STUDY XiVé 3^3 



the aflembly the perfon who (hould difturb it, and 

 even that only for a time proportioned to the fault 

 of the offender: and, withal, this fliould rather be 

 an aâ: of juftice than a punifhment ; for I would 

 have no manner of fhame to attach to that exile. 

 But, if you wifh to form an idea of fuch an affem- 

 bly, conceive, inftead of our young collegians, pale, 

 penfive, jealous, trembling about the fate of their 

 unfortunate comportions, a multitude of young 

 perfons gay, content, attracted by pleafure to vaft 

 circular halls, in which are ercdled, here and there, 

 the ftatues of the illuftrious men of Antiquity, and 

 of their own Country ; behold them all attentive 

 to the matter's leffons, affifting each other in com- 

 prehending them, in retaining them, and in re- 

 plying to his unexpedled queftions. One tacitly 

 fuggefts an anfwer to his neighbour : another 

 makes an excufe for the negligence of his abfent 

 comrade. 



Reprefent to yourfelf the rapid progrefs of ftu- 

 dies elucidated by intelligent mafters, and drunk 

 in by pupils who are mutually affifting each other 

 in fixing the impreffion of them. Figure to your- 

 felf Science fpreading among them, as the fiame in a 

 pile, all the pieces of which are nicely adjufted, 

 communicates from one to another, till the whole 

 becomes one blaze. Obferve among them, in- 

 ftead of a vain emulation, union, benevolence, 



VOL. IV. A a friendship. 



