INTELLECTUAL EDUCATION. 



■ are of opinion, that, after this point, Mlfs Eilgeworth'a under tlie head of MonAL Education : but we here have 

 ;:s are defcftive. Her pupils are to be allured on too only to Hate the fad, that unlefs every impreflion could 

 ^h. The path of knowledge is often a difficult one, be regulated by a j\idicious parent, from the very birth, 

 ,! fometimcs requires painful efforts; fo alfo the parh of compullion mull fomctimes be employed, even in the bell 

 Ji.ty ; and the culture to which her fy item is chieiiy con- fymptoms of education, that education ii\ which compul- 

 iiiL-d, is fcarcely calculated to produce that hardy vigour fion has not been employed, inight prohnbly produce 

 ot mind, which/whether the poliefibr is called to engage amiable charadlers, but feldoni fuch as will be great in in- 

 i" the highell purfuits of fcieiice, or in the narrower fphere telleCtual or moral worth, — that as early education has long 

 .1 k'cial Irmployment and duties, cannot be otherwife than been, and it is to be feared long will be, too generally con- 

 r.nble. When the power of voluntary attention is ac- dufted without any ileady cultivation of the habits of in- 

 Mjd, then the various motives of confidence in the judg- dullry and attention, and of ready fiibmifTion to authority, 

 \M of the teacher, of habitual fubmiifion to authority, the inftruclor to whom children are committed, whether at 

 ;;fleClion, and perhaps occalionilly of fear, Ihould be home or at fchool, will commonly find fome degree of com- 

 loyedas circumllances diretl, in order to give it ilrength pullion neccffary, in order to produce that degree of attcn- 

 i aftivity, to excite the pupil to fuch employment of it tion which is requihte for any valuable improvement. With 

 ?s mav make it a hardy vijrorous principle, capable of em- refpeft to this period, and thefe cafes of much ncgleftcd men- 

 plorm'ent, even where the einploymcjit may have no intrinhc tal and moral culture, the chief points appear to be, to pro- 

 atti-action, and may even be at firil poiitively painful. portion the exertion required, as much as pofFible to the de- 



If a purfuit can be made attradivs to a pupil at the gree, not of actual capacity, but of habits poffefled ; to 

 outlet, it is well ; but if he have acquired that hardinefs of abftraS as much as poffible all caufes of inattention, and 

 attention of which we fpeak, which will enable him to to generate the impieffion that the effort mull be made. 

 ftruggle through firft difficulties, and perhaps by degrees By whatever means the habit of attention is produced and 

 to take fome delight in them, he is then fitted for the ac- rendered voluntary, and the more frequently and regularly 

 quifition of any branch of knowledge to which his objects it is produced by volition, the more it becomes at the 

 in life, or the bent of his own inclination and cultivation of command of the will, the eafier, and confcquently the more 

 his underftandiiig, may induce his inllruilor to diredl him. pleafant it becomes, and the more therefxjre it can be excited 

 If he have not acquired that flrength or activity of attention, when the motives are fufiiciently ftrong to produce it. It 

 difficulties which mull meet him in the higher departments is not, then, " the attention of circumllances," but the at- 

 of literature and fcience, will often be found to Itop him ; tention of volition : and will then be fubiecl in a great 

 and however judicioufly his attention may have been eiuly meafure to the judgment, guided by a fenfe of the import- 

 cultivated, if it have not acquired this firmnefs, the attrac- ance of the objecl either in itfelf or to the individual, or to 

 tions of lefs arduous purfuits, which will ilill gratify his thofe llrong motives which arife from the pleafures of ac- 

 talle for knowledge, will effectually check all progrefs. tivity, from the gratification of curiofity, the influence of 



There are few points in which the cultivation of the intel- prevailing fafliions, the defire of obtaining the approbation 

 leftual powers is concerned, in which we do not lind the of thofe we love. Sec. 



importance of the moral habits, particularly of diffidence, Wliea the early training of the mind has made its per- 

 of fubmiffion, and tlie defire of doing what is right ; where ceptions dillinct and efficacious, and has given it the habit 

 thefe are firitably produced ill the mind by previous education, of Heady attention, the grand points in intelleftual culture 

 the culture of the attention very greatly depends upon are fecured; and the reft will proceed, with tolerable cart, 

 the inllruftor. The attention may be relllefs, or it may be in the direftion which found views may didtate. 

 flagjifh ; but the more fuitable efforts are made to render it _ V. When the attention is direfted to fome particular ob- 

 voliintarv, the more it comes tinder the command. Thefe jcdt of thought, fo as to prevent its being diverted to any 

 efforts will be made, if the difpofitions are right ; and when other objett of thought, or to any external imprelTion, it is 

 the' attention is once become to a confiderable degree volun- denominated AhJlraSmn. This flate of mind has been fel- 

 rary, the direction of it may be obtained (by the influence of dom dignified with the name of abllradtion, except when 

 thofe views and motives, which the above-mentioned moral directed to objeits out of the common fphere of thought ; 

 habits. put in the power of the inllruCtor,) to whatever ob- but Mifs Edgworth has Ihewn, by her ufual happy method 

 jeft it is thought right to dire£l it. Thus influenced and of illuftration, that it is the fame habit or exercife of mind, 

 "direfted the way will be comparatively clear. Where the whether it be devoted to the highell flights of philofophic 

 attention is fairly given, the mere employment of the mind purfuit, or to the ufual concerns of life. " Perfous of or- 

 fiecomes itfelf pleafant. Difficulties will then be overcome, dinary abilities,'' flie jullly remarks, " tradefmcn and fliop- 

 Jlnd the pleafure of fuccefs will aid ever)' other motive. By keepers, in the midll of the tumtilt of a public city, m 

 degrees the utility of the obiect begins to be diilinitly feen, the noife of rumbling carts and rattling carriages, amidk 

 and the purpofes of the different Heps which are taken to the voice of a multitude of people talking upon various 

 gain it are aifo difcerncd, and then if the habit of patient fubjeCts, amidlf the provoking interruptions of continual 

 induftry have been formed, or the continued direftion of the quellions and anfwers, and in the broad glare of a hot fun, 

 attention be kept up by the influence of the moral habits, c.in command and abltraft their atteition, fo far as to cal- 

 the judgment will aid and encourage every exertion, and at culate yards, ells, and nails, to cad up long fums in ad- 

 the'fame time the foundation of a moll valuable habit will be dition right to a farthing, andjo make multifarious bills with 

 laid, of purfuing definite important ends, by the Heady ufe quick and unerring precilion." 



of fuitable means. The habit of abHradtion is dependent upon various caufes; 



The habit of attention, or at leaft the direction of the but every perfon to whom the attainment of it is necefliuy, 

 attention to any objedt, mull fometimes be produced by finds it fufceptible of culture. It much depends upon the 

 compullion, wholly or in part. What kind of compullion familiarity of the imprefllous which are otherwife moll 

 fliould be employed, and efpecially whether or not corpo- likely to affedl the mind : novel impreffions from external 

 real pain is in any inHance expedient for this purpofe, objects, by their novelty attract the notice of the mind and 

 .',ikI in othir d--partmeiits of education, will be confidercd tend to diftratt the attention: fenfations which have bee'i 

 Vol. XIX. ■ ■ ■ 1 ' l<^"g 



