82 SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER 
cipated, and its capacity oppressed with a quan- 
tity of food which it cannot digest and assimilate ; 
it learns by rote, instead of being incited to 
observe and reflect ; it trusts to authority, instead 
of relying on itself; and even under the most 
favourable circumstances, by having the whole 
field of knowledge conveniently mapped out 
before it, every object presented in its proper 
place, with all the requisite means and appliances 
of instruction—it is deprived of the inestimably 
valuable discipline of grappling with difficulties 
and learning by its own efforts to vanquish them, 
and of all that enthusiasm and energy of purpose 
which a noble object placed at a distance and 
beset with obstacles is fitted to inspire. It is of 
course not meant to be asserted, that the learning 
of schools and colleges is not of the highest value ; 
there are some branches of knowledge which can- 
not be cultivated at all without it: but these consid- 
erations may be set off as some compensation on 
the other side. Among the most original thinkers 
and successful discoverers in the various depart- 
ments of science and philosophy, the number is not 
small of those who have really educated them- 
selves; and the inductive system which bestows 
such value on theaccurate observation and arrange- 
ment of facts, has opened a wide field to labourers of 
