215 



THE IMPORTANCE OF SHAKSPEARFS WRI- 

 TINGS, CONSIDERED AS TO THEIR INFLUENCE 

 ON THE MORALS OF MEN. 



FROM A LECTURE DELIVERED IN THE ATHENiEUM OF THE 

 PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 



Whether the moral interests of mankind may 

 be more advanced by precept or exhibition, i. e. by 

 the mere dictation of sentiments, or by the exposure 

 of those varied impulses, which distinguish human 

 nature and individualize man. Whether we are to 

 be more benefitted by immediate admonition, or by 

 such impressions as are deducible from an acquaint- 

 ance with men and manners, " chequered with good 

 and evir^ as they are — whether we had better receive 

 truths as little children ; or seek truth by the use of 

 our sagacity — whether, in short, that knowledge is 

 the more salutary which openly, and at once, ad- 

 dresses our comprehension; or that, which slowly 

 (and almost imperceptibly) steals into the mind 

 through the channels of observation and examination, 

 is a question, which, (as far as regards mere moral 

 truth) would surely be answered in favor of that me- 

 dium which our observation, and powers of compa- 

 rison and deduction supply. The draught which we 

 take at once from the running brook may be clear as 

 crystal ; but that which has passed the impercep- 

 tible pores of the filtering rock shall be purer still. 

 At any rate, we shall drink with a more perfect con- 

 viction of its purity ; and, if our imagination only be 

 satisfied our health shall be, in a measure, sustained. 



Far be it from me to state, that an extensive know- 

 ledge of the world is necessarily accompanied by 

 moral probity. It were trite to remark upon the 

 thousands who apply their observation with no other 

 motive than to over reach the less informed in fur- 

 therance of their own selfish purposes. I allude, of 

 course, only to men of principle; and trust it will be 

 allowed, that, in their case, truths born of worldly 

 knowledge, truths which are the consequence of per- 



