
home to. men’s bufinefs and bofoms 5 
when a€curate portraits of ¢haratters, 
as they exift in real life, are délineated ; 
1796. | 
acknowledged truths are rendered per- 
fonally intereftine by being « brought 
_.and when a ftrong reprefentation is given 
- moral fentiments 
/rifms, from various write 
| does, illuftrative of mor 
_ duced. 
t 
"} 
gree incroach 
(b 
\ to rely upon their manufcripts, it 
| found neeeflary, henceforwards, to 

of the actual effects of di 
t princi- 
ples, and different modes of conduct, on 
the happinefs of individuals and of fo- 
ciety. Lxcellent fpecimens of this im- 




; that maxims 
» mig 
ftinét leffons, aid-read in 
h the fubjeét of difcourfe ; 
ical or biograDhieal 
al truch 
be more frequently and Ja 
With the high exar 
parables of the New Teftame 
will it? ought too bold, to-add, tha 
confiderable advantage might be expeéted 
from the cccafional introduétion of an 
allegory, afable, or a tale? ‘a 
If it thould be apprehended, th 
innovations as — 


digefted int 
conneétion Wi 
and that hift 




OG 
ote 











Mon the dignity of the 
pulpit, it may be remarked, that the ine? 
convenience would be abuudantly overs 
balanced by anlimereafe ofthe impreffive 
effect, and coalliies: utile; of ech 
ing. " 3 
Several of the propofed improvements 
would require, that the praétice Of read- 
zug fermons be abandoned, and that pub- 
lic inftru€tors addrefs their audiences, 
either extempore or ied 
this be thought an infuperable di: 
y thoefe who have, been long habi 





Mthe acquifition of ie power of fpeak- 
ing in public from memory, or immediate 
conception, an effential part of academic 
difci ; 

_ above, with r 

Itmay not be long,’ before 
dey, of every deicription, 
may find the neceifity of adopting his, 
and every other fai expedient, to fave 
themfelves the mortification of * read- 
. ha 
"ing their weekly lectures ta the walls of 
' deferted churches.” | 
Befides the improvements fuggefed 
efpect to popular inftruction 
in religion and morals, it will be ealily 
perceived, that, if the queftion was ex- 
amined upon a more extended {cal 
e 
sey 
F 
Lhe Enquirer. No. VIII. 
Ly 
enjoy an opportunity 
623 
plans might be propofed, for affording 
the common people information upea 
many other fubjeéts intimately connected 
with their perfonaland focial interefts.—. 
Amd, ‘in dently of thofe circum- 
flances whieh have hitherto fo injuri- 
oufly cut off the general maf$) of man- 
kind from intelleétual purfuits and en- 
joyments, no good reafon can be alfigned 
why the public inftruétion o the lower 
clailes of the, people thould be ¢onfined to” 
religion. It is perfeftly comfonant to 
reali and found policy, that they thould 
of acquiring every 
ind of knowledge, which will enable 
them to fill up their ftation in fociety 
with greater public utility, to profecute . 
their feveral occupations with greater 
benefit to themfelves,"or to enjoy their 
Moments of leifure with greater com- 
mt. Provifion, for example, fhould be 
nade for ‘their inftruétion in the rights 
and duties of citizens: in the municipal 
laws which whey are bound to obey 5 in 
the proper Jimanagement of themfelves 
and their families with refp 
in their relation to mankind a 
far as it may be learned fir 
views of the hiftory ane 
the world ; inthe general law 
in fhort, in whatever may qualify tt 
‘to Be fomgthing more better than 
Ive machines 













mere pa n the focial 
fyitem. How far the fate ht to in- 
t 
Ws 
“i in providing public itt Heber 21s 





a™diticult queftion. Perhaps, the fame 
argumentgiwhich lie @gainft their inter- 
ference, hb fee Enquirer, No. 
nade by private, 
exegtions.  Con- 
e provilions, 
there can, however, be no queftion. Were 
proper feafons and places (dittiné&t.from 
thofe @évoted to religion) es ery where 
be 







allotced@ier popular inftruétion ; were 
{uitableperfons emgaged ... 
the charge; and were the common people, 
by an e@uitable advance of their wa 
of labours put into a condition to ay 1 
themfelves of fuch provifion’; it is im- 
pollible to fay what important benefits 
might not accrue to fociety from the 
rapid progrefs of knowledge. , 
But this view of the fubieé: demandsa 
fuller difcuffion than can be given it in 
this plea Thole who are {mirtenavith 
the dread of saxovation will think, that 
projects, more than fafficieht have been 
already ttarted inthis paper others may, 
perhaps, agree withthe Enquirerin +e- 
gretting, that.an apprehenfion, fo irre- 
ae concileabis 
Ceus 
are 


