30 0:! the Decline nf Malhematical Studies > 



valuable works of the Romans, from its having been fof Jl 

 long time the universal language of the learned in Europe, 

 and the most important scientific works of the moderns 

 bcino- written in it, becomes a necessary study for the scho^ 

 lar. But to know the language well enough to read the 

 works in it is suflicicnt, without mis-spending our time in 

 a useless aiid vain endeavour to imitate the styles of its au- 

 thors. I think the years consumed in learning Greek for 

 the sake of reading half a dozen poets, historians, and ora- 

 tors, — for there are not more in that language whose merits 

 render the originals superior to their translations, — as very 

 ill spent, eonsfdering the present state of literature and phi- 

 losophy. 



Mathematics, and the sciences dependent upon them, 

 oufht to make the prlncijial part of a good education. The 

 slricUiess and accuracy of their reasonings would contribute 

 in the hi'ihest degree to improve the mind of the student. 

 Bv thcm^he would learn to become patient in investigation, 

 and severe in judgment. It would serve to check in him 

 ail conceited and arrogant pretensions to knowledge, and 

 render him more diffident, by shovving how careful and la- 

 borious it is necessary to be to acquire a few truths. They 

 tend likewise to improve the morals, and give a steady se- 

 renity to the mind. In studying them, we seem to leave 

 the jarring world, convulsed and rendered turbulent by the 

 prejudices and frantic passions of men, to lead a life of 

 pure eiijovment. In the pursuit of them we proceed by 

 incontestable truths ; everything is certain, and the laws 

 w hich take place throughout nature invariable. No preju- 

 dices, passions, or wrong bias of education, can involve us 

 in errors and perplexities ; any defect in the chain of rea- 

 soning can always be detected, and the mind may rest sa- 

 tisfied with the assured discovery of truth. How ditlerent 

 is tile case in other branches of learning ! -There, system 

 after system bewilder and perplex the mind; every age pro- 

 duces different ones, which, after having liourished a short 

 time, fjive way to others which fail in their turn, ft seems, 

 either from some radical defect in our modes of reasoning, 

 or from our mental faculties having been vitiated and nar- 

 rowed some way in our education, that we cannot proceed 

 in our investigations in other sciences by clear and incon- 

 testable steps ; or why should those truths which are ma- 

 theniaticallv dcnionstrated be the only ones received with- 

 out opposition ? The mathematical sciences are not only of 

 the greatest imporiance to iis fiom the beneficial elfects at- 

 tcndmg their studvj but at the .-ame tiaic most sublime in 



their 



