286 APPENDIX! [No. xx. 



exercised the same amount of skill. In matters of art, description is but 

 a poor apology for the reality, and therefore copies or models should be 

 placed in every school. 



Great mischief appears to arise from an inaccurate use of words and 

 language. Frequently a sufficiently definite meaning is not attached to 

 the word, as the mind is not sufficiently trained to regard the object 

 signified. At grammar schools the pupil is always treating of words 

 instead of things, and from want of definite ideas the pupil is much more 

 exposed to the influence of quibbles. I believe that half the discussion and 

 difference of political and religious opinion depends upon an imperfect 

 appreciation of the meaning of words, depending upon their being so much 

 used without relation to the things signified, and in this respect we 

 frequently observe a deficiency in the education of the clergy. 



A great defect of the schools for all classes of children in this country 

 is their exclusive attention to the mere book information of man, to the 

 neglect of the real knowledge obtainable by the study of Nature. 



My professional duties have given me ample opportunities to observe 

 different classes of society. I need hardly make any remark upon that 

 degraded class whom we occasionally see, and who scarcely know their 

 name, age, and abode, or in fact possess much more intelligence than an 

 animal. Amongst mechanics we frequently observe a strong desire to 

 obtain knowledge as far as possible, but they have slender means for 

 learning the rationale or theory of the means which they employ in their 

 respective trades. They read to a certain extent, but they can only afford 

 to purchase the cheaper books of the day ; and amongst my dispensary 

 patients I frequently observe signs of moderate intellectual culture, which 

 doubtless would have been further developed had they only the advantage 

 of better means for improving themselves. 



Amongst the middle classes I have frequently been astonished at 

 observing, not only that there is a total absence of books of any kind, but 

 also that there are no indications of any pursuit of knowledge of any kind 

 whatsoever; and frequently, in answer to my interrogatories, I have 

 discovered that they have no occupation whatsoever besides that of their 

 monotonous business. The good effect of a variation of study is well 

 manifested amongst the gentlemen employed in the Bank of England ; for 

 almost all who have obtained the higher posts are distinguished for their 

 general knowledge, and amongst them may be found historians, musicians, 

 painters, botanists, floriculturists, mechanicians, political economists, 

 microscopists, entomologists, numismatists, and in fact students of many 

 other branches of knowledge. With those who have no occupation I have 

 often enforced additional studies as a healthy exercise to the mind. 



The middle classes in many cases are deficient to a great extent in the 

 appreciation of general principles, and thus when called upon to govern, 

 even to a slight extent, are often much perplexed by not having been 

 trained to control their action by fixed and immutable laws, and are 

 bewildered by a conflict between feeling and principle. 



The upper class follow the bent of their inclination with respect to 

 their occupation and pursuits, and I have known persons in their private 

 capacities alternate the most manual labour with the most intellectual 

 studies. In respect of intellectual culture by the study of Nature and 

 Art upon the highest philosophical principle, they are frequently greatly 

 in advance of those in a less exalted state. 



