348 Report on a Course of Liberal Education. 



an intimate knowledge of a most extraordinary and unexam- 

 pled people, whose intellectual history exhibits unrivalled 

 success, and must continue through the progress of time to 

 be an object of intense and augmenting interest. If for no 

 other reason, as the means of cultivating a knowledge of the 

 philosophy and powers of language, and improving taste, 

 and style, the ancient languages should be early, faithfully 

 and perseveringly studied. 



The utility of classical literature to the learned professions 

 however, presents a further and in the opinion of the com- 

 mittee, a strong motive for its holding a prominent place in 

 the course of collegiate studies. High respectability without 

 its aid, may indeed be attained, as it has been, by lawyers of 

 extraordinary mental endowments, but such, it is presumed, 

 will generally be found to lament their inability to command 

 the rich illustrations and embellishments, which the scholar 

 copiously draws from classic learning. The deep and inti- 

 mate knowledge of the human character loo, so essential to 

 the lawyer and the statesman, can be most effectually attain- 

 ed by exploring and developing the springs of human action, 

 in all ages. By the various comparisons thus instituted, the 

 indispensable qualification of a lawyer, a statesman, or a 

 judge, sound and discriminating judgment, may be greatly 

 improved, if not actually acquired. This inestimable char- 

 acteristic of wisdom, is not formed by casual and superficial 

 views of men and things. They ought to be studied, investi- 

 gated and scanned industriously, deeply, carefully and mi- 

 nutely through all the developments of history up to the an- 

 cient classics, in their original language, by him who desires 

 distinction as a jurist or a statesman. 



To high attainments and extended usefulness in physic 

 and surgery, the importance of a knowledge of the Latin and 

 Greek languages will hardly be denied, when it is recollected 

 that a great portion of the language of those arts, even in 

 their present advanced state, has a classic origin. 



Without classical literature, the Divine will experience se- 

 rious embarrassment in a profession of tremendous responsi- 

 bility and infinite moment. The ancient languages having 

 been made the organ of communicating revealed religion to 

 man, the originals must be considered the standard of accu- 

 racy and truth, and the only safe resort to explain and re- 

 move difficulties and doubts too often occasioned by trans- 

 lations either ignorantly or wilfully erroneous. 



