labourers’ dwellings. 
365 
wanted is not a mechanical scholar but a reasoning one; and when 
we reflect that all learning resolves itself into knowledge we cannot 
but see that the adult, as well as the youth, is in equal want of mental 
training. The importance of this subject makes it the interest and duty 
of every wealthy individual, to look after the moral intelligence of his 
dependants; for while we have every proof that knowledge is power, 
we have also reason to believe that it produces virtue and happiness; 
and whatever can be said in favour of any country, springs directly 
from the intelligence of its inhabitants. No one can have any doubt 
that in proportion to the intelligence of a people, so is the proportionate 
decrease of crime, and consequently an increase of happiness: this fact 
may be readily established by reference to the great change in the state 
of Society for the last century, which is wholly attributable to the 
spread of knowledge. If the landowner examines the many instances of 
incendiarism in this country for the last few years, he will find that 
they have all been perpetrated by persons of the grossest ignorance. 
If further proofs were wanting to shew the advantage of knowledge to 
a country, we have only to compare the skill and industry of the 
labourer and artizan of the present day with that of those of former 
times, who were under the yoke of feudalism, which held them in 
slavery and ignorance. That knowledge will make the labourer 
discontented in his station has been too frequently urged by the 
wealthy; but can it be possible that an intelligent body of men will 
adopt such irrational measures as an ignorant people; and have we 
not daily proofs that the greatest depredations are committed by per¬ 
sons the most ignorant, while intelligent men are generally peaceable 
and valuable members of society. But even were all the community 
educated, there would still be the same relative difference between 
individuals, according to their organization, industry, or other circum¬ 
stances ; so that instead of having as we have now, the illiterate and 
intelligent, we should then have the well instructed individuals, and 
the philosopher. As the children of the labourer are destined to be 
the future servants of the wealthy, this alone ought to command 
attention to their education; because experience has taught us that 
in the majority of cases, the best servants are those who are best 
informed. There is no wrong like that of shutting out knowledge 
from the human mind; and those who do so have not even the plea 
that they have in withholding their wealth; for when they bestow 
it they impoverish themselves in proportion as they give away 
to their neighbour; but no individual by imparting knowledge 
ever diminished his own store, but rather increased it. It requires 
great judgment to communicate intelligence with effect, for ignor- 
