1824.) 
words ; perhaps learns a little Mathe- 
matics, a little bad Logic, and very 
questionable Moral Philosophy. He is 
then a man in body, but necessarily a 
child in, other respects, never having 
had occasion to use. any faculty of 
the mind, except Memory. In short, 
modern Education comprizes only a few 
of what ought to be secondary objects 
of attention, and teaches them ill be- 
sides. There are many exceptions, no 
doubt, in individuals, and (in one or 
two instances in the kingdom) in 
schools; but the general rule is what 
I haye laid down. Qur Schools and 
Colleges were commenced by Monks for 
the education of monks, and under 
monks they still continue. It is painful 
to one’s feelings to be forced to speak 
in such terms of one of the most im- 
portant institutions of our country ; but 
those disinterested persons who have 
had the greatest experience, will be the 
first to allow and lament their truth. 
Whatever, therefore, is most useful 
for a man to know, he must learn after 
he has finished his Education. His du- 
ties as a husband and parent, a profes- 
sional man and citizen, must either be 
aequired intuitively, or learnt from the 
experience of ages; if not, they will be 
performed without principle, or altoge- 
ther neglected; for to the due per- 
formance of them his scholastic educa- 
tion can afford him no clue, Now, it is 
the very sciences that relate to these 
most important duties that form the 
usual questions and lectures in Literary 
Societies. Aman must read and think, 
if he would become a creditable mem- 
ber of them; and they teach him to do 
both. 
A young man, unaccustomed to use 
his faculties, can seldom learn to use 
them properly, by conversation alone, as 
then he has constantly an opportunity 
of changing the topic, of being. silent, 
or of resorting to common place. Neither 
will he best learn, at first, to train. his 
faculties by reading; for independent of 
it being a difficult art, requiring some 
preliminary knowledge before it can be 
rendered useful or, pleasant, there is a 
want of life and animation about it, and, 
to beginners, an excess of method. 
Literary Societies are, not. subject to 
these defects : they, possess the anima- 
tion and_yariety of, conversation with 
the solidity and method of good. read- 
ings, Indeed, the, variety, of Speakers, 
who each bring their different opinions, 
experience, reading, and reasoning upon 
the subject under discussion, joined to 
On the Advantages of Literary Societies. 
403 
the animation of the Contest, cannot 
fail in some degree of arousing the most 
torpid, fixing the most changeable, and 
even instructing the best informed. We 
read only on one side of a question ; 
but we must listen to all. The solitary 
student embraces one particular study, 
and cultivates one faculty of the mind 
only, frequently to the destruction of 
the rest ; but, in these societies, subjects 
of every kind come under our notice, 
and the faculties of the mind are all 
employed. We are under no tempta- 
tion to admit trifles, or to hazard rash 
and inconsiderate opinions: we have a 
weekly inducement to think and to 
read, and an opportunity of being con- 
firmed in. our opinions, if they are right, 
and corrected, if they are wrong. 
Neither is the art of addressing others 
a mean attainment; and it can certainly 
only be acquired early and properly in 
such societies. Public speaking forms 
great part of the. professional duties of 
the Pulpit and the Bar. To the Senator 
is it indispensable; and that man must 
be low indeed in the Scale of Society, 
who does not occasionally require it, 
and who feels not, and is not justly 
considered superior, to those who can-" 
not express their thoughts to others. 
The correct habits of reasoning thus 
acquired are applicable to every subject 
that can come before us; and so far 
from deserting us in the affairs of life, 
when we leave our societies, are con- 
stantly increasing by our future observa- 
tion and practice. 
The moral advantages of these Lite- 
rary Societies are seldom adverted to; 
yet I think they will be apparent, on a 
moment’s consideration. His _profes- 
sion is not enough for a young man: he 
must have amusements. Some persons 
prefer drinking, gambling, debauchery, 
or idleness.* We are of opinion that: 
knowledge and morality are usually 
joined, and endeavour to make them 
both our chief amusements. We also 
learn to govern our tempers and passions 
by listening with patience while our 
most favourite opinions are doubted, 
disputed, or proved to be erroneous, 
and to treat with politeness all who are 
around us: 
Thus, although we cannot help having 
received.a bad Education, which is our 
misfortune, 
* There are those, perhaps, who have_ 
reasons (of the two evils) why they should 
be preferred ; but they are not of the classes 
to whom our correspondent addresses him- 
sel} —IEp, 
3F2 
