[ 68 | 
philofophically, what the illiterate only colleé&t from experi- 
ence, or glean by accident. 
I FORBEAR to enter into any examination of the mode of 
profecuting the particular ftudies which are peculiarly fuited 
to the feveral departments of profeflional and polite literature. 
They who prefide over thefe departments are certainly the 
moft competent to regulate the ftudies and afcertain the qua- 
lifications of {uch as are to be admitted into them. To ‘thefe 
men it would be at leaft fuperfluous, if not impertinent, to 
offer any {pecific propofals for improvement. But I fhould never 
ceafe to prefs upon their minds the primary principle that 
ought invariably to influence them.—Let your refpective de- 
partments be preferved pure from the pollution of the illiterate 
and ilhberal ; but let the only barriers which you employ to 
fence them be learning and honour. Let all jealous and for- 
did monopolies be banifhed from your policy. Defert alone 
is the facred Ancyle upon the prefervation of which your fate 
depends. 
I now proceed to offer a few obfervations on the means 
which ought to be employed in diffeminating liberal know- 
ledge. 
I orrer my fentiments on this head with great diffidence, 
becaufe I have the misfortune of differing materially from a 
gentleman who not long ago called the attention of the legi- 
flature to the fubje&t of national education, and propofed a 
plan of an improved fyftem to be adopted in this kingdom, 
in 
