 

 general and effectual education. Not an education which merely teaches 

 a slight knowledge of reading, writing, and arithmetic, such as was formerly 

 open to every body in Scotland ; but a system of instruction commencing 

 in the third or fourth year of infancy, in the manner of what are called 

 infant schools, and continued alike to males and females to the age of 

 fourteen or fifteen. During this period every thing worth knowing may be 

 taught, and a style of manners and morals formed and impressed in such a 

 way as to remain during future life. Every one submitted, so to speak, to 

 this degree of education, will not profit from it alike; and it is in the 

 nature of things, and suitable to the constitution of society, that this dif- 

 ference should exist ; but every one, even the most intellectually obtuse, 

 will know how to read, write, and count, and take a certain tone of manners 

 and moral habits, which will fit them for some one useful capacity or other, 

 and render them agreeable and honest to any who come in contact with 

 them. 



, We never contend that all will benefit equally from education, however 

 well or however long they may be subjected to it ; all we insist on is, that 

 all should be subjected to a certain degree of it during a certain length 

 of time. We would, if possible, put every human being on a level in 

 point of knowledge, morals, and manners : we know we cannot do this, 

 because the original faculties of man are opposed to it ; but we would give 

 to all a ,fair and full chance of developing their faculties to the utmost, 

 and, having done this, we would leave individuals to work their way in the 

 world subject to the influence of all that it contains. Supposing education 

 to be a fluid, we would immerse every male and female child in it (and for 

 very important reasons, in addition to that of humanising all ranks, in the 

 same vessel), during a certain length of time, that the body of each might 

 imbibe according to its powers of absorption. 



Being taken out, those of the poorest parents, and who at the same time, 

 in consequence of natural defect, had imbibed least of the education fluid, 

 would fall into the ranks of house servants, male and female, or would en- 

 gage as sailors or soldiers ; those who, in consequence of a little more native 

 intellect, had absorbed a little more fluid, but who were still of the poorest 

 parents, would take the grade of labourers, agriculturists, and gardeners, the 

 females following dress-making, or other light trades, or becoming body-ser- 

 vants to ladies of rank j those whose parents had some little property, 

 whatever quantity of fluid they might have absorbed, would commence their 

 business education, by being apprenticed to some trade or manufacture, the 

 females becoming governesses and teachers ; those a little higher, when 

 taken out, would commence their professional education, with a view to law, 



