154 



ences. The ultimate result of the whole scheme of 

 education would be the teaching all the children of the 

 state reading, writing, and common arithmetic: turn- 

 ing out ten annually, of superior genius, well taught in 

 Greek, Latin, Geography, and the higher branches of 

 arithmetic: turning out ten others annually, of still su- 

 perior parts, who, to those branches of learning, shall 

 have added such of the sciences as their genius shall 

 have led them to: the furnishing to the wealthier part 

 of the people convenient schools at which their chil- 

 dren may be educated at their own expense. The ge- 

 neral objects of this law are to provide an education 

 adapted to the years, to the capacity, and the coiulition 

 of every one, and directed to their freedom and happi- 

 ness. Specific details were not proper for the law. 

 These must be the business of the visitors intrusted 

 with its execution. The first stage of this education 

 being the schools of the lumdreds, wherein the great 

 mass of the peojde will receive their instruction, the 

 principal foundations of future order will be laid here. 

 Instead therefore of putting the Bible and Testament 

 into the hands of the children at an age when their 

 judgments are not sufiiciently matured for religious en- 

 quiries, their memories may here be stored with the 

 most useful facts from Grecian, Roman, European and 

 American history. — The first elements of morality too 

 maybe instilled into their minds ; such as, when fur- 

 ther developed as their judgments advance in strength, 

 may teach them how to work out their own greatest 

 happiness, by showing them that it does not depend on 

 the condition of life in which chance has placed them, 

 but is always the result of a good conscience, good 

 health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits. 

 Those whom either the wealth of their })arents or the 

 adoption of the state shall destine to higher degrees of 

 learning, will go on to the grammar schools, which con- 

 stitute the next stage, there to be instructed in the lan- 

 guages. The learning Greek and Latin, I am told, is 

 going into disuse in Europe. I know not what their 

 manners and occupations may call for: but it would be 



