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public fchools of the opulent and refined, this tendency is, in fome 

 meafure counteraded, by the fpirit of emulation, and an honeft pride. ' 

 Thefe are motives, which one cannot expeft to find generally preva- 

 lent, among the inferior clafles, unlefs extraordinary means are cm- 

 ployed, to inftil them into the tender mind of youth. It is not for 

 me, on this occafion, to prefcribe, in detail, what thefe means fliould 

 be : indeed, they cannot be comprifed, in certain rules, they mufl be 

 left, in a great meafure, to the good fcnfe, and knowledge of human 

 nature, of thofe, who are engaged in this province. Could fuch 

 -means be fuccefsfully employed, they would render the talk of dif- 

 fufing induftry and morality much more eafy. I fear the province, 

 of infl;ru(5tion in the proteflant charter fchool, is confided, with few 

 exceptions, to perfons not very capable, of difcerning, or employing 

 thofe means. 



In addition to fome general fyftem of education,' which might com- 

 prehend the children of the labouring poor, and diffufe, together with 

 principles of religion and morality, and a knowledge of reading, writ- 

 ing, and the elements of arithmetic ; an acquaintance with agricul- 

 ture, gardening, or the mofl ufeful arts and manufaftures. I would 

 propofe the eftabliflament of an orphan houfe, if poffible, in every 

 county ; at lead in every province. I fay orphan houfe, but I would 

 not confine the inftitution to orphans, in the very ftrict fenfe of the 

 word. — Children, deferted, by the death, or the flight of their parents; 

 I would confider thofe children as orphans, whofe parents being men- 

 dicants, do not perform towards their offspring, the parental duty, of train- 

 ing them, in habits of induftry, but carry them from place to place, as in- 

 ftruments of their difTolute, and pernicious vocation ; and too often teach 

 them, to anticipate the profligacy and diflioncfl arts, of maturer age. There 

 is no cruelty, in feparating children from fuch parents. The parents can 

 have no real tendernefs, no true affeftion for their olfspring, who would 

 wifh, to lead them, through paths of vice and wretchednefs, to the prof- 

 peft of an untimely end by the hand of juftice ; or who could repine, 

 at feeing them refcued from fuch a dreadful deftiny, and placed in 



fituations . 



