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been studiously and uniformly directed to the 

 formation of individual character: for in this, 

 as in other cases of education, to have principles 

 thoroughly established in private, is the very 

 best security we can have for the good conduct 

 of an individual in society : and to push him for- 

 ward into public, with his feelings and curiosity 

 just awakened, before any principles are thus 

 established, is to put him in the way of all 

 possible mischief. I am aware that the doctrine 

 I am here laying down runs counter to the 

 general system, or rather let me say, the general 

 practice ; for having no principle for its founda- 

 tion, and being built on mere convenience, it 

 merits not the name of a system : but I must 

 contend, that to turn out a young dog in a state 

 of ignorance into mixed society, or even to lead 

 him forth for the chance of picking up what 

 he can at the tail of a superior (at least in the 

 way it is usually conducted), is any thing but 

 education. It is to begin that education at the 

 wrong end. There is no ground-work on which 

 to build future instruction. What he gets hold 

 of in this way is mere imitation, and turns not 

 to the account of knowledge : it goes not to the 

 formation of character, or the creation of origi- 

 nal worth. Good example, to man or dog, is 

 of great importance, no doubt; but. it is not 



