454 On Learming and the Aris. 
simplicity and innocence of undressed man; such 
are the patterns of frankness, sincerity and man- 
liness, to whom Rousseau offers the incence of 
an almost ideot praise, in comparison to whom 
the European character is one uniform blot. He 
rivals the Papal power in its greatest plenitude ; 
he blackens an angel, and whitens a devil. 
But if contrary to fact, and what the history 
of man in the progress of society reports to the 
plain enquirer after truth, it should be allowed 
that politeness derives itself immediately from 
learning, yet learning is not therefore to be 
charged with that duplicity and dissimulation, 
which in the practice of politeness has excited 
the indignation of Rousseau, Politeness in 
its primary designation presents a fair and 
amiable character, but like every blessing to 
man, vice may seize the blessing, and as far as 
vice can operate, may convert the blessing to a 
curse. Has learning taught to vice this lesson? 
If this be a truth, it presents a novel idea of 
learning, contrary to every idea which has been 
entertained of her genius and spirit ; for before 
the Genevan philosopher was pleased to unde- 
ceive man, she was supposed to be favourable to 
truth, to the discovery. and to the ingenuous 
“communication of truth, 
What gave to the openings of science that 
charm, which roused man from the indolence 
