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of human nature difplay them felves. To eradicate them is difficult, and perhaps impoffible. But they may be reftrained and weakened, fo as to be rendered lefs dangerous to future felicity.

There are many moft deftructive vices of boys, against which no vigilance can fufficiently guard. All that a mafter can do, is, to check any tendency to them when he happens to detect it, to correct all converfation and behaviour which lead to the commiffion of them, and to take care that the pupil is obferved in retirement as clofely as circumstances will allow. Some vices are fo indelicate, as fcarcely to admit of being mentioned. But where there is reafon to fufpect any boy of being habitually guilty of fuch, delicacy muft not prevent a fuperintendant from fpeaking to him in private on the fubject, and representing the confequences in colours as frightful as the imagination can conceive. This is a painful task, and requires great addrefs in the execution. I am convinced, much mifery has arisen in the world from neglecting to perform it. Difficult as it must be to a man of delicacy, yet it is certainly defireable, that while he gives moral diffuafives against vice in general, he fhould fpecify fome vices, and paint in lively colours the particular ill confequences which arife from them. If virtue in itself does not appear defireable, or vice deteftable, yet the idea, that vice will occafion pain, diftempers, imbecility, and premature old age, must have weight. Irregular and intemperate paffions, indulged at a boyith age, will blaft all the bloffoms of the vernal feafon of life, and cut off all hope of future eminence. The mind will fympathize with the body, and both will be reduced to a wretched ftate of weakness by too early and exceffive indulgences. Difeafe will infallibly follow vice, and blait every bloftom of youth. I dwell with carneftnefs on this fubject, because the fuccefs of all our cares in education depends upon it. Add to this, that innocence is of greater value than learning.

The irafcible paffions of boys are often very violent. When they difplay their effects in acts of premeditated malice and revenge, they should certainly meet with correction. A judicious mafter will give general admonitions on the neceflity of retraining the paffions, and. in particular cafes will apply proper punishment. He will do right to reprefent malice and revenge as by no means the effects of a generous and noble fpirit, but of a bad and an effeminate heart. It will indeed be much better to bring any improper behaviour into difgrace, than to animadvert upon it with feverity, Time, and experience of their

Paulatim per id nitidum, flos ille juventæ
Difperiit, vis illa animi; tum fqualida tabes
Artus, horrendum! miferos obduxit, et altè
Grandia turgebant fœdis abfceffibus offa.
Ulcera, proh divûm pietatem! informia pulchros
Pafcebant oculos, et diæ lucis amorem,

Pafcebantque acri corrofas vulnere nares.

Illum alpes vicinæ, illum vaga flumina flêrunt;
Illum omnes Ollique deæ, Eridanique puellæ
Fleverunt, nemorumque deæ rurifque puellæ

Sibinufque alto gemitum lacus edidit amne.' FRACASTORIUS
Et cafum amifit, polluto corpore, florem. CATULLUS.

bad

bad influence on perfonal happinefs and reputation, will be the most effectual remedies for the diforders of the angry paffions. Many of them gradually lofe their force as reafon arrives at maturity, and time effects a reformation, which art could never produce. Much less evil happens to young perfons from the irafcible, than from the concupifcible affections. Still, however, great care should be taken to retrain them, and religious arguments fhould always and principally be applied; for the indulgence of the irafcible paffions particularly militates against the fpirit of Chriftianity.

'Boys are apt to be obftinate and fullen. Nothing cures thefe diftempers fo effectually as ridicule. They fhould be laughed out of thefe difagreeable difpofitions by their fchool-fellows; and indeed, this is one of the great advantages of public education, that boys fhame each other out of many abfurd and odious ways, which the private pupil may retain through life.

Boys are ufually ungrateful to their inftructors, ready to speak ill of them, revengeful after proper correction, and prone to be unthankful for the kindest treatment. Parents must remove this fault, by difregarding their malice, and by fhewing gratitude to the master.

The bufinefs of correcting the paffions and bad habits of children, belongs in a particular manner to parents; but as children are often kept at fchool, and at a distance from parents, during the puerile age, it ought undoubtedly to be comprehended in the plan of fcholaftic education. But parents have their fons at home fome parts of the year. At thofe time, I am forry to observe, that they often foment by encouraging bad paffions. Many confider anger and revenge ás marks of a manly fpirit, and, by feeining pleafed with their most violent effects, by laughing at them, or by not discountenancing them, give them additional force. The parents ought to be fufficiently confiderate to fecond the mafter's endeavours both by precept and example, when they have their children at home. Though they may be diverted with a boy's petulance and paffion, during the short time he is with them, they should not fhew themfelves pleased; but fhould confider, that thefe beginnings will in a few years grow to fuch a height, as one day to deftroy their children's happiness and their

own.

If any really think, and I believe they do, that violent paffions are figns of parts and genius, I will beg leave to affure them that I have known the ableft boys of the mildest affections, and the greatest dunces the most addicted to every bad paffion, in their most violent degrees. However this may be, the paflions are certainly the causes of the greatest miferies of human nature; and not to difcourage them in boys, under all circumftances whatever, is extreme cruelty.' ON THE UNIVERSITIES:

It is eafy to perceive, that the English univerfities are in lefs. repute than they were formerly. The rich and great, who, at one time, would on no account have omitted to fend their fons thither, now frequently place them under fome private tutor to finish them, as it is called, and then immediately fend them on their travels. There feems, among all orders, to prevail a discontent on the relaxation of

difcipline,

difcipline, and the ufelefs and frivolous exercises required for the attainment of academical honours.

I have myself refided long in one of the universities (and the fifters are much alike), and I have feen in it many evils. But I reftrained my indignation by afking myself the question, where I could have been placed in this fublunary world, without feeing many evils? I faw immorality, habitual drunkennefs, idleness, ignorance, and vanity, openly and boaftingly obtruding themfelves on public view. I faw them triumphing without controul over the timidity of modeft merit. Many things appeared openly, that deserved warm difapprobation; but I till knew there were amiable and worthy characters, and excellent practices and inftitutions, which were not fo generally noticed, because they did not force themselves on the attention, but were concealed in the fhade of literary retirement. Like the modeft flowret, they were over-run by the ranknefs of the weeds.

I could easily account for the evils I beheld. It was not to be wondered at, that fo great a number of young men just emancipated from school, and from a parent's authority, fhould break out into irregularities, when encouraged by mutual example. Their paffions were frong, their reafon immature, their experience defective. Pride, vanity, and the love of pleasure, urged them to any conduct that could either confer diftinétion, or afford gratification. Many had money at command. These moft devoutly followed fashion, that dæmon which allures with irrefitible charms to all that is ruinous and ridiculous, and were clofely purfued by other young men of fpirit, as they called themfelves, who were obliged to contract a heavy debt to fupport their extravagance. I believe, under the fame circumftances, young men, in any place, would exhibit the fame appearances; and if there is too little reftraint, and I think there is too little, the fault is not in the ftatutes and regulations either of the university, or of the colleges, but in the age which will not bear reftraint. Yet there are officers whofe hands are invelled with every neceffary power; and there is little doubt, but that the very glaring abuses which have rifen up, while it has lain dormant, will at laft ftimulate them to exert its full force.

When the difcipline fhall be restored, and the obfolete exercises abolished, no places in the world will be better adapted to a ftudious life, than our noble univerfities. Much ruft has been contracted in them by time, many evils deeply rooted, which cannot be eradicated but by the legislative arm; yet with all their imperfections, I will maintain, that no place is able to furnish more advantages to the real ftudent. In them are founded fome of the finest libraries on earth; not only public libraries for the general ufe of members of the university, but libraries in each college, fcarcely less convenient than if they were in the ftudent's own apartment. In the univerfity at large, profefforfhips eftablished with ample ftipends; in colleges, tutors and lecturers. The buildings convenient, elegant, (pacious, airy. The apartments of ftudents for the most part handfome, and commodious, filent, retired, and in every respect fitted for a life of study. Sweet gardens and groves, delightful walks, and rural retreats. Add to all this, that the high antiquity of the

place,

place, and the many great and learned perfons who have iffued from it, give it a moft venerable air, and tend to animate the ftudent with a generous emulation.

But as this reform may be diftant, and as, in the fincerity of my heart, I confider the fending a fon thither at prefent, without particular precautions, as a moft dangerous meafure; a measure which may probably make fhipwreck of his learning, his morals, his health, his character, and his fortune, if he has one; I think it a duty incumbent on me to point out, as well as I am able, the most likely means to fave all these from deftraction, and to obtain the natural advantages of thefe diftinguished feminaries.

In the first place, boys fhould not be fent to the university fo young as they often are. It is really cruel to let a boy of fifteen be precipitated into drunkennefs and debauchery. By a too early entrance, his health will be injured, his peace of mind broken, his learning loft, and his morals depraved. Examples and opportunities for vice abound, and the inexperience, and want of refolution, characteristic of boys, will render it difficult to avoid contagion. There are inftances of thofe who have gone through with fafety at this early age; but they are few in comparison with those who have fuftained fuch injuries as they have long and feverely felt. Every one, on putting on the academical dress, commences a man in his own opinion, and will often endeavour to fupport the character by the practice of manly vices. I advise therefore, that no boy fhail be fent to the univerfity till he is nineteen years old. An additional reason is, that, in four years, he may take a batchelor's degree; and four years bring him to the age at which he may take orders, or enter with propriety into other profeffions. But when a boy enters at fifteen, he takes his degree at nineteen, and then waits till three-and-twenty without employment. This aukward interval is not often spent in the univerfity, but in the country, and in the employments of a fportfman and a man of pleasure. Four years of idlenefs muft make great havoc in his learned attainments. Let it be confidered, how much more advantageously the four years from fifteen to nineteen would be spent in a well-directed fchool. Such a foundation would be laid in claffical learning, as would scarcely ever give way, even though it should suffer a temporary neglect.

I am aware that all boys cannot wait at fchool till nineteen, becaufe vacancies in fcholarihips, exhibitions, and fellowships, often fummon them unexpectedly before that time. But I must exhort parents not to let their fons incur danger of moral and mental corruption, for the fake of adding a few pounds a year to their allowance. Where any confiderable advantage is to be obtained, I will not expect, in thefe times, that it will be foregone; but every precaution must be used to obviate the ill confequences of embarking a boy without a proper pilot, on a wide and a stormy ocean.

Whenever the circumstances of the parent will admit, a private tutor of character must be engaged. A compenfation must be made him fufficient to induce him to infpect his pupil not only in the hours of ftudy, but also of amufement; and I would give particular directions, that the pupil fhould never take a walk or a ride, but in the

company

company of the private tutor, or of thofe whom he may approve, A faithful tutor, who will thus condescend to watch the moral conduct of his pupil, will be far more defireable, than a man of genius and learning, who will only attend to literary improvement.

I fhall not lay down any rules for the conduct of academical ftudy, but shall content myfelf with advising the parent to place his fon under fome ingenious and worthy tutor, and then to fubmit the conduct of his education at the univerfity entirely to his direction. The college tutors are often, it is to be prefumed, men of judgement as well as learning and morals, and are well qualified to direct, the ftudent in every part of his conduct. It is at the fame time to be Lamented, that from the number of pupils ufually allotted to one, he is incapable of paying all that attention to each, which a tender parent mult defire. For that reafon, I with a private tutor to be joined with the college or official tutor, whenever it can conveniently be effected. I own, for my own part, 1 fhould be afraid to truft a fon without one. The private tutor, it must be remembered, should have the whole management of the pupil's finances. Scarcely any. but thofe who have refided in the univerfity, or are parents of pupils, can form an adequate idea of the many evils of every kind and degree, which would be avoided by giving a prudent private tutor full powers to dired the expences of his difciple.

Under fuch reftrictions, and with a few public alterations, I repeat, that no place is better calculated for ftudious youth, than thefe venerable feats of the mufes, to which they have for ages reforted. To prove that they are capable of forming the greatest characters in every department, I appeal to the annals of my country. And I cannot help thinking, that their declared enemies, thofe who wish to destroy or totally alter their conftitution, are of that defcrip-. tion of men who envy the advantages which they have never hared, or who, from an unfortunate mode of thinking, endeavour to overturn all the ancient establishments, civil and ecclefiaftical*.

** In academiâ confluxus eft ingeniorum variorum, etiam diverfismorum; reperiuntur ibi homines pravi etiam ac flagitiofi, per quos animi fimpliciores facilè corrumpuntur. Et ibi etiam major aliquanto vivendi libertas, quam in præfentia et fub oculis parentum. Bantur occafiones difcurrendi, potandi, ludendi alea et tefferis. . . . . . Adde quòd reperiantur, qui his modis quæftum faciunt, ftultæque juventutis promptitudinem facilitatemque, habeant vectigalem. An ergo meos filios tot periculis ultrò exponam? Scilicet utique caftè, moderatè, fobriè, honeftè vivitur, academiâ folâ exceptâ. Vel fi hoc male fingitur, quid non et alibi profpicimus fecuritati noftrorum ? Aut fi poffumus alibi, cur licebit minus in academiâ? Sunt profectò ibi quoque leges, funt magiftratus, funt viri honeftatis virtutifque amantes et interdum plus, quam nonnulli volunt, rigidi ac feveri. Non igitur academia in caufâ fi qui in eâ malè vivant, non ordo profefforius, non cætera a regibus optimè conflituta et quanta poffunt obfervari folita diligentia.... Quare manet verum quod innuebam fuperius educationis locum maximè idoneum academium effe.

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JOHANNES SCHEFFERUS, de Informat. literar. • I will

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