6 Dr. Barnes on Public and Private Education. 



able elevation, it will be reverfed, for that its 

 influence will tend to difcouragement and de- 

 preflion." It nnay be added, " That, in large 

 fchools, boys are neceflarily conneded together 

 in clafles, like horfes in a carriage ; that they 

 cannot move on beyond a certain pace ; and that 

 this pace muft be accommodated to the parts' 

 and quicknefs of the moft indolent and ftupid 

 in the clafs ; or elfe, it will be, for one boy 

 in the clafs too quick, and for another, too 

 flow. The confequence will be almoft equally 

 prejudicial to both. 1 he one is pufhed for- 

 'ward beyond his fpeed ; he is liable to be 

 continually puniflied for no fault; or hur- 

 ried on through fubjeds, of which he has not 

 been able to gain any clear and competent 

 knowledge. The other is kept down from thofe 

 attainments, to which he might otherwife have 

 afcended. This conflant and wretched clog, 

 it may be faid, will be prevented, by having 

 every boy to ftand fingle ; or, at lead, by match- 

 ing boys of equal capacity together, who may 

 thus be urged forward exadly according to their 

 ftrength, neither dejeded by the fuperior genius 

 of one, nor fettered by the greater dullncfs of 

 another." 



To thefe arguments it may, I think, with 

 oreat force, be added, " That, in a very large 

 number of boys, there will always be as many, 

 or more, of thofe who do not excel, as of thofe 



who 



