368 Moral Statislics of France. 



"Perhaps," adds M. G. in the true spirit of a philosopher, "we shall 

 be reproached with overturning theories of long standing, and consecrated 

 by the most respectable authority. Our reply is, that we are not con- 

 cerned witli any theory (nous ne faisons point de doctrine) : — our task is to 

 bring forward facts without professing to explain them. We are also 

 fnlly convinced that every error cannot but be ultimately peniicious ; and 

 that if we would advance science, or benefit our fellow-men, we must bend 

 the authority of names to that of facts, and never sacrifice to secondary 

 considerations what bears the character of a truth," 



"Are we to conclude," he next asks, "from tlie foregoing remarks, that 

 the cultivation of the intellect, instead of weakening criminal propensities, 

 tends rather to strengthen them ? This would be to fall into a new error." 



"Knowledge, properly considered, is a mere instrument, of which either 

 a good or a bad use may be made. Sucli as is given in our elementary 

 schools, and is limited to an imperfect acquisition of the arts of reading 

 and writing, cannot supply the place of education, and seems quite unfit to 

 exercise much influence on the moral character. The correct opinion 

 seems to be, that it renders the pupil neither better nor worse ; for it is 

 not easy to understand how the training a child to certain almost mechani- 

 cal operations, can possibly in itself be the means of giving him correct 

 habits, or of developing in him sentiments of honour and probity." 



With these views, however, our author is far from representing such 

 elementary knowledge as without its use, and he attributes much praise to 

 those honourable and disinterested men, 



" Statists indeed and lovers of their country," 

 who during the last fifteen years have been endeavouring to diffuse it. 



dilfusion of knowledge, we are yet compelled to admit that this has not sufficed to 

 repress crime. Their concluding reflections I will ofTer in their own words ; "In- 

 struction," say they, " even when comprising religious belief, gives birth to a mul- 

 titude of new desires, which, unsatisfied, may lead those who experience them into 

 crime. Knowledge multiplies the social relations : it is the soul of commerce and of 

 industry ; but thus it creates also a thousand occasions of fraud, which do not exist 

 among a rude and ignorant people. The tendency of instruction is therefore rather 

 to increase than to diminish the number of crimes. In the present day this result is 

 generally admitted, for we find in Europe that crimes are progressive in most of the 

 countries where instruction is most diffused. On the other hand," say these gentle- 

 men, "we will take this occasion to give a complete idea of what we think of the 

 influence of instruction. Its advantages appear to us infinitely to outweigh its in- 

 conveniences. It stimulates every variety of intellect, and lends support to all the 

 industrial arts. It thus gives security to the moral sentiments and the material well- 

 being of a people. The passions which it excites, though injurious to society when 

 unable to find objects to satisfy them, become pregnant with advantages when they 

 can attain their desired ends. Thus instruction, it is true, may scatter some seeds 

 of corruption among men ; but it is that also which advances a people in wealth and 

 strength. And in a community surrounded by enlightened nations, it is not only a 

 benefit, but even a necessity of state." — Du Syst. Penitent, par. 1, ch. iii. 



