356 Of the Modes of correcting the Bk. iv. 



can give to the course of instruction in them any 

 kind of bias which they please. And even the 

 improvement of Sunday schools (for, objectionable 

 as they are in some points of view, and imperfect 

 in all, I cannot but consider them as an improve- 

 ment) is of very late date.* 



The arguments which have been urged against 

 instructing the people appear to me to be not only 

 illiberal, but to the last degree feeble ; and they 

 ought, on the contrary, to be extremely forcible, 

 and to be supported by the most obvious and 

 striking necessity, to warrant us in withholding 

 the means of raising the condition of the lower 

 classes of people, when they are in our power. 

 Those who will not listen to any answer to these 

 arguments drawn from theory, cannot, I think, 

 refuse the testimony of experience; and I would 

 ask, whether the advantage of superior instruction 

 which the lower classes of people in Scotland are 

 known to possess, has appeared to have any ten- 

 dency, towards creating a spirit of tumult and dis- 

 content amongst them. And yet, from the natural 

 inferiority of its soil and climate, the pressure of 

 want is more constant, and the dearths are not 

 only more frequent, but more dreadful than in 

 England. In the case of Scotland, the knowledge 

 circulated among the common people, though not 

 sufficient essentially to better their condition by 

 increasing, in an adequate degree, their habits of 

 prudence and foresight, has yet the effect of 



* WiittQiiin 1803. 



