302 
the cate of my friend, Dr, Clunie. They 
have acquired a knowledge of our lJan- 
guage ; they imitate our manners, and 
copy every thing they are desired. In 
school talents, they equal the European 
children of the same age; but their first 
impressions were received in Madagas- 
car; and though they were not more 
than nine years old when they arrived 
in England, they have not lost their 
national character,—and national cha- 
racter is dependent on early impres- 
sions. They take a certain station 
among their school-fellows ; and though 
there is much affection felt for them, 
and much attention paid them, yet 
there is a want of assimilation ;— 
they and their school-fellows are evi- 
dently of two countries, and have been 
brought up under different impressions. 
But these countries have broken the 
fetters of instinct, and will, ere long, 
present themselves to the world in all 
the diversified characters and capacities 
of their race. 
Instinct gives but one impression— 
forms but one charaeter: reason varies 
with every individual, and with the same 
individual in different stages of his life, 
and gives a new hemisphere to man, 
Reason, acting above instinct, adds 
thought to thought, with a ratio in- 
creasing with the increase of popula- 
tion; in other words, as wants increase. 
Mr. Malthus has overlooked this prin- 
ciple in nature. That gentleman reasons 
on an increase of numbers, without ap- 
parently knowing that when this cir- 
cumstance takes place, it is always 
attended by an enlargement of the 
mind, which directs to the means of 
meeting the increase. 
I have not particularized the influence 
of carly impressions on the nations just 
mentioned, because the character of a 
people so far advanced in civilization as 
they, is more complex than in a more 
barbarous age: but, to meet the subject 
fully, I have meluded the semi-barba- 
rous with the civilized, and have taken 
our own country as the example. I may 
here remark, that, when early impressions 
are mentioned, it is intended to be un- 
derstood, that influence which the men- 
tal and moral character of the individual 
who has the care of a child has on its 
instinctive faculty : this influence I limit 
to the sixth year. 
Before entering upon this part of the 
subject, I remark that the question is 
momentous, and the application indi- 
vidual; involving the interest of our off- 
spring, and of our country. 
Influence of Early Impressions on the Future Character. 
[May 1, 
The moral influences which contri- 
bute to the formation of the character 
of a civilized people, may be all com- 
prised under early impressions, here- 
ditary dispositions, and education. Of 
the influence of early impressions we 
have an instance, in the child that from 
its feebleness has excited great maternal 
sympathy and care, and who has been 
unable to amuse itself with the toys 
which captivate other children. The 
impression which such receive is never 
effaced; health may return to the con- 
stitution, but the mind will retain its 
sedateness. Prudence, circumspection 
and care will characterize the indivi- 
dual. <A ricketed child is seldom, if 
ever, an enterprizing man. The chil- 
dren of endowed schools, who have 
been selected from the most indigent 
of the community, seldom attain conse- 
quence in society. ‘They receive ample 
instruction, are excited by all the emu- 
lation, and by all the collision of intel- 
lect a public education creates, yet their 
character is built on the impressions re- 
ceived in the first years of their exist- 
ence, and they grow up common men 
their first impfessions comprize all they 
care to possess. Another illustration 
is derived from those domestic servants 
who leave home at the early age of 
twelve or fourteen. At this period the 
mind is open to instruction, and the 
basis of the character, it is commonly 
supposed, is not laid. The circum- 
stances in which these young persons 
are placed contribute to their com- 
fort, and must tend to wean them from 
the loveof home. They are better fed, 
better lodged and clothed; they are 
treated with kindness, and their situa- 
tion gives to them an education calcu- 
lated to elevate their minds, if elevation 
were possible. After living several 
years thus circumstanced, they marry, 
and return to the cottage life, without 
repining at the change, or attempting 
to alter any of its circumstances ; no- 
thing is embellished by them, nothing 
imitated; their manners were assumed 
to suit their situation, but were not 
natural, because they did not assimilate 
with their first impressions, and .were 
abandoned, with all the cireumstances 
of afiluence, for that which appears 
like penury, but to them is happiness. 
Another class of servants is, ob- 
tained from families who have seen bet- 
ter days, and who have received some 
education, and for some generations 
sustained a degree of respectability. 
Suppose these to succeed the ais 
and, 
