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curate and enlightened infpeflion ; nor are they rendered produclive of 

 all the good, of which even the prefent narrow and illiberal fyftem is ca- 

 pable. I mean not to fay, that, there is, in general, any grofs malfeafance 

 in the adminiflration of the proteftant charter fchools ; but, certain it is, 

 that fufScient care and attention are not employed in the regulation of thefe 

 feminaries. The children are too much at the mercy of the maflers, and 

 miltreiTes ; and too little judgment is fliewn, in the feleftion of the perfons, 

 who are inverted with the important truft of educating thefe children. The 

 confequences are fuch, as might naturally be expefted ; frequently grofs 

 inattention, or worfe, with refpeft to the cleanlinefs, the diet, and appa- 

 rel of the children ; as well as to their morals, and progrefs in induftry. 

 Hence, it too frequently comes to pafs, that when the charter fchool chil- 

 dren are taken as apprentices, to be trained up as domeftic fervants, or 

 inftrufted in manufactures, they moll commonly prove flothful, dirty, and 

 vicious. 



The talk of education is a mofl: difficult and important one. There is 

 none that requires an union of more talents ; it demands a liberal and en- 

 lightened mind, enlarged and philofophic views, and an intimate know- 

 ledge of the human heart. Yet, to what hands is the work of forming the 

 tender mind, too commonly abandoned ! If high expeftations, and rewards, 

 fail of procuring infl;ru£lors, duly qualified, even for the children of the ge- 

 nerous, the wealthy, and the great, what muft be the profpeft of thofe, 

 whofe morals, and education, depend, on the cold, and churlifli hand, of 

 cleemofynary inftruftion. Yet, a proper education of the lower clafles, 

 direfted to make them fill their rank in fociety, with comfort to themfelves, 

 and advantage to the community, is, at leafl, of equal importance, to a 

 nation, with that of the fuperior orders. 



The talk of inftrufting the lower claffes can only be performed by 

 means of large inflitutions, that economize education, by bellowing it 

 colledively. Yet, it requires no fmall degree of ability, and circura- 

 fpeclion, to obviate the ill confequences, that may refult, from the 

 education of the poor, in large mafles. Human creatures in a grega- 

 rious flate. are too apt to deprave and corrupt each other.— in the 



public 



