UNIVERSITY OF ST. MAKK. 



163 



rada, ordered the catechism in dialogues, of which mention 

 has been precedently made, to be again printed for the pur- 

 poses of general instrudtion. 



HISTORY OF THE FOUNDATION, PROGRESS, AND PRESENT STATE OF 

 THE ROYAL UNIVERSITY OF ST. MARK OF LIMA. 



The prote6tion and cultivation of the sciences establish 

 the splendour and prosperity of a state. The eloquent but 

 dangerous Rousseau, uniting to the subtility of Socrates the 

 lofty and independent spirit of Diogenes, has in vain at- 

 tempted to make us envy the wretched lot of those degenerate 

 nations, which, under the oppression of the hard chains of ig- 

 norance, sadly vegetate in obscurity. The imperious light of 

 truth, superior to the illusions of sophistry, and the deceptions 

 charms of declamation, has, with the aid of reason, authority, 

 and experience, dissipated the black clouds which the spirit 

 of singularity accumulated over the sacred image of wis- 

 dom. 



If it presides over the councils of princes, the subje6ls 

 gather the ripened fruits of prudence. Under the enlightened 

 government of Solomon, the happy Israelites increased and 

 multiplied : they feasted and made themselves merry, re- 

 posing safely beneath their vines and their fig-trees, the peace- 

 ful enjoyment of which was secured to them. In Jerusalem, 

 gold and silver were in equal abundance with the stones that 

 were gathered in the way ; and the cedars grew in the vallies 

 in the same proportion as the sycamore trees. 



In the days of the learned Simon Maccabeus, the felicity 



Y 2 which 



