PROPOSED APPLICATIONS OF SMITHSON'S BEQUEST. 875 



known to you all, my friends, that about three thousand 

 years ago there existed in those regions where the Nile 

 empties its waters into the great sea a race of men skilled 

 in all human wisdom and the divination of counsels from 

 whom, as it is reported, we have received whatever it is 

 desirable for us to know. Procure, therefore, for this boy, 

 1 a man well skilled in the learning of that ancient people, 

 who shall teach him to decypher their languge, indoctrinate 

 him into their customs, and initiate him into their religion. 

 Now, although the gods of this people were guilty of certain 

 excesses, it shall come to pass that the study of this very 

 thing shall lead the boy to virtue, as also the reading of 

 their curious hieroglyphs shall give him a correct knowledge 

 of the dialect of Mecca. I would also have him taught the 

 writings of the ancient Sabeans a people residing in a re- 

 mote period in Persia and by no means omit to translate 

 'ten thousand words of the poetry of Chinese, which will 

 give him a taste for beauty of composition, and doubtless 

 enable him to write a fair commercial hand. When he has 

 completed about twelve years in these pursuits, I would let 

 him journey to view the pyramids, or contemplate the cave 

 of Elephanta objects which will expand his mind to a con- 

 ception of the sublime and beautiful. This done, thy son 

 shall then have his mind so sharpened as to receive with 

 avidity the secrets of the trading life, and shall prove a suc- 

 cessful merchant. Ye have my w r ords." 



There also was present the partner of the boy's father, a 

 man of uncommanding appearance and unready delivery, 

 but who feeling much interest for the son of his friend, rose 

 and spake: "Ye have heard what the learned Mufti hath 

 said. I am a man slow of comprehension that cannot 

 understand what the learning of the Egyptians or the Chinese 

 hath to do with us one that would suppose it better to learn 

 Arabic by studying Arabic, than to learn Arabic by study- 

 ing hieroglyphics. In my youth I traversed many nations, 

 and have seen men of many colors and many climates. I 

 have found that there is a fitness in all things that dalliance 

 with harlots is not an incentive to virtue, nor the company 

 of fools productive of a wise man. Certain events can only 

 be brought about by the operation of certain causes. Hadst 

 thou intended thy son to be a soldier, then thou shouldst 

 teach him the arts of horsemanship and to wield the spear. 

 Hadst thou intended him for a Mufti, then the course now 

 advised might have been the best. But, because thou wilt 

 have him a merchant, instruct him in the letters and arts of 

 Arabia; let him learn the courses of the stars that he may 



