EDUCATION. 253 



Poiet. — I am sorry to say I think the 

 system carried too far in England. God 

 forbid that any useful light should be extin- 

 guished ! Let persons who wish for educa- 

 tion receive it; but it appears to me that, 

 in the great cities in England, it is, as it 

 were, forced upon the population ; and that 

 sciences, which the lower classes can only 

 very superficially acquire, are presented to 

 them ; in consequence of which they often 

 become idle and conceited, and above their 

 usual laborious occupations. The unripe 

 fruit of the tree of knowledge is, I believe, 

 always bitter or sour; and scepticism and 

 discontent — sickness of the mind — are often 

 the results of devouring it. 



Hal. — Surely you cannot have a more 

 religious, moral, or more improved popula- 

 tion than that of Scotland ? 



Poiet. — Precisely so. In Scotland, edu- 

 cation is not forced upon the people — it is 

 sought for, and it is connected with their 

 forms of faith, acquired in the bosoms of 

 their families, and generally pursued. with a 

 distinct object of prudence or interest : nor 



