JUr. Owen on Education. 383 
Ca 
chemistry, at their hee hours, and contributing to the sup- 
port of a jibrary. Our own men have had a library for twenty 
months past, which is” daily i into and they have just 
started in connexion with it, y lecture on philosophi- 
eal subjects. A committee of a are to lecture by turns, 
from some popular text-book, and perform the simpler expe- 
¥iments: by degrees | hope to see it yet a prosperous and 
useful association. An introductory lecture was delivered to 
them a few nights ago, by a medieal friend, which, witha 
_ rephy by one of the workmen, and some prefatory matter, is 
e printed, and shall be sent to you. i know you will take 
en interest in all such matters. 
20. Mr. Owen and his plans of Education.*—I was cp 
much gratified during four days that I spent at New Lana 
mon sense and a common education ayo the aid of uni- 
versities or colleges) can effect towards the happiness and 
comforts of multitudes of his fallow -creatures. Itisa severe 
- satire on the past, and furnishes well-grounded hopes for the 
_ prosperity and happiness of future generations. I have 
~ long of Owen’s opinion, that man is a bundle of habits—the 
child of surrounding circumstances, and that education (the 
only thing that can distinguish him from the brutes) was the 
means of producing all the advantages his nature is capable of 
receiving; but the reforming of men after they are filled 
with prejudices, former experience taught me to consider as a 
task far beyond the reach of swt ee ; and, wish- 
ing to obtain at least es success, | bestow d all my labour 
oes not apes eg some-of my minor 
; and YE should be successful with his gigantic im- 
provements; | can have the less doubt of sila. ing some 
of my comparatively unimportant principles. 
* Extract of a letter from William Maclure, Esq. to the Editor. 
