Report on a Course of Liberal Education. 327 



the whole of this knowledge, than to determine even one of 

 these particulars by his own calculation. Let those study 

 the sciences, and those only, who have a taste for them, and 

 who expect to pursue at least some one science for a liveli- 

 hood. If the knowledge of any science is of use, the de- 

 mand for this knowledge will insure not only its existence, 

 but Its prevalence to the exact extent needed ; and every 

 thing beyond this is not only superfluous but injurious. 

 Those act in opposition to the plainest principles of political 

 economy, who manufacture for the market an unsaleable 

 article. If wares are not wanted, who does not see, that 

 there will be a glut? and the manufacturer, who shall persist 

 in furnishing them, will work his own ruin : that is, institu- 

 tions, in which mathematics are taught beyond their actual 

 application to use, will of necessity be deserted by the public. 

 But notwithstanding all these difficulties and objections, 

 the knowledge in question is still practical ; not in the nar- 

 row view of it which the objector takes, but in a sense higher 

 and wider, and which it may be useful briefly to explain. 

 The student, who has laid up a fund of mathematical knowl- 

 edge, and has extended his inquiries to those sciences which 

 depend on mathematical principles, though he is employed 

 in the practical application of no science, yet is brought 

 into an important relation to those who are so employed, 

 and experiences from this relation the most important bene- 

 fits. He is able to judge of the pursuits of others, to estimate 

 the value of these pursuits, to understand the progress of sci- 

 ence, and to feel an interest in the occupations of a large 

 portion of mankind. Whether his own station in life is pub- 

 lic or private, whether he engages in a professional career, 

 or is called upon to discharge the duties of a magistrate, the 

 occasions for employing his knowledge are innumerable. 

 Granting, that he loses from his memory, many or most of 

 the details of the sciences, he still knows where to apply for 

 information, and how to direct his inquiries ; and is able to 

 judge correctly of the talents and pretensions of those who 

 are prominent in any one department, and whom he may 

 wish to employ in the accomplishment of actual business. 

 He is acquainted with the region where he is, acts more un- 

 derstandingly in what he undertakes, and is found, in conse- 

 quence of his knowledge, to be, in all his transactions, a 

 more practical man. The student likewise, by familiarizing 

 himself with the general principles of the sciences, prepares 



