STUDY XIV. 



313 



I could demonftrate, by a multitude of exam- 

 ples, that the depravation of our moft notorious 

 criminals, began with the cruelty of their educa- 

 tion. 



who have been employed in reforming abufes, for more than a 

 century part, have not attacked this, with the feverity which it 

 deferves. They do not pay fufficient attention to the miferies of 

 the rifing generation. It would be a queftion of right, the dif- 

 cuffion of which were highly interefting and important, namely. 

 Whether the State could permit the right of infliéling infamous 

 punifliment, to perfons who have not the power of life and 

 death ? It is certain, that the infamy of a citizen produces re- 

 aftions more dangerous to Society, than his own death merely. 

 It is nothing at all, we are told, they are but children; but for 

 ' this very reafon, becaufe they are children, every generous fpiiit 

 is bound to proteft them, and becaufe every miferable child be- 

 comes a bad man. 



At the fame time, it is far from being my intention, in what I 

 have faid refpefting mafters in general, to render the profeffion 

 odious, I only mean to fuggeft to them, that thofe chaftife- 

 ments, the praétice of which they have borrowed from the cor- 

 rupted Greeks of the Lower Empire, exercife an influence much 

 more powerful than they are aware of, on the hatred which is 

 borne to them, as well as to the other miniflers of Religion, 

 monks as well as the regular clergy, by a people more enlightened 

 than in former times. After all, it muft be granted, that maf- 

 ters treat their pupils as they themfelves were treated. One fet 

 of miferable beings are employed in forming a new fet, fre- 

 quently without fufpe6ling what they are doing. All I aim at 

 prefent to eftablifli is this, That man has been committed to his 

 own forefight; that all the ill which he does to his fellow- crea- 

 tures, recoils, fooner or later, upon himfelf. This re-a£lion is 

 the only counterpoife _^capable of bringing him back to huma- 

 nity. 



