Report on a Course of Liberal Education. 345 



But that example, neither by its hterary or moral results, 

 can demand our imitation. What have been the effects of 

 that neglect upon the literature of that country? Notwith- 

 standing highly important improvements and discoveries 

 have there been made in some of the sciences and arts, and 

 the mineral and geological kingdoms have been penetrated 

 and explored with untiring zeal, and matchless ability, and 

 the arts of war brought to great perfection, her literary fame 

 is eclipsed. In literature, Germany has left her far behind, 

 and the effect upon the learned professions, and the states- 

 men of France, is already perceived. 



If, with the enlightened opinions and settled practice of 

 one portion of Europe, and the disastrous experience of the 

 other before us, we consign classical literature to a seconda- 

 ry place or inferior rank in the course of instruction, and 

 even admit and graduate students, as it is proposed to do, 

 without the slightest knowledge of the ancient languages, 

 may we not expect that the high literary reputation which 

 this institution has hitherto maintained will be essentially im- 

 paired? Indeed this college would probably, at no distant 

 day, sink into a mere academy, while its degrees, being no 

 longer evidence of great literary and scientific attainments, 

 would become valueless. The standard of scholarship would 

 not only be lowered here, but we should become directly ac- 

 cessary to the depression of the present literary character of 

 our country. 



On the contrary, we are the people, the genius of whose 

 government and institutions more especially and imperiously 

 than any other, demands that the field of classical learning 

 be industriously and thoroughly explored and cultivated, and 

 its richest productions gathered. The models of ancient lit- 

 erature, which are put into the hands of the young student, 

 can hardly fail to imbue his mind with the principles of lib- 

 erty ; to inspire the hveliest patriotism, and to excite to no- 

 ble and generous action, and are therefore peculiarly adapt- 

 ed to the American youth. To appreciate justly the charac- 

 ter of the ancients, the thorough study and accurate knowl- 

 edge of their classics, in the language of the originals, are 

 indispensable ; as the simplicity, energy, and striking pecu- 

 harities of these pristine exemplars of freedom which are for- 

 cibly and beautifully displayed in their models of classic lite- 

 rature, are scarcely more discoverable in ordinary, or even 

 the most faithful translations, thin are the warmth, anima- 



Vol. XV.— No. 2. 19 



