In South Carolina. 549 



his parents agree (1) that he shall observe all the rules of the house, 

 and (2) that they will not take him from school, no, not for a day, 

 till they take him for good and all." It is true I have for many 

 years suspended the execution of a part of my design. I was in- 

 deed thoroughly convinced, ever since I read Milton's admirable 

 "Treatise on Education," that it was highly expedient for every 

 youth to begin and finish his education at the same place. I was 

 convinced nothing could be more irrational and absurd than to break 

 this off in the middle, and to begin it again at a different place and 

 in a quite different method. The many and great inconveniences 

 of this I knew by experience; yet I had so strong a prejudice in fa- 

 vor of our own universities, that of Oxford in particular, that I 

 could hardly think of any one's finishing his education without 

 spending some years there. I therefore encouraged all I had any 

 influence over to enter at Oxford or Cambridge, both of which I pre- 

 ferred in many respects to any university I had seen abroad. Add 

 to this that several of the young persons of Kingswood had them- 

 selves a desire of going to the university. I cannot say I am yet 

 quite clear of that prejudice. I love the very sight of Oxford; I 

 love the manner of life; I love and esteem many of its institutions. 

 But my prejudice in its favor is considerably abated. I do not ad- 

 mire it as I once did; and whether I did or not, I am now con- 

 strained to make a virtue of necessity. The late remarkable occur- 

 rence of the six young students expelled from the university, and the 

 still more remarkable one of Mr. Seagar refused the liberty of en- 

 tering into it (by what rule of prudence I cannot tell any more than 

 of law and equity), have forced me to see that neither I nor any of 

 my friends must expect either favor or justice there. I am much 

 obliged to Dr. Nowell, and the other gentlemen who exerted them- 

 selves on either of those transactions, for not holding me longer in 

 suspense, but dealing so frankly and openly ; and, blessed be God, I 

 can do all the business Avhich I have in hand without them. Honor 

 or preferment I do not want any more than a feather in my cap, and 

 I trust most of those who are educated at our school are and will be 

 of the same mind ; and as to the knowledge of the tongues, and of 

 arts and sciences, with whatever is termed academical learning, if 

 those who have a tolerable capacity for them do not advance more 

 here in three years than the generality of students at Oxford or 

 Cambridge do in seven, I will bear the blame forever. 



By the extracts from the unpublished Minutes oi' 



