STUDY XIV. 325 



ourfelves, as a fupport to an old age of fadnefs and 

 negleft, the gratitude of the generation which is 

 advancing to replace us j and, by providing for 

 their happinefs and our own, we (liould combine 

 all the means in our power, toward promoting the 

 good of our Country. 



In order to contribute my little mite toward fo 

 bleffed a révolution, I fliall hazard a few more hafty 

 ideas. I proceed on the fuppofition, then, that I am 

 empowered to employ iifefully a part of the twelve 

 years, which our young people wade at fchools and 

 colleges. I reduce the whole time of their edu- 

 cation to three epochs, confiding of three years 

 each. The firft (hould commence at the age of 

 feven years, as among the Lacedemonians, and 



fuperior to that of a non-entity ; that of infancy to the embiyon ; 

 adolefcence is preferable to infancy ; and youth, the feafon of 

 loves, more important than adolefcence. Man, in a ftate of ma- 

 turity, the head of a family, is preferable to a young man. The 

 old age which encircles him with a numerous poiterity ; which, 

 from it's experience, introduces him into the counfels of Na- 

 tions j which fufpends in him the dominion of the pallions, 

 only to give more energy to that of reafon : the old age which 

 feems to rank him among fuperior beings, from the multiplied 

 hopes which the practice of virtue, and the Laws of Providence,^ 

 have bellowed upon him, is of more value, than all the other 

 ages of life put together. I could wifli it were fo with the ma- 

 turity of France, and that the age of Louis XVI. might furpafs 

 all that have preseded it. 



y 3 even 



