ON SCHOOLS, &c. 413 



ratiof the firft order, fhould have before them a 

 fyftem of univcrfal erudition , like that of which 

 we have traced the outlines in this work. Each of 

 the eight clafies fhould labour diftin&ly in thofe 

 matters that naturally belong to their depart- 

 ment , and the produce of their labours (hould 

 be examined in the general aflemblies. The de- 

 fign of this inititution would be to furnifh the 

 world, at the end of a certain number of years, 

 with a complete methodical treatife of all the 

 arts and fciences of every kind of human know- 

 ledge. So that each reader would find full in- 

 formation concerning univerfal erudition in ge- 

 neral, and every part of it in particular. This 

 work, of more importance than any that has hi- 

 therto appeared, might extend to twelve, or per- 

 haps twenty volumes in quarto -, and might be en- 

 larged from time to time by fupplements, contain- 

 ing either new difcoveries, or cclaircifTements of 

 what had been before given. The public would 

 be thereby enriched with a treafure that would 

 contain the efience of all the knowledge of the 

 human mind. There would be only one book 

 more : but how great would be the value of that 

 book! 



CHAP. 



