298 THE EAELY HISTORY OF [CHAP. V. 



depend in some measure upon her influence. It may 

 in some measure depend upon her whether he become 

 an honour or a disgrace to his country. Her power of 

 enforcing instruction is the most effectual, as flowing 

 from love. We know that without feeling the human 

 being is mere clay, the dust of the earth without the 

 living soul. Whatever is to be permanently infixed on 

 the understanding must be associated with hope, or 

 with joy, or with passion. How much more efficacious 

 must instruction be when communicated by an object 

 beloved and venerated, and in infancy almost adored, 

 and when, instead of being afforded with an effort of 

 pain and of labour, it is carried into the heart by 

 kindness and made delightful by caresses and smiles. 



4 It has been supposed by some persons who are little 

 acquainted with the nature of the plan and the general 

 objects of philosophical associations, that there is a 

 tendency in them to lessen the importance of our elder 

 establishments for education, and to diminish the love 

 of ancient literature. But nothing is further from the 

 truth. The maxim of improvers is, "Promote whatever 

 can tend to assist the progress of the human mind," and 

 letters will always be the greatest, the most powerful 

 engine to this effect ; it is one that all can employ, the 

 strong and the weak, in solitude or in the world. 

 That which is beautiful, that which is pathetic, that 

 which is sublime, can never lose its effects. There is 

 one course of passion and feeling in all times and in all 

 countries ; we should never cease to consider with 

 admiration and gratitude those models of excellence 

 which have been happily preserved amongst the wrecks 





